Almyne journeying in 2008
Sun, 1 Jun 2008
Sulking D'fer
Had a lay in this morning. I know I had a lay in because I woke up at half six, looked at the clock and went back to sleep again. Looking at the clock involves getting up, wandering down Almyne to the salon, looking at the clock and wandering back to the bedroom. Woke again at half seven, looked at the clock and went back to bed, eventually rising at just after nine.
While I was having breakfast a little Yorkshire Terrier went past. I think it must have been in season, because it was flirting mercilessly with D'fer
and D'fer was totally ignoring me and pestering the Yorkie. I had to drag him back to Almyne and tie him up.
Walked him up to Thrupp but the only way I could keep his attention was to keep throwing his ball for him.
Netta turned up with Jane shortly after twelve and after a cup of tea we all repaired to The Jolly Boatman for lunch, leaving D'fer in Almyne. Unfortunately they had no Sunday roasts left so we then repaired to The Boat (a pub), a few hundred yards up the cut, where we enjoyed a Sunday roast.
Got back to Almyne and D'fer complained that we had been out eating without him, he had been stuck in the boat for hours and hours and hours, he was thirsty, he wanted to play, he wanted to go and find a Yorkie. We walked D'fer to his favourite swimming hole where he had a swim and then on to the field where he bounces like a gazelle.
Back to Almyne and tied D'fer up again, he was still hankering to play with a Yorkie, so he spent all afternoon moaning and complaining and whining and sitting on the back of Almyne sulking. I think we will have to move on tomorrow, or he will be off at every opportunity.
Mon, 2 Jun 2008
3 boats in a narrow lock
7 3/4 miles 5 locks 3 lift bridges
Up around eight and breakfast by half eight. Will need to get some eggs today as I am down to my last one. Engine checks and set off at nine. Four hundred yards or so and one lift bridge which was help up for me, and I arrived at the Thrupp facilities. Topped up with water, the first time since 21st May, thought I was running a little low. Emptied porta pottie and got rid of my rubbish. Set off again just before ten accompanied by two BW boats going towards Banbury . It was useful accompanying them as they operated the lift bridges for me.
Bearing in mind we are on a 'narrow' system, at Shipton Weir Lock all three of use went into it together. Apparently it was built this wide to alleviate fears of the local water mill owners who thought that the boat traffic would lower the level of the river too much.
Since leaving Oxford, six and a half miles ago, the banks were crowded with boats all the way along with very few places to pull over and moor up, but suddenly it all cleared up and there were very few boats anywhere. Canal travelling like it should be.
Thought about stopping at the boatyard at Gibraltar but there was no-one there and to get service you had to ring a telephone number, that was not provided on the notice.
Not too bothered about getting more diesel yet as I still have four and a half inches in the tank.
There were a couple of things that I wanted to get pictures of, but the camera battery was dead, so put it on charge while I travelled. The pictures I take remind me of the things that I have seen and that have happened on the journey so now I can't remember what it was I wanted to photograph!
Arrived at Lower Heyford boat yard around four and I slowed right down and yelled to a guy who looked as if he might be something to do with the boatyard 'Where do I get diesel and gas?'.
'Pull up against that boat' was the reply.
The boat I pulled up against was one that had been moored up near Isis lock at Oxford when I first got there. He was waiting for diesel as well.
The boatyard people were getting a hire boat ready to go out and we both had to wait for them to finish before being serviced ourselves. The other guy got his diesel and went off and I then proceeded to try to remember all the things that I wanted. Diesel, gas, Dowty washers for the fuel leak, Nicholson's No 1 and engine oil. Got all that sorted and then asked if they could do an oil change for me. I was pointed to the right guy and he told me he would be with me in a few moments. When he arrived he insisted in taking a picture of the beer pump and after a little discussion about my requirements told me yes, but not till Thursday. Explained that I wanted to be in Banbury by Thursday so they decided that they should be able to do it first thing tomorrow morning. Bonus.
I had also asked if they could change the oil filter, but was told that my engine does not have one.
While I was waiting to get serviced I prepared dinner, beef-burgers made with mince, onions, bread-crumbs, some herbs and a pinch of chilli powder - well I'm making them, I can put anything I want in them, chips and a salad of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber smothered with salad cream.
Having organised tomorrow, I moved a few hundred yards up the canal and moored up within sight of the boatyard so they know where to come for me.
Cooked dinner, D'fer enjoyed his share almost as much as I enjoyed mine and settled down for the evening.
Tue, 3 Jun 2008
1 miles 1 lift bridge - buckets of rain
Up around eight and breakfast by half eight so as to make sure I am ready for the boat yard. Wandered round there at nine just to see what was happening, not a lot. Back to Almyne to try and do some work, but the signal is just too bad. Checked with the boatyard as to when they can do the oil change - in about an hour.
Took D'fer for a walk along the tow path. The grass either side was up to elbow height and the rain got worse as I walked. By the time I was back to Almyne I was wet all over. The rain had soaked my jeans and then dripped into my boots. It had dripped off my hat and down my neck, it had worked its way inside my jacket and soaked my T shirt. I was wetter than the time I took mum
for a walk on Box Hill and the heavens opened. Didn't stop at Almyne but went round to the boat yard. The general consensus was that they would not be doing the work while it was raining, so I decided that I would press on to find a better reception area, even if it was raining.
Back to Almyne, changed and set off. Got to the first lift bridge and moored up. Put the computer on to check the signal and changed out of my wet clothes. Nearly missed the boat coming through the other way but managed to persuade them to hold the bridge open for me. Carried on to the next lock, thoroughly enjoying myself, singing and whistling and telling myself that I was MAD.
Got to the first lock and decided that enough was enough. Pulled over, changed and lit the fire. Towelled D'fer, he had been sitting on the back of Almyne with me determined not to miss anything. Needless to say he was soaked to the skin. By this time it was just after twelve.
I have just listened to the weather forecast and it appears that the rain will last all day, clearing overnight and dry tomorrow, so will hunker down till then. Oxford (I am just north of Oxford) has had twenty five millimetres of rain in four hours, that's quite a lot.
With the fire going and the wet clothing beginning to dry out I was beginning to warm up a bit. I wasn't really cold, but just damp, with the uncomfortable feeling of cold that comes with it.
A couple of cups of tea and a hot cross bun later, life looked much better, even though it was still bucketing down outside. The only leaks inside were through a couple of window gutters, so they probably need cleaning.
Just after two the boat behind me moved off and because I was moored on the lock operation I decided that I really aught to move back to where they had been, so replaced my slippers with shoes and dashed out to do that. Told D'fer to stay inside, but, well, you know D'fer, has to be in the thick of it.
Only took a couple of minutes but that was enough to get another set of clothing wet enough to be uncomfortable. Think I will have some soup for lunch to warm me up from the inside.
Wed, 4 Jun 2008
Even the cows come to greet
Negotiating a lift bridge
4½ miles 2 locks 1 lift bridge
Up early to a wonderful day, breakfast and a quick check of the engine. Fitted the Dowty washers to the fuel filter, so maybe the leak will stop. Loads of water in the bilge, but the pump not working so hooked that out and checked it over. Couldn't find anything wrong with it and switched it on again, hey presto, it worked. Must be a dodgy connection, another thing to sort out when I have the time!
Set off at eight twenty and did the first lock at eight thirty. The water in it was very high, but still down on last night.
Fairly uneventful journey except for the fun and games at the lift bridge. I have worked out why the lift bridge operation is on the opposite side of the canal to the tow path. Canal were originally built for horse drawn barges, so the tow rope needed to be unimpeded. If the bridge operated from the tow path side the rope would have to be lifted over it, and that would have been a right pain for them. Now, of course, it is a right pain for powered, single crewed narrow boats.
Kept the computer switched on all the way, checking the internet signal from time to time. Pulled over a couple of times when the signal looked good, only to find it had faded. Eventually worked out that the signal faded every time there were trees on the tow path side. Spotted a good mooring point where there were no trees on the tow path side and pulled in, moored up and checked - YES.
Spent the afternoon catching up on all the fiddly stuff, correcting irritating errors and replying to emails, it is good to get it all sorted out.
Netta popped along this evening with Ayla (her daughter) and Jake (her grandson) to deliver my copy if Nicholson's No1, now I have two, but you can bet your bottom dollar I will need them both, one will get wet and the pages will stick together.
Aynho boatyard said that I could hire their 'sucky thing' to get the oil out of the engine. I am not entirely sure that they understood what I meant as the woman was mumbling something about an Aquavac, well I will find out tomorrow.
The plan is to change the oil and carry on to Banbury , mooring up before I get to a water point so I can get my washing done and then move on to the water point to top up with water again.
Had twitchy legs last night, not for long, but it reminded me that I haven't had twitchy legs for ages.
D'fer found a spider and followed it around Almyne for quite a while, every time it tried to get under something he scratched it back out and stuck his nose on it, occasionally licking it. Didn't seem to like the taste much but continued to pester until it eventually curled up in a wet soggy ball and lay there still and silent. I don't know if he licked it to death or not, he may even have eaten it in the end.
Thu, 5 Jun 2008
50 yards
Woke to hear myself saying 'This is the life' and see the sun streaming in through the window.
After breakfast I set to and started the washing, loads to catch up on as I had nearly run out of clean clothes. Six hours later it was finished, well almost I still have a couple of towels to wash, but I have put them in to soak and will do them tomorrow (or the next day).
While the washing was doing I started sewing a new band on my bushman's hat. I have already sewn a band on my pork pie hat and I thought it might be fun to have the same band on all my hats. Not as easy as I thought. The bushman's hat is made of a very stout material and getting the needle through it is to say the least difficult. After five hours intermittent work I am seven eighths of the way round with a sore finger and thumb. Will finish it later, there is loads of time.
Since I run the engine while using the washing machine the batteries are well charged up so should have no problem with power this evening and maybe tomorrow as well.
The guy on the boat opposite says that I will not get through the next bridge without taking my chimney down as it is the lowest bridge on the Oxford canal. I have tried to take it off but to no avail. I have twisted it, I have banged it with the hammer, I have pried at it and I have levered at it. He does tell me that the bridge will get it off.
I think that I might walk Almyne through the bridge, that way if it is going to hit I can make sure that it is controlled. Also if I walk it through I cam make sure that Almyne is as far over the tow path side as is possible, giving the chimney as much room as possible, we will see.
Did a Google search on 'Almyne' last night, it came up third and fourth.
When Pasquale visited and we walked the dogs, one of them trod on the back of my sandal and now the sole is coming away from the upper, glued it back together with some impact glue and it seems to be holding.
About half five, when the traffic had eased off I checked to see if there was a space the other side of the bridge, and there was so towed Almyne through on the ropes. The chimney went through with no problems, about an inch and a half to spare. If this is the lowest bridge on the Oxford canal, then I can manage all the others.
The washing is drying nicely, which is good because the forecast for tomorrow is more rain, maybe I will be here for a couple more days.
Fri, 6 Jun 2008
D'fer on tow path
Wilderness
3 miles 2 locks 5 lift bridges
Woke up to find that two boats had pulled in to the wharf during my period of sleep, could have been last night, could have been this morning. So much for an early start (he says with his tongue in his cheek).
Walked round to the shop and purchased a loaf of bread, wish I hadn't it is awful, a thin sliced loaf that is all pap and soggy. Apparently the two boats are just filling up with water and will be moving on soon.
During breakfast one of the boats pulled off, and another took its place. I could see no point in complaining as I am on canal time and all the other people seem to be on London time.
Eventually set off around half ten and was lucky enough to have assistance at the first two lift bridges. Somewhere along my journey I spotted what I think was a stoat swimming across the canal. I have never really been sure what the difference between a stoat and a weasel is, but an elderly country gentleman I once knew told me that a stoat is stoatally different and a weasel is weaselly distinguishable, so I still don't really know, except that I think a stoat tends to be bigger. Anyway, it was quite a big creature, although not big enough to be an otter.
Kept the computer on during the journey to check on signal level, which was quite good most of the way.
Someone nearly pinched a lock on me as a boat was coming out. They started to close the gates, but I sounded my horn and they opened them again, and helped me through. Carried on up through three more lift bridges, which were all open, and the next lock (I am going up at the moment), heading on my way towards Banbury . Came to a stretch where the tow path is overgrown with one or two areas cleared, probably buy other boats having moored up, and spotted a nice mooring, with a good signal. Pulled over and moored up. By this time it was shortly after one and in the heat was time for a rest if nothing else.
Settled down for a cup of tea and a bite to eat and decided that this was a really good place to stay for a while, right out in the wilderness (if that is possible in Britain ) and almost inaccessible along the tow path due to it being overgrown.
Spent the afternoon clearing up the few remaining email queries and settled in to develop the Google map. It does have limitations as I found out when I had nearly plotted the route to Reading, so deleted it all and started again. A bit disappointing, but I am on canal time.
I had asked Google if I could download their 'pins' and put them on my site as a legend to my map. They replied to say no, but also said that they had looked at my site and 'what an adventure you are having'. I felt quite honoured that they had actually bothered to look at it. I then did a Google search for Almyne and it comes up as the third and fourth items on the first page of results.
Late night with all that map stuff.
Sat, 7 Jun 2008
Didn't go anywhere today. It is such a lonely spot, just what I have been looking for. D'fer can wander all he likes, about a mile along the tow path in either direction through thick grass and weeds, so he doesn't go far anyway.
Did the rest of my washing, mostly bedding and towels, which I started at ten and finished at just after three, then I have to get it all dry before I go to bed. Rather than throwing the washing water overboard I have been throwing it in to the bilges. Hopefully the residual washing powder will help clean it up a bit. I can pump it out with the bilge pump anyway. That done I started the generator and got the vacuum cleaner out to vacuum the carpets, scrubbed all the surfaces from the front of Almyne right back to, and including, the galley, will do the salon tomorrow.
Gave the port side of the stern a coat of paint so now it is nearly all blue instead of blue and grey.
Just before I had dinner a boat pulled in about two hundred yards along and the crew sorted their dinner out on the tow path. As soon as I finished my dinner and fed D'fer he wandered off. 'I wonder where he can be' I thought, perhaps he is visiting our new neighbours. I wandered along and asked if he was pestering them. They said 'No, he is so well behaved'. I said that if they were happy I would leave him with them and they were comfortable with this. They asked if he would come back to me on his own and I told them 'Yes'. He stayed with them for about half an hour, presumably till they finished their meal, and then came back to Almyne.
The one persons face that has been missing has been Geri's. It has taken me along time to pluck up the courage to go through all the pictures that I have of Geri
and pick out one that I like and I think people will relate to. It was difficult, but it brought back so many memories of the fun we had together and it reminded me of how many times each day I think to myself 'I wish Geri could see this', or 'Geri would have so enjoyed that', I miss her so much.
I think I will spend the rest of the evening working on the maps again.
Goodnight all.
Sun, 8 Jun 2008
Didn't go anywhere again today. Walked in to the local village as I had heard that it has a good general store. It does, but a three hour round walk is more than I am prepared to do on a regular basis. Mind you, rather than taking the road I spotted a footpath through a meadow which looked more interesting than the road. It was, but before long I realised that it was really a water meadow. First of all the path got a bit damp in places, then it had an inch or so of water on it, which was easy to skirt round, but before long I was up to my ankles in water every which way. But, once you are wet you cannot get any wetter, so I ploughed on. D'fer thought it was great fun, long grass AND water, what more could a dog ask for?
Painted the side of the boat below the gunnels where I keep scraping it against the sides of the locks and so on, but gave up about two because it was so hot, 96.5F in the shade inside the boat, but whose complaining, today might be the first and last day of summer this year.
Spent the rest of the afternoon working on the maps, shouldn't be more than a month or so at this rate.
I intend to set off for Banbury early in the morning, so if you are reading this tonight and it changes next time you read it, you will know that I failed!
Mon, 9 Jun 2008
3 1/4 miles 2 locks 1 lift bridge
Up early, set off at eight after a good breakfast to keep me going all day. I had travelled for about twenty minutes an had reached Grants lock, the first of two today, when Mick
came walking along the tow path. I met Mick yesterday on the way to the village shop. He volunteered to work the lock for me and when he said he was walking in to Banbury I offered him a lift.
Suddenly I had crew for the journey and he operated the next lock and the swing bridge which made life really easy.
It was interesting passing under the M40 motorway and seeing all those people rushing from one place to another as fast as they could go, stressing themselves out and, at the end of the day, missing out on life, nature and a little peace and quiet. Got to Banbury, filled up with water and Mick and I sat on the back of Almyne having a cup of tea and watching the world go by.
Although it was only ten forty five I decided that I had travelled enough for the day. The sun was really hot and the canal was getting busy.
Wandered in to Banbury just to see what was available. Banbury, although a large growing town was much more laid back that Reading or Oxford and I enjoyed the window shopping. Walked back by way of Tooley's Boat Yard and asked if I could hire their 'sucky thing that you stick down the dip stick hole to get the oil out of the engine' if I leave a big deposit and was told 'Yes' but come back at about three this afternoon.
Went back to Almyne and shut D'fer in, it was so hot.
Wandered back around Banbury trying to find something to spend money on, but could not find anything that I wanted or lacked.
Collected D'fer from Almyne and walked up the tow path towards Tesco to see if I could find out where it was. Took a detour through the park and then realised that I did not have time to actually get to Tesco and get back to Tooley's by three, so returned to Tooley's, letting D'fer have a swim on the way.
The hire charge for the 'sucky thing' was nothing, but they did charge me five pounds to dispose of the waste oil, can't be bad. As for the deposit, they asked me if I had a credit card and I said 'Yes, but how about if I leave you this' thrusting forty pounds into the owners hands. That worked.
While I was chatting I overheard a Canadian guy, Tony
, talking about cray fish nets, and where could he get one. As I had two on Almyne that are still in their plastic wrapping I told him he could have one if he wanted. Apparently he emigrated to Canada a long time ago and then returned a few years ago and is in the process of restoring a wooden narrow boat that is 'steam driven'. Now that will be something to see. Anyway, he followed me to Almyne and I produced the cray fish nets. He took one and asked how much I wanted for it. A fiver. I know they cost more than that, but what the hell, I wasn't using it.
Back at Almyne I used the 'sucky thing' to remove the oil from the engine sump. It works really well if a little slowly, about half an hour to suck out five litres or so of oil, and filled the engine with new fresh clean oil. I hope she likes it.
Returned the 'sucky thing', collected my deposit and paid for the oil disposal and then off to Tesco again. This time I found it and asked if they would do a home delivery. Well well, Tesco will only do home delivery if ordered on the internet. Guess I will be shopping at Budgens or Somerfields or Waitrose in future.
Still, as I was passing B & Q on the way back I popped in there and purchased a sniffing size tin of Evo-Stick. Now I might be able to stick the rubber strip around the engine hatch boards to see if that makes it any quieter.
D'fer had another swim on the way back. I don't think he likes Banbury too much as it is all concrete along the tow path, will move on early tomorrow and find somewhere more suited to his liking.
With rain threatening for Wednesday I need to get my travelling in on Tuesday, rest up for a day and then off again on Thursday.
Tue, 10 Jun 2008
Dragon head
Riot of colour
Scarecrows2
Dink and Malc
Scarecrows1
13½ miles 14 locks
Well I made it, Left Banbury at six forty three, after a quick breakfast of Damson and Plum jam on toast, washed down with a cup of tea.
Just outside I spotted the house where 'Dink and Malc' live, I'm not sure who they are but they seem to think that everyone wants to know, so I have included a picture.
Although the canal was fairly busy today it worked well for me as at most of the locks there was someone else waiting to use it from the other direction so I had lots of help. This single handed lark isn't that bag after all.
Arrived at Cropredy by ten after passing a stretch of canal where the bank was a riot of colour, the picture just does not do it justice, and disposed of my rubbish in the bins there and emptied the porta pottie. It was not full, but it is good to wash it out when the opportunity arises. Popped in to the Spar shop and the only thing that I found to spend my money on were some new bandannas for D'fer, Bindy
and Nellie
had ripped his other red one to shreds, and some eggs.
Set off again and a little while later I spotted a wonderful figurehead on one of the boats there, a Dragon, I just had to take a picture of that too. Pushed on towards Fenny Compton and stopped off for half an hour for a late breakfast (bacon and eggs on toast) just past Clattercote Wharf.
Clattercote wharf is on a smallholding or something similar. Anyway, they have scarecrows in their fields, lots of them, men scarecrows, women scarecrows and children scarecrows. At first it looks like an old time village gathering. Apparently the farmer there is planning on restoring the two old narrow boats , which are currently used by the farmer as grain storage, to take his produce to deliver his produce to market
It was nice to have a rest and a good idea because a little further on there was a flight of seven locks close together which, even with people coming the other way and helping, was still quite arduous, but after that it is a flat run for several miles, winding backwards and forwards round hairpin bends. It was a bit like a twisty mountain road except that it was flat.
It got to about four o'clock and I was getting a little tired so decided that I would find somewhere to moor up. Trouble is, I am picky. I wanted somewhere that faced east so the sun would wake me in the morning, I wanted somewhere that I could get a good internet signal, I wanted somewhere that D'fer could play and run, I wanted somewhere that was easy to moor up and I wanted somewhere that had no stinging nettles on the bank. I have tried mooring up amongst stinging nettles wearing shorts and sandals before, not nice.
At ten to six I found a place that fitted four of the five requirements, pulled over, moored up and sat down for ten minutes. D'fer just wanted to go fro a walk and explore the area, but I was having none of it.
Put the chicken on and prepared the rice to go with it and then took D'fer for a walk. Found somewhere for him to have a swim and he was delighted. The Oxford canal is a very clean canal with good banks for mooring up to. Most of it is 'piled', but this means that D'fer cannot get out once he gets in because the bank is vertical, so finding a bit that is not 'piled' is quite an achievement.
Back to Almyne to catch up on internetty stuff and eat dinner around eight.
Even though I do say so myself, dinner was superb. Chicken suffused with red wine accompanied by orange flavoured rice, simple but absolutely wonderful. Maybe the long day had something to do with it but I like to think it was simply that it was all cooked to perfection.
Rounded off the evening with a little fishing, which was unusually good, five fish in half an hour and all of them respectable sizes, I won't tell you how big, you will only say 'fisherman's tales', but I was pleased with them.
Wed, 11 Jun 2008
My first signpost
Looks longer from the side
Watching windmills
Napton Junction
Feeding ducklings
Pill Boxes are different here
11 miles 9 locks
It was meant to be raining today so I planned not to travel. Had a lay in and after breakfast I stuck the rubber strip on the lip of the engine hatch, something I have been meaning to do for ages. Took a long time for the Evo-Stick to dry, but it did in the end.
Eleven o'clock arrived but the rain didn't, so I decided that I would press on and try to find a good signal area.
The going was easy for the first couple of miles and I spotted a bunch of ducklings swimming towards me, so I held out my hand to see what they would do. They tried eating it!
After a while I reached the Napton flight of nine locks. Nine locks in two miles. At the first lock the couple in the boat behind helped by opening the bottom gates to let me out and carry straight on. The same thing happened at the next lock as they had caught up with me. Remember, on the narrow system only one boat can get into a lock at a time, whereas on the broad canals two boats can share a lock.
At the next lock I decided to wait and let them go through before me so I would not hold them up. I enjoy pottering along at my speed and when a boat is close (a hundred yards or so) behind me I feel pressured to go a little faster. I prepared the lock and then made myself a cup of tea, then I walked a couple of hundred yards back up the cut, but they were not in sight, so I carried on anyway. I think that they must have stopped for lunch to let me get well ahead!.
Did the next lock on my own and as I was going in to the following lock another boat arrived behind me. They were on a hire boat and were rather aloof, not speaking and only answering my friendly questions in monosyllables.
They let me take Almyne into the lock and watched me jumping in and out of Almyne letting first one paddle down, then closing the gate behind me and then closing the other paddle, walking Almyne to the bottom of the lock, opening one paddle halfway (otherwise the rush of water throws the boat around) till the water settled down and then opening the other paddle. The lock emptied and they watched me open one gate, walk all the way round the lock to the other gate, open that, walk all the way back round the lock to the ladder so that I could climb down into Almyne and start to take her out of the lock. At this point they came along and closed the gates behind me. I thanked them profusely.
At the next lock I thought hat they may have got the idea that I was on my own and maybe they did, but there was still no offer of assistance so I decided that I would do this in my own time. My time is canal time and if I get to the next lock by Monday I am happy.
I deliberately took my time over everything, making sure that I was not contravening any health and safety laws by being reckless or rushing. I only opened one paddle (it is a long way around the lock, 100 feet in one direction, clamber over the lock gates and another 100 feet back in the other direction, especially when you have done several already) so the lock took twice as long to empty. I opened one gate, walked round the lock, opened the other gate, walked round the lock, clambered down the ladder and started out of the lock. They very kindly offered to close the gates for me again.
At the next lock there was a boat coming the other way and the crew of that one helped me, even though there was only two of them. Left that lock and found somewhere to moor up to go to the local shop, where I managed to get a new bandanna for D'fer. He seemed so delighted to put it on and gambolled around for ages. His last one was in tatters and I am using it as a dishcloth.
I also got the Nicholson's No 4, which covers the next stage of my journey after I leave the Oxford canal and some eggs for breakfast.
A bit further on I was passing a marina and spotted a narrow boat side on something I don't see very often. They look so long when seen like that.
Somehow a junction on the canal is different to joining or leaving a river. When joining or leaving a river it is a matter of coping with the current and watching out for fast moving pleasure boats and worrying about how deep and fast the water is. A junction on the canal is just a place of diversion, which way shall I go, shall I go this way, or shall I go that way. There is lots of time to think about it, well nearly twenty seconds before you are past it. However, my journey is planned so I did not have to make that decision, but there was a signpost, the first I have seen in one hundred and eighty miles.
Now wouldn't that be a bummer if you went the wrong way, you wouldn't know it till you got to the next signpost, another one hundred and eighty miles!!
Suddenly I am no longer on the Oxford canal, I am on the Grand Union , heading towards Braunston , the home of everything to do with canals.
By this time it is nearly five o'clock so I decide that signal or not it is time I pull over, so I started looking for a good place and very soon found one. Pulled over, moored up and put dinner on, yesterdays chicken and (because I enjoyed it so much) orange flavoured rice again.
Half an hours fishing and dinner is ready. D'fer seems to enjoy the orange flavoured rice as well, which is good because I still cook far too much for one.
I am going to spend the evening listening to the radio and having a glass (or three) of wine and then off to bed for a well earned rest.
By the way, the rubber strip definitely reduces the engine noise and it is easier on the feet standing there all day. What a life, leaning on a piece of wood all day long.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008
Bridge 26 Oxford Canal
Buttercups
Hillmorton double locks
2 miles
It was meant to be raining again today but it started off quite nice, so set off just before nine, and rounded Braunston Junction just after half past. Watching the sky I decided that it was going to rain after all and the wind was picking up and getting rather strong. The wind makes it difficult to steer Almyne when going slowly and because I was passing a lot of boats, I had to go slowly.
Motored on a little further and spotted a place to moor up, pulled up in front of a couple of BW boats that were filling sandbags with cement, presumably to reinforce the bank, and just behind another narrow boat. D'fer immediately went and introduced himself to the owner of the narrow boat and then went and pestered the BW guys for a bite to eat.
Made my self a cup of tea and set to to catch up (again) on some emails. That done I carried on with the map of the canals. Completed the Oxford canal in about four hours, but lost it all when I signed out of my Google Maps account, my fault, I tell people time and time again to save often.
Made dinner with D'fer pestering me more so than usual, which is when I realised that dinner was at least an hour late. Once I had eaten, D'fer ate, and then he settled down. All in all, he has been very good today as I have virtually ignored him nearly all day and he has been as good as gold.
Now I need to redo the map of the Oxford canal.
Fri, 13 Jun 2008
15½ miles 3 locks 1 swing bridge 1 tunnel
Set off shortly before nine after a goodbye to Dewie who is on the boat next door.
D'fer visited with him last night and when I went to get D'fer back I got chatting to Dewie, who is quite a character and, amongst other things, the author of the cartoons that feature two guys hanging up in chains in a dungeon and goes by the name of TAFF.
Anyway, set off shortly after nine towards Hawkesbury Junction. The sun was shining through the clouds but the wind was on the chilly side. Passed a whole field of buttercups, so took a picture of it for mum. Here it is mum.
Hillmorton flight is quite interesting as there are two locks at each of the three sets of locks in the flight. It is the only place on the Oxford canal where they do this and apparently was an improvement in the 19th century. I suppose it is a different approach to the locks that will take three boats but are still narrow locks.
I have often spotted herons on the canal but they rarely hang around long enough to get a good picture. This one did, while I went past in one direction and another boat went past in the other direction.
Approaching Rugby I remembered that someone had told me that there was a supermarket just by bridge 58, so when I spotted the bridge I pulled over, moored up and went for a walk. Sure enough there it was just a few hundred yards from the tow path.
Shopping at last. I purchased a couple of tins of minced beef, a couple of tins of chicken curry and a couple of tins of meat balls in tomato sauce, along with a couple of Frey Bentos steak pies in tins and some butter, three bottles of lemon juice and a couple of bags of Hula Hoops, D'fer and I like Hula Hoops and the obligatory bacon and some liver for tomorrows tea. I had started to run out of everything. Took that back to Almyne, stored it and returned to the supermarket for two bags of potatoes, two bags of onions and a loaf of bread and some cream crackers. Although I like rice I was beginning to miss my potatoes and I love my crackers and cheese for supper.
Then there was the bridge that someone hit, not me I promise, but whoever it was made quite a mess of it and I bet their boat wasn't looking too good afterwards either.
Kept an eye on the signal level all the way and it fluctuated from bad to medium to worse to not bad and then getting on towards the evening it started getting rather good, so I started to look for a place to moor up. I moored up a couple of times but each time the signal disappeared so I set off again. Then after working my way through the swing bridge, which is a foot bridge and can be opened and closed with a pole from the boat, the signal went to marvellous. But guess what, nowhere to moor up. Continued on for about half a mile and there was the perfect spot, good mooring and perfect signal, so here I am just above Bridge 26 on the Oxford canal.
Chicken and chips for tea, I'm saving the liver and bacon for tomorrow.
After tea I took D'fer for a walk and found a meadow. He was in his element chasing sticks through the long grass and leaping up in the air to see where they were falling. I got him back to Almyne and he spent half an hour or so trying to convince me that there was someone or something coming a long the tow path by barking, I checked the first three times and there was nothing, so ignored him after that and within a few minutes he laid down and went to sleep. I won't be long after him.
Sat, 14 Jun 2008
6 miles
My target today is to get to Hawkesbury Junction, or Sutton Stop if you want to call it that. Set off just after ten and was approaching Hawkesbury just before twelve. Moored up and thought, "I don't want to spend the night here, there is an awful whining in the air'
Walked in to Hawkesbury checking moorings all the way. I did not want to get to Hawkesbury and find no mooring so that I was forced to carry on out the other side. I need not have worried as there were several mooring spots available quite close to the junction. On the way back to Almyne I called in to the fishing tackle shop and purchased a pint of maggots. The pint that I bought at Kidlington had lasted well and I still had some in the fridge, not all of them frozen solid. I have often been told by fishermen that to warm a maggot up in the winter to make it all wriggly you should put it under your tongue for a few moments. I've never understood the logic of this as I am certain that as soon as the maggot hit the ice cold water it says to itself 'Sh*t that's cold' and goes rigid straight away, so why warm it up in the first place.
Anyway, got some more maggots so I can do some more fishing.
Back at Almyne, made myself a cup of tea and sat there listening to the whine and realised that it was my bilge pump. Turned it off and everything was quiet, perhaps I could stay here overnight after all.
Carried on to Hawkesbury junction and moored up no more than one hundred yards from the junction itself beside a very wide grass verge where D'fer could play in the cut grass, which he did endlessly. Found a spot where he could have a swim, so after getting very wet he dried himself off in the grass.
Did a little fishing and then prepared my liver and bacon with onions in red wine and tomato and herb soup with mashed potatoes with lashings of butter, there goes my cholesterol levels.
Sun, 15 Jun 2008
In to Coventry
15th June
11 miles 1 lock
Decided to take Rosie
and Jim
in to Coventry today. Put them on the back of Almyne, Rosie looking pretty and relaxed and Jim being skipper.
Set of just after ten and arrived in Coventry after a relatively uneventful trip, except for hitting an underwater obstruction and having Almyne roll under us, just after midday.
I had to turn Almyne round before reversing in to one of the arms of Coventry basin and this was achieved without mishap, much to my surprise as there was very little room between all the other boats, and then squeezing in to a slot not much longer than Almyne and Almyne Too. Walked across to The Admiral Codrington but they would not allow dogs in, not even in the beer garden. Apparently a while ago there was some guy in there with a dog and a couple of other guys were winding it up. It got so excited that it bit a young girl on the back of her leg. I can sort of understand the concept behind the ban, but feel that the landlord would have been better off banning the guys who were winding up the dog in the first place. This I found out from another customer who also felt that the people should have been banned rather than the dog(s).
Decided to have a drink on Almyne so returned and prepared a picnic lunch of chicken, beef, and ham with tomatoes, lettuce, bread and butter, cold boiled new potatoes and a range of condiments, with a can of beer.
Rosie thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the ducklings and cygnets and was no trouble, sitting on the stern all the way and Jim had done a good job of helping me steer Almyne, so I let them join me for lunch.
Lots of children had waved to Rosie and Jim on the way and both of them waved back, delighting the kiddies.
After lunch we set of again on the return journey, spotting a wheelie bin floating in the canal, maybe that was what we hit on the way in, and arrived at Hawkesbury Junction just after five. As I was not going back down the Oxford arm I carried on along the Coventry canal towards Fazeley Junction, only a few hundred yards, but it is still another canal. Moored up and had a repeat of lunch, but this time with a glass of wine.
Rosie and Jim went back to their usual home and I settled in for a quiet evening doing a little fishing and generally enjoying a beautiful evening, only breaking off from time to time to recover D'fer from wherever he had wandered off to while I was otherwise occupied.
Mon, 16 Jun 2008
D'fer on the tow path
Sunset
Down the towpath
12 miles 9 locks
I would say an uneventful trip, but some idiot in a blue narrow boat called Kingfisher rammed me. I had set off just after nine, after a leisurely breakfast, and was proceeding along the canal. He pulled out behind me and kept pace about a hundred yards further back for quite a while. As I was approaching Marston Junction there was a boat coming out of the junction. I slowed down, as you would, and he indicated that there was another boat following him out, so I continued to move forward with caution. I got to a point where I could see back along the line of the adjoining canal and saw that the boat coming along there was at least two hundred yards away, so perfectly safe for me to continue. Unbeknownst to me, the boat behind had not slowed down and only at the last moment put his boat into reverse, still giving me quite a clout. If it had been a hire boat I might have understood a little more, but these were seasoned boaters. I had been speaking to them the evening before and they had related how they had done many of the canals I am looking forward to travelling. A bit further on and he was still right up my backside, so I pulled over and let him past. He gave me a pointed 'Thank you', to which I replied 'You're welcome'. It is not what I was thinking I can assure you.
I stopped off for lunch about midday, did a little fishing and then had a go at pumping out the engine bilge. While I was doing this D'fer was roaming the tow path, as he does, and came back to me all excited with another dog that looked almost like him but without the brown patches. A few seconds later the owner arrived and we got chatting. Her dog 'Jack' was an Alsatian Labrador cross and did not like the water so we decided to get D'fer to show him how much fun swimming was. She knew a good spot to send them in about fifteen minutes up the towpath so I said I would walk up there with them when I had cleaned up a bit. Having washed some of the grease off me I realised that it would be just as easy to take Almyne up the canal for fifteen minutes as it would be to walk, so we all piled on and off we went. Jack was a bit nervous as he had never been on any other boat than his own. We got to the spot and I moored up. In the process of mooring up Jack tried jumping on to the bank and missed. We found out that he can swim. His owner fished him out as he couldn't climb the piled side of the canal. We walked back twenty or so yards to the swimming place and I sent D'fer in after his ball. Jack went bananas, barking and jumping around, but wouldn't go in. I tried to hold D'fer back to throw the ball in just a little way, but he broke loose and leapt over Jack into the water to get the ball. The second time I managed to hold D'fer back while Jack tentatively paddled out, not quite reaching the ball, and again D'fer broke loose. He was impossible to keep out of the water. I think that he felt a bit jealous as another dog was playing with HIS ball and stopping him getting into the water.
We tried several more times to no avail and by this time Jack wanted to join in and was trying to get the ball off D'fer when he got out of the water. D'fer actually snapped at Jack, so I ticked him off, but Jacks owner is of the same opinion as myself, they will sort it out themselves and dogs need to learn that there are times that they should back off.
Anyway, it was an exciting twenty minutes or so and Jack and owner went on their way and I proceeded on mine.
Set off again properly just before three and carried on till I reached the first of eleven locks in the Atherstone flight. The BW guys were trying to fix it as something was wrong. I decided that this was as good a place as any to top up with water so went to the watering point and filled up. Emptied the porta pottie, just because I could and got rid of the little rubbish I had accumulated over the past few days.
Lock fixed and I set off down the flight. Managed nine of the eleven before D'fer started complaining that dinner was late. He usually eats around half six, after I have eaten and by now it was very nearly seven, so pulled over and moored up.
Chicken salad for tea followed by a beer and a rest.
I think an early night and a late morning is in order.
Tue, 17 Jun 2008
Another Signpost
3/4 mile 2 locks
Meeting Bob at bridge 48 this evening at about six so not too much of a rush. Leisurely breakfast and set off at half nine, got to the first lock and went straight in. The man from the following boat assisted and allowed me to jump on Almyne and carry on, leaving him to close the gates.
At the next lock I prepared it and then waved the boat behind me to come on through. I think that they were a bit surprised as it took them a few moments to cotton on and start out of the lock. They arrived and started to pull in behind me so I waved then on again and they came past me in to the lock. I explained that I had to be at the next bridge by six pm and was in no rush. I helped them through the lock and then helped the boat coming the other way through the lock. I have had so much help from others that it is nice to return the favour from time to time, even if it is not for the people who have helped me.
Carried on through that lock and moored up at Bridge 48 and turned the engine off at ten fifty five.
Tired and exhausted after a days travelling - hang on - I've only travelled for an hour and a half and most of that was lock watching. With time on my hands I did not a lot, some fishing, some walking D'fer, some log hunting and some eating.
During the afternoon the eejit that rammed me yesterday want past the other way. I was walking D'fer along the towpath as he went past and I stopped and watched him all the way past Almyne, which I could see in the distance from where I was at the time. Kingfisher was the boats name and the guy on board kept looking over his shoulder to see me watching him. I hope he felt guilty.
Bob rang just after three and said he would be with me within the hour. Panic, I had intended to do some internetty stuff before he got here. Switched on the computer and set to to do some work. Bob arrived and we set off for his place straight away.
Got to Bobs watering hole by six and downed three pints in no time. I rarely go to pubs to drink as I have more than enough on Almyne and pubs are social places and being somewhat shy I tend to just sit there, so it was really nice to go to a pub with a friend. The three pints were accompanied by a whole lot of nattering and finding out how Bob got on and telling him all about my adventures. I know I tell people on the cut about bits and pieces of my adventures, but it is not the same as telling it all to someone you know.
Went back to Bobs place and met Sue for the first time after hearing so much about her, and D'fer renewed his acquaintance with Penny, their dog. Although Penny is a very quiet dog after a while she and D'fer really had something going between them and spent their time together gently licking, sniffing and rubbing up against each other.
Sue got dinner for us and I enjoyed a really good chilli con carni that I had not cooked, it made a real change.
Fell into bed some time during the evening after several more beers and glasses of wine.
Wed, 18 Jun 2008
10½ miles 2 locks
Up by half six, this sleeping in real beds is not for me, especially as it does not rock me to sleep. Bob was already up and we both had breakfast and set off for Almyne, arriving there by half eight. Bob was in two minds as to whether he should go to work, or ring his men and tell them to get on with what they had to do (they knew what they had to do) and spend the rest of the day on Rosebud, his boat. I did try ringing him just after six this evening but could get no answer.
Set off before nine and travelled for a couple of hours. It was threatening to rain and very windy, making it chilly, but I put on my fleece lined shirt so was warm enough not to worry about it. Pulled over for a cup of tea and found some perfect logs for the fire, so got the chain saw out and cut them up. Collected some smaller stuff as well and cut that up with the Bow saw. D'fer loves it when I cut up wood and insists on helping me by holding the end I am no cutting. Hasn't quite got the idea that he is meant to be holding it still yet, but at least he is trying to help. Every now and again he stops holding the big stick and wanders off to find another one. Now that is helpful when he returns with one.
Stayed there for a couple of hours enjoying the countryside and lunch and set off again around half one.
Motored through two locks without incident and on past Tamworth and Fazeley junction. Of all the gardens on all the canals I think that the gardens through Tamworth are the prettiest of them all. Every one of them is well kept and interesting and somehow 'nicer' than any of the others I have seen, perhaps it is something to do with the gentle slope that they are on. Most other canal side gardens are on a steep slope and although nicely laid out tend to look 'built up' rather than grown.
Continued on my way until it started to rain, when I pulled over and moored up just north of Hopwas , adjacent to a military shooting area. Didn't rain for long, but having stopped I was going to stay stopped. Chicken and chips for tea, with D'fer having everything I could get off the carcass. I have always loved 'picking a chicken', I think it takes me back to my childhood, if I have ever left it, perhaps I should say, 'reminds me of my earlier years'.
I had noticed several boats moored up along the way that had 'captured' a piece of the bank and made their own little encampment. Obviously not formal moorings but just personalised. When I took D'fer for his evening walk I passed a boat whose owners had personalised a bit of the towpath, or more correctly the bit of land beside the tow path. They had made some steps down a little slope and levelled it off at the bottom. Then they had built a little brick hearth and a wood store. I had to talk to them and ask how it works. They told me that if you find a place that you like you just 'do it' and if no one ticks you off or asks you to move on you stick with it.
Hmmmm, I might look for somewhere to do this for the winter.
Anyway it's bedtime so that's it for tonight.
Thu, 19 Jun 2008
Look Glyn
6½ miles
What a gorgeous day, the sun came up early and woke me, so I had breakfast and set out at five past six. Because I was travelling so early I could go at my speed, which is mostly a tick-over. Many people on the canals seem to think that four knots is the speed to travel at rather than the maximum. Carried on like this till half eight when I pulled over and had another breakfast, well a cup of tea anyway. The thing about travelling on my own is that it is difficult to make a cup of tea on the move, not impossible, but difficult. The way to do it is to slow right down and get the boat pointing in the right direction, then rush inside and put the kettle on and rush back outside again. If the boat has started to wander, which it frequently does, correct the wandering and get it back on a straight line again. Then rush inside and prepare the cup and back out again, just to check. Wait for the kettle to boil. Once boiling, get the boat on the straight and narrow, rush inside and pour tea, rush out again. Get the boat on the straight and narrow, rush in and put in the various additives to the tea, and take it back out in time to correct the wandering.
All that just for a cup of tea. This works well if there is no wind, but with a wind the boat goes off course much too quickly and today it is windy.
Set off again just after nine and continued on my journey at a 'canal' speed rather than my speed because there were other boats around by now. Passed a boat covered with mushrooms, see Glyn, someone else does it too, but I don't think they are much competition, not from up here anyway. Got to my appointed spot at Fradley Junction by ten forty five, moored up an had another cup of tea.
Wandered in to Fradley junction to see what was what. There is a little canal shop there that sells provisions, and although they claim to sell bread they only sell the sliced stuff in plastic bags.
Midday arrived and I decided that with it being sunny but windy, washing was the order of the day, so out came the washing machine and all the dirty clothes. Now the way I do the washing is to put the first load in, wash it and put it in the spinner and spin it. Put the next load in the water that I have previously washed in, top it up, add more washing powder and wash again, repeating the process. Start with the whites and light things, working my way down to coloured and black.
Once everything is washed I repeat the whole process for rinsing, twice, so I have virtually finished the washing before I can get anything out on the line, and this occurred at four o'clock precisely.
Then I needed a rest, so lounged around for a couple of hours before getting tea, liver and onions in red wine with potatoes and mushy peas, washed down with a can of beer. What a life I lead.
Walked D'fer up to the junction again where he performed some tricks for some children at the pub with their parents and then back to Almyne to bed.
Fri, 20 Jun 2008
A wooden chair
Sharing the fire
Rosie and Jim
Busy going nowhere, working the whole day through, trying to find lots of things not to do, busy going nowhere, isn't it just a crime, I'd like to be unhappy I just haven't got the time.
Guess what I did today - nothing. Well almost nothing. Wandered around a bit, threw sticks in the canal for D'fer for a bit, he has now reached the stage where he will take a running leap into the canal and I partly do it because it is so funny.
During the afternoon I walked back along the towpath and found a place where I could sneak off into the woods and cut a few branches. These I took back to Almyne and proceeded to tie them together with some string.
Crude, but it works and is almost comfortable to sit on, and it is foldable!
Rosie and Jim
had enjoyed themselves so much last weekend that they indicated that they might like to spend summer solstice somewhere along the tow path, but were not sure that they could make it. As it turned out they could and did.
I must explain, Rosie was one of the pagan priestesses at the hand-fasting and also at Geri's 'Passing of Rites' ceremony.
Unusually I did not have to cook this evening as Rose had brought a long a dish called 'Scouse' which comprises potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, bacon chunks and Rose's own secret ingredients. After eating we all had a wonderful evening sitting in front of a little campfire celebrating the solstice and, after a few glasses of red wine, cerebrating about the course of the rest of the year, and I really do believe that we managed to solve all the worlds problems.
We were so engrossed that we missed the sunset and I have still not worked out why, except that it never went dark, just fading away slowly. Then, when the sun arose the following morning the words of the song 'Morning has broken' took on a whole new meaning for me, surrounded as I was by beauty and love and nature. Rose performed a short ceremony and we all shared a goblet of ceremonial wine and the pleasure our surroundings.
Sat, 21 Jun 2008
The sky at night
Why is he so happy
Busy going nowhere, working the whole day through, again.
Having been up all night, only retiring well after sunrise for which there are no words to describe, the day started well into the afternoon, with some more 'Scouse' and a few walks for D'fer.
So filled with pleasure and bonhomie the Cheshire cat grin on my face was reflected by all I met, there was no need for any other form of communication, although I am glad that I have not yet reached Cheshire.
Sun, 22 Jun 2008
1½ miles 3 locks
After two very lazy days got up quite early and set off towards Penkridge . Negotiated the turn at Fradley junction , which is very tight and nearly hit another boat when the wind caught me, but with lots of power and some heaving on the tiller I managed to avoid the collision. Went into the first lock, which is going up and all seemed fine, but when I came to leave it at the higher level the wind kicked in again pushing me all over the place. Used a little more power and managed to get it on the straight and narrow and keep it there while scattering a little more of Geri's ashes, not easy trying to do both at once.
The next lock was not very far away and got through that one without incident. Then there was a lovely long stretch running along through an avenue of tall trees either side ending with a sharp right turn, over an aqueduct and a short run to the next lock. Through Woodend lock and on towards Kings Bromley Wharf the wooded area gave way to open meadows and that is when the wind really kicked in, after only a few hundred yards I decided that enough was enough and I pulled over if only for a rest while the wind subsided. It didn't.
Although it was so windy the sun was still strong enough to be very warm and pleasant so could see no point in continuing that day, after all, my current target is Penkridge by the weekend and and it is only 23 miles and 8 locks away.
D'fer was visiting all the neighbours he could find, but there were not many of them so he had to wander quite a way but came back when he realised that there was no one on board the other boats.
We were sitting quietly on Almyne whiling away the day when there was a scream outside. Both D'fer and I jumped up and went outside to see two girls halfway off their push-bikes looking at something on the towpath. D'fer, of course, had to investigate and started very gently sniffing at the item. As I got a little closer I realised that it was a swift, just laying on the towpath. I picked it up and carried it on to Almyne and wrapped it up in D'fer's towel and simply held it, watching it opening and closing it's eyes and its back rising and falling as it breathed. I think the wind must have caught it and slammed it either on to the bank or in to a tree and stunned it.
After and hour or so it started to move around a little and I had the opportunity to examine it gently. I could find no obvious damage, and as it was breathing regularly, although still dozing, I decided to see if it wanted to fly off. Now my understanding is the a swift cannot take off from the ground, it needs to fall to pick up enough airspeed to actually fly, so I held it aloft in the palm of my hand to let it feel the wind in its feathers and the next second it was just not there anymore. My good deed for the day.
Mon, 23 Jun 2008
Monster truck
Hobbit hole entrance
9½ miles 1 lock
Early start today to catch up on the travelling that did not happen yesterday, though I am not sure why as there is no rush. Started off just after seven, having stoked up on a good breakfast. Today's target is Rugeley to do some shopping. I seem to be becoming obsessed with shopping and I am not sure if it is healthy, time will tell.
After about an hour we passed Kings Bromley Wharf, where the rudder was repaired on our way down and I had hoped that I might see Dave and Len, who did the repair, but realised that it was still only eight o'clock and they would not have arrived at work yet. Gave the yard a friendly wave, but it did not react.
Carried on to Rugeley and managed to moor up right by bridge 66, from where the town, and Morrisons, is a three minute walk, just before ten. I was fortunate as within minutes there were boats everywhere, going both ways and mooring up. It seems to be a popular spot to get everyday essentials.
Wandered in to town to find out what was where and identified some important locations, like the pet shop, the fishing tackle shop and the butchers. Tucked in an alleyway between the pet shop and the fishing tackle shop was a monster truck, the first I have ever seen on a public highway. If I could have found the owner I would have asked him to fire it up so I could take a video, but life does not always work out the away you would want it. On the way back to Almyne spotted a 'pound shop' and tied D'fer up outside to have a look round. D'fer, as usual, started telling the world that I had abandoned him and that he had not been fed for weeks, and that he was thirsty and cold and his feet hurt and where was I, rather loudly. This usually subsides after a few moments, but this time it went on all the time I was in the shop and was still going on when I came out. An interested elderly lady had decided that D'fer needed attention and was making a fuss of him. He was lapping this up, which is why the moans had continued. I am sure that he was telling her to 'Go into the pound shop and get my dad', but she just did not understand. Anyway, she told me that she had been worried about him as her previous dog had been abandoned and left somewhere in town tied up, although the story took just ages to be told.
Stopped off at Morrisons and asked if they did home deliveries. The answer was in the negative and when I explained why I wanted a home delivery I was told that I could take a trolley to the boat as long as I returned it. So, important supplies, a couple of boxes of lager, a couple of boxes of wine, six six packs of tonic water, half a dozen litres of orange juice a loaf of bread and a twenty five kilo bag of potatoes.
Now although it was nice to be allowed to take the trolley to Almyne with me, pushing a heavily laden trolly along a cobbled road is more of a challenge than I had expected, especially as D'fer was more interested in investigating the area than helping me with the trolly and pulling in any direction but the one I was going in. It only took three minutes to walk from Almyne to Morrisons, but it took nearer half an hour to drag the trolly back. I say back to Almyne, but this is not entirely accurate. Almyne was moored under the bridge and there were steps down from the roadway to the tow path, so there was no way I could take the trolly down the steps. This meant that I had to leave the trolly in the main road and carry each item down the steps. This was achieved in several trips.
Having done the bulk of the shopping the goodies were sought. First stop pet shop, where D'fer was rewarded for his patience with a fresh supply of dog food, some pigs ears and a bone. Next stop the fishing tackle shop for a fresh supply of maggots. The maggots keep rather well in the fridge, something to do with it being so cold I think as they often come out frozen stiff, and then off to the butchers. I had decided to have a barbecue this evening so the butchers was the next stop. A piece of steak, a pork chop, a lamb chop, a few sausages, beefburgers and, would you believe it a couple of small bones, with meat on for D'fer, they were free. Returning to Almyne I passed a florists and on impulse purchased a small bunch of flowers. With such a riot of colour all around me when travelling it would be nice to have a little of this inside Almyne.
The trip back this time was much easier and as I arrived at Almyne a gentleman on the next boat approached me and we got chatting. He has been on his boat for the past twenty years, and having reached the ripe old age of eighty four, was slowing down a little. His name is Edward T. Wilkins and is the author of 'With a Flower upon the Ocean'. I am now the proud owner of a signed copy. His wife had died just a month ago and she is buried overlooking the canal, so he appreciated my mission.
Although it does not sound as though I had done much in Rugeley, it was four and a half hours after arriving that I set off again to find somewhere for a barbie and after an hours travelling I spotted what looked like a suitable place. Moored up and looked around, yes, this will suit me. Sawed up some logs for a fire and arranged them in a little circle and collected some smaller stuff to get it going. Then some investigating.
I came across a tiny brick built tunnel, it was no more than two feet wide, three feet high and six feet long with an arched roof. A tree had rooted on top of it and the roots of this tree had moulded themselves over the whole of the arch over the opening. This tunnel led to a larger vaulted ceilinged room that looked out over the river at one end and had a simple brick wall at the other. The imagination ran riot. Could this have been the end of a priests hole, or an escape route for the manor house several hundred yards away. Were there really Hobbits living here once? See all the pictures of the hobbit hole and campsite.
I found out later on in the day from a local fisherman that it had at one time been a boat house for the local manor house, but when the canal had been built it fell into disuse because the canal was between the manor house and the river.
Anyway, enough of this drivel, on with the story. The clearing that I had chosen for my barbecue was between the canal and the river, so I had a vista of water, at different levels, on both sides of me and two of the fallen trees had been attacked by someone with a chain saw and turned into settees. With the shafts of sunlight through the trees and a flock of geese sedately working their way up the river and the bats swooping low over us catching moths and flys it was the perfect setting for a camp fire and a barbecue.
We stayed up late into the night eating, drinking and sitting round the camp fire while I taught D'fer all the old songs that I could remember, it was a little piece of heaven.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008
Over the river Sow
Tixall lock
Great Haywood junction
Acton Trussel heron
A folly
11 miles 4 locks
I fell asleep under the starts last night in front of the camp fire and woke as the fire was dying out. The potatoes that I had put in the embers were probably cooked to perfection, but I was too tired and full after the barbecue to want to eat anything else.
Woke to the sunshine coming in the windows sometime after nine, but who cares, I certainly didn't.
First stop, Great Haywood junction , where the rubbish was disposed of and the porta pottie emptied. I hadn't intended to spend very long here but as I got off Almyne D'fer leapt off and started doing a little dance in the grass with his nose, alternately poking the grass and looking at me. There was something scurrying around, except that it was not quick enough to be called scurrying. I pushed D'fer out of the way with my head, because by this time I was pushing my nose into the grass. It was a mole. We watched it scampering about in the grass for some time and if I had had a camera that would have got close ups it would have been too late to set it up, but the thought was there. Another of those wonderful incidents that so few people get to enjoy.
Then on to Tixall wide . Wide is an understatement, I thought I was heading out into the ocean. Although I could see the banks in all directions there was the feeling that if Almyne sunk here she would go with out trace, over an aqueduct with the river Sow underneath and a wonderfully gentle trip on towards Acton Trussell , just two and a half miles from Penkridge . I just had to take a picture of the display of flowers at Tixall lock, and I could see why it has won prizes for best kept lock. Passing Milford Wharf I spotted a sign on a boat advertising canopy repairs and new canopies. One of the things that I have been intending to do for a long time is to repair the cratch cover. It is a fairly insignificant repair, but as they say, a stitch in time. The flap that covers the zip had started to work loose and although it has not yet caused a problem, if left I might find that the cratch is getting wetter than I would want.
I yelled at the only person I could see, asking if he was involved with the canopy repair, to which he said that he was. Pulled over and moored up against his boat, he checked out the cratch cover and said he could do it so removed it and took it on to his boat, returning a few minutes later with the repair complete. He charged me the princely sum of five pounds, a bargain.
After two fairly long days I made an executive decision to eat out tonight, so had a meal in the gardens of The Moat house, watching a heron stalking fish on the water and having a quiet chuckle listening to the reps chattering away on their mobile phones, still working well into the evening. What a life I lead?
Wed, 25 Jun 2008
5½ miles 6 locks
Set of from Acton Trussell towards Penkridge just after ten and although it was windy again it was not nearly as bad as it had been last Saturday. Coming in towards Penkridge I spotted Midland Chandlers so pulled over and went to see if I could get a fan for the fire. There is a wonderful fan that sits on top of the stove and starts working when the top of the stove gets hot enough. It has a clever little electric motor that is driven by heat and because it sits on top of the stove blows the hot air around before it reaches the ceiling. I am not going to say that I want the weather to get colder, but there is the perverse need to test it out.
Penkridge for midday and straight off to the market to spend some money. Well I tried to spend some money but could only find a couple of things to purchase, some epoxy putty, it is always useful I am told, and a new waistcoat with loads of pockets, oh and a canal style mug. D'fer insisted on me getting some more dog biscuits, and another bone, he has not had a proper bone for ages, even though I thought that the bone I got for him in Rugeley was a proper one.
Ever since Fradley junction I have been leapfrogging some boats and waving to the occupants and they have been waving back. As I was walking in to Penkridge I spotted them in the pub car park and we had a brief chat as I walked on.
Left Penkridge, as the tow path there is not suitable to allow D'fer the freedom to wander, and set off into the sticks. For a while the canal parallels the M6 motor-way and I spotted three 'Eddie Stobart' lorries, so the world does still exist. I was not going to moor up to listen to vehicles rushing around all night, so continued on for a while till the canal veered off and everything became quieter. Found a nice little spot where the sun would wake me in the morning (as long as the threatened rain held off).
I hadn't long settled down to prepare dinner when five boats went past in quick succession, all of the the people I had been waving to, and moored up a little further along the cut. After dinner I took D'fer for a walk past their boats and fell into conversation with them. They were welcoming enough, but not yet ready to invite me for a drink. It will happen.
Thu, 26 Jun 2008
Woke up to the sound of rain, had breakfast to the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof, walked D'fer in the rain, decided to go nowhere.
Stayed in and lit the fire, the new fan works a treat so after an hour or so updating the web site I had a nap, followed by a longer nap, followed by a bite to eat.
It has actually been a really relaxing day and although I managed to write up the previous few days adventures, accompanied by the drumming on the roof, and prepare all the pictures, to the sound of surf on the beach, the signal was too bad to upload all of it, so that will have to wait for a good signal day.
I wonder if the signal is affected by the rain.
Since I am approaching my first destination, and it is raining still, I decided to see just how far I have gone so far. Two hundred and fifty eight miles, one hundred and ninety eight locks, twenty four swing bridges, fourteen lift bridges and one set of traffic lights.
That is exhausting, I'm off to bed.
Fri, 27 Jun 2008
Tree felling
Gailey Lock
A Wheelchair
6½ miles 2 locks
Set off several hours after dawn. Having seen the sun come up twice this week my body clock is becoming a little disorientated.
I enjoy travelling at my pace and slowed down and pulled over several times to let people past, if they want to rush around that is their prerogative, but I do feel that they are missing so much in their haste to get to their next destination. Today's six and a half miles took just four and a half hours, and allowing for two locks, my average speed was something in the region of one and a half miles an hour.
Of course this gives me the opportunity to avoid the occasional obstacle in the water, like a tree here and there. Some of them can be rather large and very new.
The second lock of the day was Gailey Lock and the approach is rather different, and the castellated building seems to the the lock keepers cottage, makes you wonder about the competition along the cut when it was first in use. Stopped off to get rid of the rubbish, empty the porta pottie and top up with water.
Leaving Gailey and passing on through Calf Heath there was a wonderful chair in someone's garden. I am sure that some of these people just put these things in their gardens to amuse the boaters. A little further along passing a long line of very tall trees the effects of the winds earlier on in the week was made apparent. One of them had been blown down and was laying half way across the canal. Even at only one and a bit miles an hour I had little time to take pictures and steer Almyne around the obstruction that narrowed the canal to less than half its normal width.
Stopped for a midday bite to eat and a drink. Set off again just in time for it to start raining, so didn't go too far. Pulled over, lit the fire, started up the computer and, hey presto, a good signal area so spent the afternoon roasting in front of a fan assisted fire (drying my wet garments) uploading all the pictures and days reports and catching up on linking to places that I have visited or spoken about.
Sat, 28 Jun 2008
Almyne from the junction
The junction from Almyne
Old heron
Almyne from the junction
Decorated signpost
Washing day
1½ miles
Another grey day, but at least it is not raining. Set off just after nine to do the one and a half miles to Autherley junction. As I pulled away I noticed that I had been moored up by the local sewage works, not that I had smelt it, but that was probably the reason for the sound of running water all night as the outflow was barely fifteen feet in front of Almyne's bows. Got to Autherley junction, the target for today and this week, just before ten.
Walked up towards the junction and spotted a heron. One day herons will become en everyday occurrence, but I am still enamoured of them, they are so big, and apart from that I haven't seen many since leaving the Kennet and Avon. Anyway, this one was sat on the signpost, presumably a good vantage point for prey. Talking to a guy a little later on he told me that this particular heron likes ducklings, for dinner.
Wandered a way along the route towards Wheaton Aston and chatted to a number of fishermen on the tow path. There is a match on today, so I will give them a break and not take Almyne past them and spoil their swim till after the match is over. Foraged for timber in the woods, but because it is so close to civilisation there was nothing useful.
The day looked as if it would hold up, so did the overdue washing, knowing that I could pop around the corner as anytime to top up with water if needed. This time I did not bother running the engine as the batteries were reading twelve point six seven volts, about as fully charged as they can be. Finished the washing by two, in time for Rosie and Jim
to visit.
Rose had been looking for canal memorabilia, in particular wooden spoons and mugs, and the shop by the junction sells a whole bunch of that sort of stuff, so I had rung her and told her, hence the visit. We all took a stroll to the shop and Rose got some bits and pieces and I purchase a Nicholson's No 2, the next book that I will need for my travels. Now I know that some people would say that I should have purchased them all in one go, simply because I will be needing them all, but by purchasing them as I need them I gain a sense of really getting somewhere. I also purchased a brass miners lamp, not that it can be used for reading or anything by, but they are decorative, and I like them.
Back at Almyne we sat and chatted about this and that and what my next plans were. Being the sort of person that will take advantage of a situation I asked Jim if he could run me to Morrisons, which although it is only a ten minute walk, carrying the shopping back, with D'fer would take a lot longer than that, and he agreed. I had made a list of all those items I was running short on like washing powder, washing up liquid, wine, tea, and a list of items that I wanted to keep me going for the next few days, like bread and meat. While we were there I asked if they were staying for tea and Jim agreed so I got some salady stuff as well.
Back at Almyne, I started unpacking everything and Jim produced some extra stuff that he had purchased to compliment that which I had purchased, and then set off to collect Ady, Rosie's son. We all spent the whole evening sitting on the back of Almyne eating a buffet dinner Al Fresco. One day I will look up this Al Fresco guy on the internet and find out why eating in the sunshine is named after him, like the sandwich is named after the Earl of Sandwich.
Ady is so enamoured of Almyne that he has volunteered to escort me down towards Wolverhampton when I make that part of my trip, a flight of twenty one locks, so I might just do the Wolverhampton area sooner rather than later, while I have the help available.
I have been thinking for some time that I should find a home for the push-bike as I have never used it and probably will not use it as I can see now way of controlling it and D'fer on the main roads. The tow path would be no problem, but main roads would be something else. Anyway, while Ady was here I got him to try it out, as his bike has ripply wheels, and he might as well make use of it, and he is quite willing to take it off my hands until I need it.
When they left I put the bike back on top of Almyne and D'fer, being astute, realised that my attention was focused on the bike and not on him and decided to find out where they had gone. The first I realised was the sound of car horns from the bridge over the canal where Jim had parked his car while visiting. Whistled as loud as I could, because I was still struggling with the bike on top of Almyne and after a few seconds (which seemed a lot longer) D'fer appeared running back down the tow path from the bridge, accompanied by more car horns. He spent the rest of the evening tied up to the tiller on the mooring rope. It gives him about twenty feet of rope to hang himself from.
Did a little fishing as the sun tried hiding itself behind the trees and then dropped below the horizon.
Tonight I did not eat supper as I was still full from an evening of overindulgence.
Sun, 29 Jun 2008
Sunshine at the junction
Looking towards Wheaton Aston
It is only eight days past the solstice, but already the nights are drawing in. Which reminds of me why Arthur Askey was banned from the BBC when he said on air 'Winter drawers on' and the controllers felt that the connotations of drawers and knickers was too close to the mark. My, how times have changed. What a cheeky chappy he was.
I know that I am putting off the last stage of the journey which is why I am having another lazy day pottering around and catching up on the web site again. Once I start to fall behind it becomes a mammoth task to get it all back in place, but I will catch up. Alternated between taking D'fer for a walk, the web site, fishing, which is quite good here, and browsing on the remains of yesterdays salad.
During one of my fishing sessions three people walked past and one of them stooped down to look at the maggots in my tub and asked if they were tasty!
Mon, 30 Jun 2008
One side
The other side
View from canal
7 miles 2 locks
Today I go to Wheaton Aston, but first Hannah
is going to paint the plaque that hangs on the side of Almyne. We did lose it once on the way to Bristol, but some kind gentleman found it and when he spotted us in a lock on our return he gave it back and we have been worried about losing it again ever since. So now the plaque can hang inside Almyne and the message is still on both sides.
I was up and had finished breakfast by the time Hannah arrived just before half nine. She set to straight away a little nervously but after a while she relaxed and it went well, finishing the first side before midday, accompanied by several cups of coffee, I like to keep my workers happy. While Hannah was doing that I tried to make a sling, as in David and Goliath, out of string. I had looked at several on the internet and they were either made out of a leather pouch and string cords or knitted from wool. Anyway after many aborted attempts I came up with a sling that actually works. The pouch is shaped and a stone sits in it quite nicely. At the end of one of the cords I have tied a tiny monkey fist knot and at the end of the other I will tie a Bosun's Whistle Knot to form the loop that sits on the finger.
With the first side complete I turned Almyne around so that Hannah could do the other side, which was completed in double quick time now that she had gained the confidence from the first side.
Through the stop lock at Autherley junction and off on the last stage of the beginning of the journey. A stop lock is a lock that is barely six inches rise (or fall) but was put in place originally to ensure that the working boats had to stop and pay their dues for the canal they were travelling on.
Ever since starting on this mission I have always felt that after the very emotional Bath locks, where I started scattering Geri's ashes, the next big emotional point would be reaching Wheaton Aston and the next would be when I ran out of Geri, so this last stage of the first part of the mission was approached in a cautious state of mind. I travelled very slowly, not caring if the boats behind me were being held up, in fact I never once looked behind me to even see if there were any. I don't know if this was because I was putting off the arrival or just enjoying the perfect travelling conditions. I remember very little of the journey apart from the growing feeling of being at peace with the world and at one with Geri, nothing else existed but the sun, the scenery and the two of us.
Approaching Brewood I spotted Sue on Thea coming in the opposite direction. I waved wildly and thanked her for the help she had given us when I broke the rudder on our way down. She waved back but did not seem to connect with my wild gesticulations and shouts, but it still made me feel good.
At the lock at the top of Wheaton Aston I really took my time. No one else was around and with confused and mixed emotions I emptied the lock and proceeded the last few hundred yards to the point where we originally collected Almyne and moored up in almost exactly the collection point.
Now I had to find Mark
Jeeves, the guy we purchased Almyne from, if he was still in the area and had not gone off to Australia for the gardening job he had been offered out there. The obvious place to start looking for him was in the local hostelry, where Geri and I had partaken of our first canal side pub meal together. I walked in and was immediately told that 'Dogs are not allowed in here', so parked D'fer outside and re-entered to order a pint and make my enquiries. The landlord claimed to have no knowledge of Mark so I went outside to sit with D'fer. There were a likely looking couple of guys on the next table so I enquired of one of them if he knew of a Mark Jeeves and he denied all knowledge, but his companion enquired as to why I was asking. I explained that we had purchased Almyne from Mark two years ago and I just wanted to hook up with him since I was in the area. He gave me Marks number saying that it was not him who gave it to me and that Mark is an ex paratrooper and not to be mucked about with.
I rang Mark and he recognised me almost immediately and said he would be at the pub within fifteen minutes. He arrived and we had a pint together and I told him of my mission and that I wanted to thank him for letting us have Almyne as it was the best two years of Geri's life.
We got chatting and he told me that he has a girl friend, the first since 2006. Needless to say, after another couple of pints I was good for nothing and we agreed to meet up again tomorrow.
On the way back to Almyne I got chatting to Clive
and Shelley
who have been on the K & A last year, reminiscing about anything and everything.
I was expecting to be really down, but it has actually been rather uplifting. Having said that I am waiting for the downer still, somehow I don 't think it is going to happen.
I have honoured my promise to Geri and now feel liberated and freer than my mind thinks I should be!
A sobered tomorrow might put a new light on it, but I don't think so. I feel a kind of peace and contentment and the absolution of completing the allotted task, even though the task was allotted by me (I think).
Top
Sulking D'fer
Had a lay in this morning. I know I had a lay in because I woke up at half six, looked at the clock and went back to sleep again. Looking at the clock involves getting up, wandering down Almyne to the salon, looking at the clock and wandering back to the bedroom. Woke again at half seven, looked at the clock and went back to bed, eventually rising at just after nine.
While I was having breakfast a little Yorkshire Terrier went past. I think it must have been in season, because it was flirting mercilessly with D'fer
and D'fer was totally ignoring me and pestering the Yorkie. I had to drag him back to Almyne and tie him up.
Walked him up to Thrupp but the only way I could keep his attention was to keep throwing his ball for him.
Netta turned up with Jane shortly after twelve and after a cup of tea we all repaired to The Jolly Boatman for lunch, leaving D'fer in Almyne. Unfortunately they had no Sunday roasts left so we then repaired to The Boat (a pub), a few hundred yards up the cut, where we enjoyed a Sunday roast.
Got back to Almyne and D'fer complained that we had been out eating without him, he had been stuck in the boat for hours and hours and hours, he was thirsty, he wanted to play, he wanted to go and find a Yorkie. We walked D'fer to his favourite swimming hole where he had a swim and then on to the field where he bounces like a gazelle.
Back to Almyne and tied D'fer up again, he was still hankering to play with a Yorkie, so he spent all afternoon moaning and complaining and whining and sitting on the back of Almyne sulking. I think we will have to move on tomorrow, or he will be off at every opportunity.
Mon, 2 Jun 2008
3 boats in a narrow lock
7 3/4 miles 5 locks 3 lift bridges
Up around eight and breakfast by half eight. Will need to get some eggs today as I am down to my last one. Engine checks and set off at nine. Four hundred yards or so and one lift bridge which was help up for me, and I arrived at the Thrupp facilities. Topped up with water, the first time since 21st May, thought I was running a little low. Emptied porta pottie and got rid of my rubbish. Set off again just before ten accompanied by two BW boats going towards Banbury . It was useful accompanying them as they operated the lift bridges for me.
Bearing in mind we are on a 'narrow' system, at Shipton Weir Lock all three of use went into it together. Apparently it was built this wide to alleviate fears of the local water mill owners who thought that the boat traffic would lower the level of the river too much.
Since leaving Oxford, six and a half miles ago, the banks were crowded with boats all the way along with very few places to pull over and moor up, but suddenly it all cleared up and there were very few boats anywhere. Canal travelling like it should be.
Thought about stopping at the boatyard at Gibraltar but there was no-one there and to get service you had to ring a telephone number, that was not provided on the notice.
Not too bothered about getting more diesel yet as I still have four and a half inches in the tank.
There were a couple of things that I wanted to get pictures of, but the camera battery was dead, so put it on charge while I travelled. The pictures I take remind me of the things that I have seen and that have happened on the journey so now I can't remember what it was I wanted to photograph!
Arrived at Lower Heyford boat yard around four and I slowed right down and yelled to a guy who looked as if he might be something to do with the boatyard 'Where do I get diesel and gas?'.
'Pull up against that boat' was the reply.
The boat I pulled up against was one that had been moored up near Isis lock at Oxford when I first got there. He was waiting for diesel as well.
The boatyard people were getting a hire boat ready to go out and we both had to wait for them to finish before being serviced ourselves. The other guy got his diesel and went off and I then proceeded to try to remember all the things that I wanted. Diesel, gas, Dowty washers for the fuel leak, Nicholson's No 1 and engine oil. Got all that sorted and then asked if they could do an oil change for me. I was pointed to the right guy and he told me he would be with me in a few moments. When he arrived he insisted in taking a picture of the beer pump and after a little discussion about my requirements told me yes, but not till Thursday. Explained that I wanted to be in Banbury by Thursday so they decided that they should be able to do it first thing tomorrow morning. Bonus.
I had also asked if they could change the oil filter, but was told that my engine does not have one.
While I was waiting to get serviced I prepared dinner, beef-burgers made with mince, onions, bread-crumbs, some herbs and a pinch of chilli powder - well I'm making them, I can put anything I want in them, chips and a salad of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber smothered with salad cream.
Having organised tomorrow, I moved a few hundred yards up the canal and moored up within sight of the boatyard so they know where to come for me.
Cooked dinner, D'fer
enjoyed his share almost as much as I enjoyed mine and settled down for the evening.Tue, 3 Jun 2008
1 miles 1 lift bridge - buckets of rain
Up around eight and breakfast by half eight so as to make sure I am ready for the boat yard. Wandered round there at nine just to see what was happening, not a lot. Back to Almyne to try and do some work, but the signal is just too bad. Checked with the boatyard as to when they can do the oil change - in about an hour.
Took D'fer
for a walk along the tow path. The grass either side was up to elbow height and the rain got worse as I walked. By the time I was back to Almyne I was wet all over. The rain had soaked my jeans and then dripped into my boots. It had dripped off my hat and down my neck, it had worked its way inside my jacket and soaked my T shirt. I was wetter than the time I took mum for a walk on Box Hill and the heavens opened. Didn't stop at Almyne but went round to the boat yard. The general consensus was that they would not be doing the work while it was raining, so I decided that I would press on to find a better reception area, even if it was raining.
Back to Almyne, changed and set off. Got to the first lift bridge and moored up. Put the computer on to check the signal and changed out of my wet clothes. Nearly missed the boat coming through the other way but managed to persuade them to hold the bridge open for me. Carried on to the next lock, thoroughly enjoying myself, singing and whistling and telling myself that I was MAD.
Got to the first lock and decided that enough was enough. Pulled over, changed and lit the fire. Towelled D'fer, he had been sitting on the back of Almyne with me determined not to miss anything. Needless to say he was soaked to the skin. By this time it was just after twelve.
I have just listened to the weather forecast and it appears that the rain will last all day, clearing overnight and dry tomorrow, so will hunker down till then. Oxford (I am just north of Oxford) has had twenty five millimetres of rain in four hours, that's quite a lot.
With the fire going and the wet clothing beginning to dry out I was beginning to warm up a bit. I wasn't really cold, but just damp, with the uncomfortable feeling of cold that comes with it.
A couple of cups of tea and a hot cross bun later, life looked much better, even though it was still bucketing down outside. The only leaks inside were through a couple of window gutters, so they probably need cleaning.
Just after two the boat behind me moved off and because I was moored on the lock operation I decided that I really aught to move back to where they had been, so replaced my slippers with shoes and dashed out to do that. Told D'fer to stay inside, but, well, you know D'fer, has to be in the thick of it.
Only took a couple of minutes but that was enough to get another set of clothing wet enough to be uncomfortable. Think I will have some soup for lunch to warm me up from the inside.
Wed, 4 Jun 2008
Even the cows come to greet
Negotiating a lift bridge
4½ miles 2 locks 1 lift bridge
Up early to a wonderful day, breakfast and a quick check of the engine. Fitted the Dowty washers to the fuel filter, so maybe the leak will stop. Loads of water in the bilge, but the pump not working so hooked that out and checked it over. Couldn't find anything wrong with it and switched it on again, hey presto, it worked. Must be a dodgy connection, another thing to sort out when I have the time!
Set off at eight twenty and did the first lock at eight thirty. The water in it was very high, but still down on last night.
Fairly uneventful journey except for the fun and games at the lift bridge. I have worked out why the lift bridge operation is on the opposite side of the canal to the tow path. Canal were originally built for horse drawn barges, so the tow rope needed to be unimpeded. If the bridge operated from the tow path side the rope would have to be lifted over it, and that would have been a right pain for them. Now, of course, it is a right pain for powered, single crewed narrow boats.
Kept the computer switched on all the way, checking the internet signal from time to time. Pulled over a couple of times when the signal looked good, only to find it had faded. Eventually worked out that the signal faded every time there were trees on the tow path side. Spotted a good mooring point where there were no trees on the tow path side and pulled in, moored up and checked - YES.
Spent the afternoon catching up on all the fiddly stuff, correcting irritating errors and replying to emails, it is good to get it all sorted out.
Netta popped along this evening with Ayla (her daughter) and Jake (her grandson) to deliver my copy if Nicholson's No1, now I have two, but you can bet your bottom dollar I will need them both, one will get wet and the pages will stick together.
Aynho boatyard said that I could hire their 'sucky thing' to get the oil out of the engine. I am not entirely sure that they understood what I meant as the woman was mumbling something about an Aquavac, well I will find out tomorrow.
The plan is to change the oil and carry on to Banbury , mooring up before I get to a water point so I can get my washing done and then move on to the water point to top up with water again.
Had twitchy legs last night, not for long, but it reminded me that I haven't had twitchy legs for ages.
D'fer
found a spider and followed it around Almyne for quite a while, every time it tried to get under something he scratched it back out and stuck his nose on it, occasionally licking it. Didn't seem to like the taste much but continued to pester until it eventually curled up in a wet soggy ball and lay there still and silent. I don't know if he licked it to death or not, he may even have eaten it in the end.
Thu, 5 Jun 2008
50 yards
Woke to hear myself saying 'This is the life' and see the sun streaming in through the window.
After breakfast I set to and started the washing, loads to catch up on as I had nearly run out of clean clothes. Six hours later it was finished, well almost I still have a couple of towels to wash, but I have put them in to soak and will do them tomorrow (or the next day).
While the washing was doing I started sewing a new band on my bushman's hat. I have already sewn a band on my pork pie hat and I thought it might be fun to have the same band on all my hats. Not as easy as I thought. The bushman's hat is made of a very stout material and getting the needle through it is to say the least difficult. After five hours intermittent work I am seven eighths of the way round with a sore finger and thumb. Will finish it later, there is loads of time.
Since I run the engine while using the washing machine the batteries are well charged up so should have no problem with power this evening and maybe tomorrow as well.
The guy on the boat opposite says that I will not get through the next bridge without taking my chimney down as it is the lowest bridge on the Oxford canal. I have tried to take it off but to no avail. I have twisted it, I have banged it with the hammer, I have pried at it and I have levered at it. He does tell me that the bridge will get it off.
I think that I might walk Almyne through the bridge, that way if it is going to hit I can make sure that it is controlled. Also if I walk it through I cam make sure that Almyne is as far over the tow path side as is possible, giving the chimney as much room as possible, we will see.
Did a Google search on 'Almyne' last night, it came up third and fourth.
When Pasquale visited and we walked the dogs, one of them trod on the back of my sandal and now the sole is coming away from the upper, glued it back together with some impact glue and it seems to be holding.
About half five, when the traffic had eased off I checked to see if there was a space the other side of the bridge, and there was so towed Almyne through on the ropes. The chimney went through with no problems, about an inch and a half to spare. If this is the lowest bridge on the Oxford canal, then I can manage all the others.
The washing is drying nicely, which is good because the forecast for tomorrow is more rain, maybe I will be here for a couple more days.
Fri, 6 Jun 2008
D'fer on tow path
Wilderness
3 miles 2 locks 5 lift bridges
Woke up to find that two boats had pulled in to the wharf during my period of sleep, could have been last night, could have been this morning. So much for an early start (he says with his tongue in his cheek).
Walked round to the shop and purchased a loaf of bread, wish I hadn't it is awful, a thin sliced loaf that is all pap and soggy. Apparently the two boats are just filling up with water and will be moving on soon.
During breakfast one of the boats pulled off, and another took its place. I could see no point in complaining as I am on canal time and all the other people seem to be on London time.
Eventually set off around half ten and was lucky enough to have assistance at the first two lift bridges. Somewhere along my journey I spotted what I think was a stoat swimming across the canal. I have never really been sure what the difference between a stoat and a weasel is, but an elderly country gentleman I once knew told me that a stoat is stoatally different and a weasel is weaselly distinguishable, so I still don't really know, except that I think a stoat tends to be bigger. Anyway, it was quite a big creature, although not big enough to be an otter.
Kept the computer on during the journey to check on signal level, which was quite good most of the way.
Someone nearly pinched a lock on me as a boat was coming out. They started to close the gates, but I sounded my horn and they opened them again, and helped me through. Carried on up through three more lift bridges, which were all open, and the next lock (I am going up at the moment), heading on my way towards Banbury . Came to a stretch where the tow path is overgrown with one or two areas cleared, probably buy other boats having moored up, and spotted a nice mooring, with a good signal. Pulled over and moored up. By this time it was shortly after one and in the heat was time for a rest if nothing else.
Settled down for a cup of tea and a bite to eat and decided that this was a really good place to stay for a while, right out in the wilderness (if that is possible in Britain ) and almost inaccessible along the tow path due to it being overgrown.
Spent the afternoon clearing up the few remaining email queries and settled in to develop the Google map. It does have limitations as I found out when I had nearly plotted the route to Reading, so deleted it all and started again. A bit disappointing, but I am on canal time.
I had asked Google if I could download their 'pins' and put them on my site as a legend to my map. They replied to say no, but also said that they had looked at my site and 'what an adventure you are having'. I felt quite honoured that they had actually bothered to look at it. I then did a Google search for Almyne and it comes up as the third and fourth items on the first page of results.
Late night with all that map stuff.
Sat, 7 Jun 2008
Didn't go anywhere today. It is such a lonely spot, just what I have been looking for. D'fer
can wander all he likes, about a mile along the tow path in either direction through thick grass and weeds, so he doesn't go far anyway.
Did the rest of my washing, mostly bedding and towels, which I started at ten and finished at just after three, then I have to get it all dry before I go to bed. Rather than throwing the washing water overboard I have been throwing it in to the bilges. Hopefully the residual washing powder will help clean it up a bit. I can pump it out with the bilge pump anyway. That done I started the generator and got the vacuum cleaner out to vacuum the carpets, scrubbed all the surfaces from the front of Almyne right back to, and including, the galley, will do the salon tomorrow.
Gave the port side of the stern a coat of paint so now it is nearly all blue instead of blue and grey.
Just before I had dinner a boat pulled in about two hundred yards along and the crew sorted their dinner out on the tow path. As soon as I finished my dinner and fed D'fer he wandered off. 'I wonder where he can be' I thought, perhaps he is visiting our new neighbours. I wandered along and asked if he was pestering them. They said 'No, he is so well behaved'. I said that if they were happy I would leave him with them and they were comfortable with this. They asked if he would come back to me on his own and I told them 'Yes'. He stayed with them for about half an hour, presumably till they finished their meal, and then came back to Almyne.
The one persons face that has been missing has been Geri's. It has taken me along time to pluck up the courage to go through all the pictures that I have of Geri
and pick out one that I like and I think people will relate to. It was difficult, but it brought back so many memories of the fun we had together and it reminded me of how many times each day I think to myself 'I wish Geri could see this', or 'Geri would have so enjoyed that', I miss her so much.
I think I will spend the rest of the evening working on the maps again.
Goodnight all.
Sun, 8 Jun 2008
Didn't go anywhere again today. Walked in to the local village as I had heard that it has a good general store. It does, but a three hour round walk is more than I am prepared to do on a regular basis. Mind you, rather than taking the road I spotted a footpath through a meadow which looked more interesting than the road. It was, but before long I realised that it was really a water meadow. First of all the path got a bit damp in places, then it had an inch or so of water on it, which was easy to skirt round, but before long I was up to my ankles in water every which way. But, once you are wet you cannot get any wetter, so I ploughed on. D'fer
thought it was great fun, long grass AND water, what more could a dog ask for?
Painted the side of the boat below the gunnels where I keep scraping it against the sides of the locks and so on, but gave up about two because it was so hot, 96.5F in the shade inside the boat, but whose complaining, today might be the first and last day of summer this year.
Spent the rest of the afternoon working on the maps, shouldn't be more than a month or so at this rate.
I intend to set off for Banbury early in the morning, so if you are reading this tonight and it changes next time you read it, you will know that I failed!
Mon, 9 Jun 2008
3 1/4 miles 2 locks 1 lift bridge
Up early, set off at eight after a good breakfast to keep me going all day. I had travelled for about twenty minutes an had reached Grants lock, the first of two today, when Mick
came walking along the tow path. I met Mick yesterday on the way to the village shop. He volunteered to work the lock for me and when he said he was walking in to Banbury I offered him a lift.
Suddenly I had crew for the journey and he operated the next lock and the swing bridge which made life really easy.
It was interesting passing under the M40 motorway and seeing all those people rushing from one place to another as fast as they could go, stressing themselves out and, at the end of the day, missing out on life, nature and a little peace and quiet. Got to Banbury, filled up with water and Mick and I sat on the back of Almyne having a cup of tea and watching the world go by.
Although it was only ten forty five I decided that I had travelled enough for the day. The sun was really hot and the canal was getting busy.
Wandered in to Banbury just to see what was available. Banbury, although a large growing town was much more laid back that Reading or Oxford and I enjoyed the window shopping. Walked back by way of Tooley's Boat Yard and asked if I could hire their 'sucky thing that you stick down the dip stick hole to get the oil out of the engine' if I leave a big deposit and was told 'Yes' but come back at about three this afternoon.
Went back to Almyne and shut D'fer
in, it was so hot.
Wandered back around Banbury trying to find something to spend money on, but could not find anything that I wanted or lacked.
Collected D'fer from Almyne and walked up the tow path towards Tesco to see if I could find out where it was. Took a detour through the park and then realised that I did not have time to actually get to Tesco and get back to Tooley's by three, so returned to Tooley's, letting D'fer have a swim on the way.
The hire charge for the 'sucky thing' was nothing, but they did charge me five pounds to dispose of the waste oil, can't be bad. As for the deposit, they asked me if I had a credit card and I said 'Yes, but how about if I leave you this' thrusting forty pounds into the owners hands. That worked.
While I was chatting I overheard a Canadian guy, Tony
, talking about cray fish nets, and where could he get one. As I had two on Almyne that are still in their plastic wrapping I told him he could have one if he wanted. Apparently he emigrated to Canada a long time ago and then returned a few years ago and is in the process of restoring a wooden narrow boat that is 'steam driven'. Now that will be something to see. Anyway, he followed me to Almyne and I produced the cray fish nets. He took one and asked how much I wanted for it. A fiver. I know they cost more than that, but what the hell, I wasn't using it.
Back at Almyne I used the 'sucky thing' to remove the oil from the engine sump. It works really well if a little slowly, about half an hour to suck out five litres or so of oil, and filled the engine with new fresh clean oil. I hope she likes it.
Returned the 'sucky thing', collected my deposit and paid for the oil disposal and then off to Tesco again. This time I found it and asked if they would do a home delivery. Well well, Tesco will only do home delivery if ordered on the internet. Guess I will be shopping at Budgens or Somerfields or Waitrose in future.
Still, as I was passing B & Q on the way back I popped in there and purchased a sniffing size tin of Evo-Stick. Now I might be able to stick the rubber strip around the engine hatch boards to see if that makes it any quieter.
D'fer had another swim on the way back. I don't think he likes Banbury too much as it is all concrete along the tow path, will move on early tomorrow and find somewhere more suited to his liking.
With rain threatening for Wednesday I need to get my travelling in on Tuesday, rest up for a day and then off again on Thursday.
Tue, 10 Jun 2008
Dragon head
Riot of colour
Scarecrows2
Dink and Malc
Scarecrows1
13½ miles 14 locks
Well I made it, Left Banbury at six forty three, after a quick breakfast of Damson and Plum jam on toast, washed down with a cup of tea.
Just outside I spotted the house where 'Dink and Malc' live, I'm not sure who they are but they seem to think that everyone wants to know, so I have included a picture.
Although the canal was fairly busy today it worked well for me as at most of the locks there was someone else waiting to use it from the other direction so I had lots of help. This single handed lark isn't that bag after all.
Arrived at Cropredy by ten after passing a stretch of canal where the bank was a riot of colour, the picture just does not do it justice, and disposed of my rubbish in the bins there and emptied the porta pottie. It was not full, but it is good to wash it out when the opportunity arises. Popped in to the Spar shop and the only thing that I found to spend my money on were some new bandannas for D'fer, Bindy
and Nellie had ripped his other red one to shreds, and some eggs.
Set off again and a little while later I spotted a wonderful figurehead on one of the boats there, a Dragon, I just had to take a picture of that too. Pushed on towards Fenny Compton and stopped off for half an hour for a late breakfast (bacon and eggs on toast) just past Clattercote Wharf.
Clattercote wharf is on a smallholding or something similar. Anyway, they have scarecrows in their fields, lots of them, men scarecrows, women scarecrows and children scarecrows. At first it looks like an old time village gathering. Apparently the farmer there is planning on restoring the two old narrow boats , which are currently used by the farmer as grain storage, to take his produce to deliver his produce to market
It was nice to have a rest and a good idea because a little further on there was a flight of seven locks close together which, even with people coming the other way and helping, was still quite arduous, but after that it is a flat run for several miles, winding backwards and forwards round hairpin bends. It was a bit like a twisty mountain road except that it was flat.
It got to about four o'clock and I was getting a little tired so decided that I would find somewhere to moor up. Trouble is, I am picky. I wanted somewhere that faced east so the sun would wake me in the morning, I wanted somewhere that I could get a good internet signal, I wanted somewhere that D'fer
could play and run, I wanted somewhere that was easy to moor up and I wanted somewhere that had no stinging nettles on the bank. I have tried mooring up amongst stinging nettles wearing shorts and sandals before, not nice.
At ten to six I found a place that fitted four of the five requirements, pulled over, moored up and sat down for ten minutes. D'fer just wanted to go fro a walk and explore the area, but I was having none of it.
Put the chicken on and prepared the rice to go with it and then took D'fer for a walk. Found somewhere for him to have a swim and he was delighted. The Oxford canal is a very clean canal with good banks for mooring up to. Most of it is 'piled', but this means that D'fer cannot get out once he gets in because the bank is vertical, so finding a bit that is not 'piled' is quite an achievement.
Back to Almyne to catch up on internetty stuff and eat dinner around eight.
Even though I do say so myself, dinner was superb. Chicken suffused with red wine accompanied by orange flavoured rice, simple but absolutely wonderful. Maybe the long day had something to do with it but I like to think it was simply that it was all cooked to perfection.
Rounded off the evening with a little fishing, which was unusually good, five fish in half an hour and all of them respectable sizes, I won't tell you how big, you will only say 'fisherman's tales', but I was pleased with them.
Wed, 11 Jun 2008
My first signpost
Looks longer from the side
Watching windmills
Napton Junction
Feeding ducklings
Pill Boxes are different here
11 miles 9 locks
It was meant to be raining today so I planned not to travel. Had a lay in and after breakfast I stuck the rubber strip on the lip of the engine hatch, something I have been meaning to do for ages. Took a long time for the Evo-Stick to dry, but it did in the end.
Eleven o'clock arrived but the rain didn't, so I decided that I would press on and try to find a good signal area.
The going was easy for the first couple of miles and I spotted a bunch of ducklings swimming towards me, so I held out my hand to see what they would do. They tried eating it!
After a while I reached the Napton flight of nine locks. Nine locks in two miles. At the first lock the couple in the boat behind helped by opening the bottom gates to let me out and carry straight on. The same thing happened at the next lock as they had caught up with me. Remember, on the narrow system only one boat can get into a lock at a time, whereas on the broad canals two boats can share a lock.
At the next lock I decided to wait and let them go through before me so I would not hold them up. I enjoy pottering along at my speed and when a boat is close (a hundred yards or so) behind me I feel pressured to go a little faster. I prepared the lock and then made myself a cup of tea, then I walked a couple of hundred yards back up the cut, but they were not in sight, so I carried on anyway. I think that they must have stopped for lunch to let me get well ahead!.
Did the next lock on my own and as I was going in to the following lock another boat arrived behind me. They were on a hire boat and were rather aloof, not speaking and only answering my friendly questions in monosyllables.
They let me take Almyne into the lock and watched me jumping in and out of Almyne letting first one paddle down, then closing the gate behind me and then closing the other paddle, walking Almyne to the bottom of the lock, opening one paddle halfway (otherwise the rush of water throws the boat around) till the water settled down and then opening the other paddle. The lock emptied and they watched me open one gate, walk all the way round the lock to the other gate, open that, walk all the way back round the lock to the ladder so that I could climb down into Almyne and start to take her out of the lock. At this point they came along and closed the gates behind me. I thanked them profusely.
At the next lock I thought hat they may have got the idea that I was on my own and maybe they did, but there was still no offer of assistance so I decided that I would do this in my own time. My time is canal time and if I get to the next lock by Monday I am happy.
I deliberately took my time over everything, making sure that I was not contravening any health and safety laws by being reckless or rushing. I only opened one paddle (it is a long way around the lock, 100 feet in one direction, clamber over the lock gates and another 100 feet back in the other direction, especially when you have done several already) so the lock took twice as long to empty. I opened one gate, walked round the lock, opened the other gate, walked round the lock, clambered down the ladder and started out of the lock. They very kindly offered to close the gates for me again.
At the next lock there was a boat coming the other way and the crew of that one helped me, even though there was only two of them. Left that lock and found somewhere to moor up to go to the local shop, where I managed to get a new bandanna for D'fer. He seemed so delighted to put it on and gambolled around for ages. His last one was in tatters and I am using it as a dishcloth.
I also got the Nicholson's No 4, which covers the next stage of my journey after I leave the Oxford canal and some eggs for breakfast.
A bit further on I was passing a marina and spotted a narrow boat side on something I don't see very often. They look so long when seen like that.
Somehow a junction on the canal is different to joining or leaving a river. When joining or leaving a river it is a matter of coping with the current and watching out for fast moving pleasure boats and worrying about how deep and fast the water is. A junction on the canal is just a place of diversion, which way shall I go, shall I go this way, or shall I go that way. There is lots of time to think about it, well nearly twenty seconds before you are past it. However, my journey is planned so I did not have to make that decision, but there was a signpost, the first I have seen in one hundred and eighty miles.
Now wouldn't that be a bummer if you went the wrong way, you wouldn't know it till you got to the next signpost, another one hundred and eighty miles!!
Suddenly I am no longer on the Oxford canal, I am on the Grand Union , heading towards Braunston , the home of everything to do with canals.
By this time it is nearly five o'clock so I decide that signal or not it is time I pull over, so I started looking for a good place and very soon found one. Pulled over, moored up and put dinner on, yesterdays chicken and (because I enjoyed it so much) orange flavoured rice again.
Half an hours fishing and dinner is ready. D'fer
seems to enjoy the orange flavoured rice as well, which is good because I still cook far too much for one.
I am going to spend the evening listening to the radio and having a glass (or three) of wine and then off to bed for a well earned rest.
By the way, the rubber strip definitely reduces the engine noise and it is easier on the feet standing there all day. What a life, leaning on a piece of wood all day long.
Thu, 12 Jun 2008
Bridge 26 Oxford Canal
Buttercups
Hillmorton double locks
2 miles
It was meant to be raining again today but it started off quite nice, so set off just before nine, and rounded Braunston Junction just after half past. Watching the sky I decided that it was going to rain after all and the wind was picking up and getting rather strong. The wind makes it difficult to steer Almyne when going slowly and because I was passing a lot of boats, I had to go slowly.
Motored on a little further and spotted a place to moor up, pulled up in front of a couple of BW boats that were filling sandbags with cement, presumably to reinforce the bank, and just behind another narrow boat. D'fer
immediately went and introduced himself to the owner of the narrow boat and then went and pestered the BW guys for a bite to eat.
Made my self a cup of tea and set to to catch up (again) on some emails. That done I carried on with the map of the canals. Completed the Oxford canal in about four hours, but lost it all when I signed out of my Google Maps account, my fault, I tell people time and time again to save often.
Made dinner with D'fer pestering me more so than usual, which is when I realised that dinner was at least an hour late. Once I had eaten, D'fer ate, and then he settled down. All in all, he has been very good today as I have virtually ignored him nearly all day and he has been as good as gold.
Now I need to redo the map of the Oxford canal.
Fri, 13 Jun 2008
15½ miles 3 locks 1 swing bridge 1 tunnel
Set off shortly before nine after a goodbye to Dewie who is on the boat next door.
D'fer
visited with him last night and when I went to get D'fer back I got chatting to Dewie, who is quite a character and, amongst other things, the author of the cartoons that feature two guys hanging up in chains in a dungeon and goes by the name of TAFF.
Anyway, set off shortly after nine towards Hawkesbury Junction. The sun was shining through the clouds but the wind was on the chilly side. Passed a whole field of buttercups, so took a picture of it for mum. Here it is mum.
Hillmorton flight is quite interesting as there are two locks at each of the three sets of locks in the flight. It is the only place on the Oxford canal where they do this and apparently was an improvement in the 19th century. I suppose it is a different approach to the locks that will take three boats but are still narrow locks.
I have often spotted herons on the canal but they rarely hang around long enough to get a good picture. This one did, while I went past in one direction and another boat went past in the other direction.
Approaching Rugby I remembered that someone had told me that there was a supermarket just by bridge 58, so when I spotted the bridge I pulled over, moored up and went for a walk. Sure enough there it was just a few hundred yards from the tow path.
Shopping at last. I purchased a couple of tins of minced beef, a couple of tins of chicken curry and a couple of tins of meat balls in tomato sauce, along with a couple of Frey Bentos steak pies in tins and some butter, three bottles of lemon juice and a couple of bags of Hula Hoops, D'fer and I like Hula Hoops and the obligatory bacon and some liver for tomorrows tea. I had started to run out of everything. Took that back to Almyne, stored it and returned to the supermarket for two bags of potatoes, two bags of onions and a loaf of bread and some cream crackers. Although I like rice I was beginning to miss my potatoes and I love my crackers and cheese for supper.
Then there was the bridge that someone hit, not me I promise, but whoever it was made quite a mess of it and I bet their boat wasn't looking too good afterwards either.
Kept an eye on the signal level all the way and it fluctuated from bad to medium to worse to not bad and then getting on towards the evening it started getting rather good, so I started to look for a place to moor up. I moored up a couple of times but each time the signal disappeared so I set off again. Then after working my way through the swing bridge, which is a foot bridge and can be opened and closed with a pole from the boat, the signal went to marvellous. But guess what, nowhere to moor up. Continued on for about half a mile and there was the perfect spot, good mooring and perfect signal, so here I am just above Bridge 26 on the Oxford canal.
Chicken and chips for tea, I'm saving the liver and bacon for tomorrow.
After tea I took D'fer for a walk and found a meadow. He was in his element chasing sticks through the long grass and leaping up in the air to see where they were falling. I got him back to Almyne and he spent half an hour or so trying to convince me that there was someone or something coming a long the tow path by barking, I checked the first three times and there was nothing, so ignored him after that and within a few minutes he laid down and went to sleep. I won't be long after him.
Sat, 14 Jun 2008
6 miles
My target today is to get to Hawkesbury Junction, or Sutton Stop if you want to call it that. Set off just after ten and was approaching Hawkesbury just before twelve. Moored up and thought, "I don't want to spend the night here, there is an awful whining in the air'
Walked in to Hawkesbury checking moorings all the way. I did not want to get to Hawkesbury and find no mooring so that I was forced to carry on out the other side. I need not have worried as there were several mooring spots available quite close to the junction. On the way back to Almyne I called in to the fishing tackle shop and purchased a pint of maggots. The pint that I bought at Kidlington had lasted well and I still had some in the fridge, not all of them frozen solid. I have often been told by fishermen that to warm a maggot up in the winter to make it all wriggly you should put it under your tongue for a few moments. I've never understood the logic of this as I am certain that as soon as the maggot hit the ice cold water it says to itself 'Sh*t that's cold' and goes rigid straight away, so why warm it up in the first place.
Anyway, got some more maggots so I can do some more fishing.
Back at Almyne, made myself a cup of tea and sat there listening to the whine and realised that it was my bilge pump. Turned it off and everything was quiet, perhaps I could stay here overnight after all.
Carried on to Hawkesbury junction and moored up no more than one hundred yards from the junction itself beside a very wide grass verge where D'fer
could play in the cut grass, which he did endlessly. Found a spot where he could have a swim, so after getting very wet he dried himself off in the grass.
Did a little fishing and then prepared my liver and bacon with onions in red wine and tomato and herb soup with mashed potatoes with lashings of butter, there goes my cholesterol levels.
Sun, 15 Jun 2008
In to Coventry
15th June
11 miles 1 lock
Decided to take Rosie
and Jim
in to Coventry today. Put them on the back of Almyne, Rosie looking pretty and relaxed and Jim being skipper.
Set of just after ten and arrived in Coventry after a relatively uneventful trip, except for hitting an underwater obstruction and having Almyne roll under us, just after midday.
I had to turn Almyne round before reversing in to one of the arms of Coventry basin and this was achieved without mishap, much to my surprise as there was very little room between all the other boats, and then squeezing in to a slot not much longer than Almyne and Almyne Too. Walked across to The Admiral Codrington but they would not allow dogs in, not even in the beer garden. Apparently a while ago there was some guy in there with a dog and a couple of other guys were winding it up. It got so excited that it bit a young girl on the back of her leg. I can sort of understand the concept behind the ban, but feel that the landlord would have been better off banning the guys who were winding up the dog in the first place. This I found out from another customer who also felt that the people should have been banned rather than the dog(s).
Decided to have a drink on Almyne so returned and prepared a picnic lunch of chicken, beef, and ham with tomatoes, lettuce, bread and butter, cold boiled new potatoes and a range of condiments, with a can of beer.
Rosie thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the ducklings and cygnets and was no trouble, sitting on the stern all the way and Jim had done a good job of helping me steer Almyne, so I let them join me for lunch.
Lots of children had waved to Rosie and Jim on the way and both of them waved back, delighting the kiddies.
After lunch we set of again on the return journey, spotting a wheelie bin floating in the canal, maybe that was what we hit on the way in, and arrived at Hawkesbury Junction just after five. As I was not going back down the Oxford arm I carried on along the Coventry canal towards Fazeley Junction, only a few hundred yards, but it is still another canal. Moored up and had a repeat of lunch, but this time with a glass of wine.
Rosie and Jim went back to their usual home and I settled in for a quiet evening doing a little fishing and generally enjoying a beautiful evening, only breaking off from time to time to recover D'fer
from wherever he had wandered off to while I was otherwise occupied.Mon, 16 Jun 2008
D'fer on the tow path
Sunset
Down the towpath
12 miles 9 locks
I would say an uneventful trip, but some idiot in a blue narrow boat called Kingfisher rammed me. I had set off just after nine, after a leisurely breakfast, and was proceeding along the canal. He pulled out behind me and kept pace about a hundred yards further back for quite a while. As I was approaching Marston Junction there was a boat coming out of the junction. I slowed down, as you would, and he indicated that there was another boat following him out, so I continued to move forward with caution. I got to a point where I could see back along the line of the adjoining canal and saw that the boat coming along there was at least two hundred yards away, so perfectly safe for me to continue. Unbeknownst to me, the boat behind had not slowed down and only at the last moment put his boat into reverse, still giving me quite a clout. If it had been a hire boat I might have understood a little more, but these were seasoned boaters. I had been speaking to them the evening before and they had related how they had done many of the canals I am looking forward to travelling. A bit further on and he was still right up my backside, so I pulled over and let him past. He gave me a pointed 'Thank you', to which I replied 'You're welcome'. It is not what I was thinking I can assure you.
I stopped off for lunch about midday, did a little fishing and then had a go at pumping out the engine bilge. While I was doing this D'fer
was roaming the tow path, as he does, and came back to me all excited with another dog that looked almost like him but without the brown patches. A few seconds later the owner arrived and we got chatting. Her dog 'Jack' was an Alsatian Labrador cross and did not like the water so we decided to get D'fer to show him how much fun swimming was. She knew a good spot to send them in about fifteen minutes up the towpath so I said I would walk up there with them when I had cleaned up a bit. Having washed some of the grease off me I realised that it would be just as easy to take Almyne up the canal for fifteen minutes as it would be to walk, so we all piled on and off we went. Jack was a bit nervous as he had never been on any other boat than his own. We got to the spot and I moored up. In the process of mooring up Jack tried jumping on to the bank and missed. We found out that he can swim. His owner fished him out as he couldn't climb the piled side of the canal. We walked back twenty or so yards to the swimming place and I sent D'fer in after his ball. Jack went bananas, barking and jumping around, but wouldn't go in. I tried to hold D'fer back to throw the ball in just a little way, but he broke loose and leapt over Jack into the water to get the ball. The second time I managed to hold D'fer back while Jack tentatively paddled out, not quite reaching the ball, and again D'fer broke loose. He was impossible to keep out of the water. I think that he felt a bit jealous as another dog was playing with HIS ball and stopping him getting into the water.
We tried several more times to no avail and by this time Jack wanted to join in and was trying to get the ball off D'fer when he got out of the water. D'fer actually snapped at Jack, so I ticked him off, but Jacks owner is of the same opinion as myself, they will sort it out themselves and dogs need to learn that there are times that they should back off.
Anyway, it was an exciting twenty minutes or so and Jack and owner went on their way and I proceeded on mine.
Set off again properly just before three and carried on till I reached the first of eleven locks in the Atherstone flight. The BW guys were trying to fix it as something was wrong. I decided that this was as good a place as any to top up with water so went to the watering point and filled up. Emptied the porta pottie, just because I could and got rid of the little rubbish I had accumulated over the past few days.
Lock fixed and I set off down the flight. Managed nine of the eleven before D'fer started complaining that dinner was late. He usually eats around half six, after I have eaten and by now it was very nearly seven, so pulled over and moored up.
Chicken salad for tea followed by a beer and a rest.
I think an early night and a late morning is in order.
Tue, 17 Jun 2008
Another Signpost
3/4 mile 2 locks
Meeting Bob at bridge 48 this evening at about six so not too much of a rush. Leisurely breakfast and set off at half nine, got to the first lock and went straight in. The man from the following boat assisted and allowed me to jump on Almyne and carry on, leaving him to close the gates.
At the next lock I prepared it and then waved the boat behind me to come on through. I think that they were a bit surprised as it took them a few moments to cotton on and start out of the lock. They arrived and started to pull in behind me so I waved then on again and they came past me in to the lock. I explained that I had to be at the next bridge by six pm and was in no rush. I helped them through the lock and then helped the boat coming the other way through the lock. I have had so much help from others that it is nice to return the favour from time to time, even if it is not for the people who have helped me.
Carried on through that lock and moored up at Bridge 48 and turned the engine off at ten fifty five.
Tired and exhausted after a days travelling - hang on - I've only travelled for an hour and a half and most of that was lock watching. With time on my hands I did not a lot, some fishing, some walking D'fer, some log hunting and some eating.
During the afternoon the eejit that rammed me yesterday want past the other way. I was walking D'fer
along the towpath as he went past and I stopped and watched him all the way past Almyne, which I could see in the distance from where I was at the time. Kingfisher was the boats name and the guy on board kept looking over his shoulder to see me watching him. I hope he felt guilty.
Bob rang just after three and said he would be with me within the hour. Panic, I had intended to do some internetty stuff before he got here. Switched on the computer and set to to do some work. Bob arrived and we set off for his place straight away.
Got to Bobs watering hole by six and downed three pints in no time. I rarely go to pubs to drink as I have more than enough on Almyne and pubs are social places and being somewhat shy I tend to just sit there, so it was really nice to go to a pub with a friend. The three pints were accompanied by a whole lot of nattering and finding out how Bob got on and telling him all about my adventures. I know I tell people on the cut about bits and pieces of my adventures, but it is not the same as telling it all to someone you know.
Went back to Bobs place and met Sue for the first time after hearing so much about her, and D'fer renewed his acquaintance with Penny, their dog. Although Penny is a very quiet dog after a while she and D'fer really had something going between them and spent their time together gently licking, sniffing and rubbing up against each other.
Sue got dinner for us and I enjoyed a really good chilli con carni that I had not cooked, it made a real change.
Fell into bed some time during the evening after several more beers and glasses of wine.
Wed, 18 Jun 2008
10½ miles 2 locks
Up by half six, this sleeping in real beds is not for me, especially as it does not rock me to sleep. Bob was already up and we both had breakfast and set off for Almyne, arriving there by half eight. Bob was in two minds as to whether he should go to work, or ring his men and tell them to get on with what they had to do (they knew what they had to do) and spend the rest of the day on Rosebud, his boat. I did try ringing him just after six this evening but could get no answer.
Set off before nine and travelled for a couple of hours. It was threatening to rain and very windy, making it chilly, but I put on my fleece lined shirt so was warm enough not to worry about it. Pulled over for a cup of tea and found some perfect logs for the fire, so got the chain saw out and cut them up. Collected some smaller stuff as well and cut that up with the Bow saw. D'fer
loves it when I cut up wood and insists on helping me by holding the end I am no cutting. Hasn't quite got the idea that he is meant to be holding it still yet, but at least he is trying to help. Every now and again he stops holding the big stick and wanders off to find another one. Now that is helpful when he returns with one.
Stayed there for a couple of hours enjoying the countryside and lunch and set off again around half one.
Motored through two locks without incident and on past Tamworth and Fazeley junction. Of all the gardens on all the canals I think that the gardens through Tamworth are the prettiest of them all. Every one of them is well kept and interesting and somehow 'nicer' than any of the others I have seen, perhaps it is something to do with the gentle slope that they are on. Most other canal side gardens are on a steep slope and although nicely laid out tend to look 'built up' rather than grown.
Continued on my way until it started to rain, when I pulled over and moored up just north of Hopwas , adjacent to a military shooting area. Didn't rain for long, but having stopped I was going to stay stopped. Chicken and chips for tea, with D'fer having everything I could get off the carcass. I have always loved 'picking a chicken', I think it takes me back to my childhood, if I have ever left it, perhaps I should say, 'reminds me of my earlier years'.
I had noticed several boats moored up along the way that had 'captured' a piece of the bank and made their own little encampment. Obviously not formal moorings but just personalised. When I took D'fer for his evening walk I passed a boat whose owners had personalised a bit of the towpath, or more correctly the bit of land beside the tow path. They had made some steps down a little slope and levelled it off at the bottom. Then they had built a little brick hearth and a wood store. I had to talk to them and ask how it works. They told me that if you find a place that you like you just 'do it' and if no one ticks you off or asks you to move on you stick with it.
Hmmmm, I might look for somewhere to do this for the winter.
Anyway it's bedtime so that's it for tonight.
Thu, 19 Jun 2008
Look Glyn
6½ miles
What a gorgeous day, the sun came up early and woke me, so I had breakfast and set out at five past six. Because I was travelling so early I could go at my speed, which is mostly a tick-over. Many people on the canals seem to think that four knots is the speed to travel at rather than the maximum. Carried on like this till half eight when I pulled over and had another breakfast, well a cup of tea anyway. The thing about travelling on my own is that it is difficult to make a cup of tea on the move, not impossible, but difficult. The way to do it is to slow right down and get the boat pointing in the right direction, then rush inside and put the kettle on and rush back outside again. If the boat has started to wander, which it frequently does, correct the wandering and get it back on a straight line again. Then rush inside and prepare the cup and back out again, just to check. Wait for the kettle to boil. Once boiling, get the boat on the straight and narrow, rush inside and pour tea, rush out again. Get the boat on the straight and narrow, rush in and put in the various additives to the tea, and take it back out in time to correct the wandering.
All that just for a cup of tea. This works well if there is no wind, but with a wind the boat goes off course much too quickly and today it is windy.
Set off again just after nine and continued on my journey at a 'canal' speed rather than my speed because there were other boats around by now. Passed a boat covered with mushrooms, see Glyn, someone else does it too, but I don't think they are much competition, not from up here anyway. Got to my appointed spot at Fradley Junction by ten forty five, moored up an had another cup of tea.
Wandered in to Fradley junction to see what was what. There is a little canal shop there that sells provisions, and although they claim to sell bread they only sell the sliced stuff in plastic bags.
Midday arrived and I decided that with it being sunny but windy, washing was the order of the day, so out came the washing machine and all the dirty clothes. Now the way I do the washing is to put the first load in, wash it and put it in the spinner and spin it. Put the next load in the water that I have previously washed in, top it up, add more washing powder and wash again, repeating the process. Start with the whites and light things, working my way down to coloured and black.
Once everything is washed I repeat the whole process for rinsing, twice, so I have virtually finished the washing before I can get anything out on the line, and this occurred at four o'clock precisely.
Then I needed a rest, so lounged around for a couple of hours before getting tea, liver and onions in red wine with potatoes and mushy peas, washed down with a can of beer. What a life I lead.
Walked D'fer
up to the junction again where he performed some tricks for some children at the pub with their parents and then back to Almyne to bed.
Fri, 20 Jun 2008
A wooden chair
Sharing the fire
Rosie and Jim
Busy going nowhere, working the whole day through, trying to find lots of things not to do, busy going nowhere, isn't it just a crime, I'd like to be unhappy I just haven't got the time.
Guess what I did today - nothing. Well almost nothing. Wandered around a bit, threw sticks in the canal for D'fer
for a bit, he has now reached the stage where he will take a running leap into the canal and I partly do it because it is so funny.
During the afternoon I walked back along the towpath and found a place where I could sneak off into the woods and cut a few branches. These I took back to Almyne and proceeded to tie them together with some string.
Crude, but it works and is almost comfortable to sit on, and it is foldable!
Rosie
and Jim
had enjoyed themselves so much last weekend that they indicated that they might like to spend summer solstice somewhere along the tow path, but were not sure that they could make it. As it turned out they could and did.
I must explain, Rosie was one of the pagan priestesses at the hand-fasting and also at Geri's 'Passing of Rites' ceremony.
Unusually I did not have to cook this evening as Rose had brought a long a dish called 'Scouse' which comprises potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, bacon chunks and Rose's own secret ingredients. After eating we all had a wonderful evening sitting in front of a little campfire celebrating the solstice and, after a few glasses of red wine, cerebrating about the course of the rest of the year, and I really do believe that we managed to solve all the worlds problems.
We were so engrossed that we missed the sunset and I have still not worked out why, except that it never went dark, just fading away slowly. Then, when the sun arose the following morning the words of the song 'Morning has broken' took on a whole new meaning for me, surrounded as I was by beauty and love and nature. Rose performed a short ceremony and we all shared a goblet of ceremonial wine and the pleasure our surroundings.
Sat, 21 Jun 2008
The sky at night
Why is he so happy
Busy going nowhere, working the whole day through, again.
Having been up all night, only retiring well after sunrise for which there are no words to describe, the day started well into the afternoon, with some more 'Scouse' and a few walks for D'fer.
So filled with pleasure and bonhomie the Cheshire cat grin on my face was reflected by all I met, there was no need for any other form of communication, although I am glad that I have not yet reached Cheshire.
Sun, 22 Jun 2008
1½ miles 3 locks
After two very lazy days got up quite early and set off towards Penkridge . Negotiated the turn at Fradley junction , which is very tight and nearly hit another boat when the wind caught me, but with lots of power and some heaving on the tiller I managed to avoid the collision. Went into the first lock, which is going up and all seemed fine, but when I came to leave it at the higher level the wind kicked in again pushing me all over the place. Used a little more power and managed to get it on the straight and narrow and keep it there while scattering a little more of Geri's ashes, not easy trying to do both at once.
The next lock was not very far away and got through that one without incident. Then there was a lovely long stretch running along through an avenue of tall trees either side ending with a sharp right turn, over an aqueduct and a short run to the next lock. Through Woodend lock and on towards Kings Bromley Wharf the wooded area gave way to open meadows and that is when the wind really kicked in, after only a few hundred yards I decided that enough was enough and I pulled over if only for a rest while the wind subsided. It didn't.
Although it was so windy the sun was still strong enough to be very warm and pleasant so could see no point in continuing that day, after all, my current target is Penkridge by the weekend and and it is only 23 miles and 8 locks away.
D'fer
was visiting all the neighbours he could find, but there were not many of them so he had to wander quite a way but came back when he realised that there was no one on board the other boats.
We were sitting quietly on Almyne whiling away the day when there was a scream outside. Both D'fer and I jumped up and went outside to see two girls halfway off their push-bikes looking at something on the towpath. D'fer, of course, had to investigate and started very gently sniffing at the item. As I got a little closer I realised that it was a swift, just laying on the towpath. I picked it up and carried it on to Almyne and wrapped it up in D'fer's towel and simply held it, watching it opening and closing it's eyes and its back rising and falling as it breathed. I think the wind must have caught it and slammed it either on to the bank or in to a tree and stunned it.
After and hour or so it started to move around a little and I had the opportunity to examine it gently. I could find no obvious damage, and as it was breathing regularly, although still dozing, I decided to see if it wanted to fly off. Now my understanding is the a swift cannot take off from the ground, it needs to fall to pick up enough airspeed to actually fly, so I held it aloft in the palm of my hand to let it feel the wind in its feathers and the next second it was just not there anymore. My good deed for the day.
Mon, 23 Jun 2008
Monster truck
Hobbit hole entrance
9½ miles 1 lock
Early start today to catch up on the travelling that did not happen yesterday, though I am not sure why as there is no rush. Started off just after seven, having stoked up on a good breakfast. Today's target is Rugeley to do some shopping. I seem to be becoming obsessed with shopping and I am not sure if it is healthy, time will tell.
After about an hour we passed Kings Bromley Wharf, where the rudder was repaired on our way down and I had hoped that I might see Dave and Len, who did the repair, but realised that it was still only eight o'clock and they would not have arrived at work yet. Gave the yard a friendly wave, but it did not react.
Carried on to Rugeley and managed to moor up right by bridge 66, from where the town, and Morrisons, is a three minute walk, just before ten. I was fortunate as within minutes there were boats everywhere, going both ways and mooring up. It seems to be a popular spot to get everyday essentials.
Wandered in to town to find out what was where and identified some important locations, like the pet shop, the fishing tackle shop and the butchers. Tucked in an alleyway between the pet shop and the fishing tackle shop was a monster truck, the first I have ever seen on a public highway. If I could have found the owner I would have asked him to fire it up so I could take a video, but life does not always work out the away you would want it. On the way back to Almyne spotted a 'pound shop' and tied D'fer
up outside to have a look round. D'fer, as usual, started telling the world that I had abandoned him and that he had not been fed for weeks, and that he was thirsty and cold and his feet hurt and where was I, rather loudly. This usually subsides after a few moments, but this time it went on all the time I was in the shop and was still going on when I came out. An interested elderly lady had decided that D'fer needed attention and was making a fuss of him. He was lapping this up, which is why the moans had continued. I am sure that he was telling her to 'Go into the pound shop and get my dad', but she just did not understand. Anyway, she told me that she had been worried about him as her previous dog had been abandoned and left somewhere in town tied up, although the story took just ages to be told.
Stopped off at Morrisons and asked if they did home deliveries. The answer was in the negative and when I explained why I wanted a home delivery I was told that I could take a trolley to the boat as long as I returned it. So, important supplies, a couple of boxes of lager, a couple of boxes of wine, six six packs of tonic water, half a dozen litres of orange juice a loaf of bread and a twenty five kilo bag of potatoes.
Now although it was nice to be allowed to take the trolley to Almyne with me, pushing a heavily laden trolly along a cobbled road is more of a challenge than I had expected, especially as D'fer was more interested in investigating the area than helping me with the trolly and pulling in any direction but the one I was going in. It only took three minutes to walk from Almyne to Morrisons, but it took nearer half an hour to drag the trolly back. I say back to Almyne, but this is not entirely accurate. Almyne was moored under the bridge and there were steps down from the roadway to the tow path, so there was no way I could take the trolly down the steps. This meant that I had to leave the trolly in the main road and carry each item down the steps. This was achieved in several trips.
Having done the bulk of the shopping the goodies were sought. First stop pet shop, where D'fer was rewarded for his patience with a fresh supply of dog food, some pigs ears and a bone. Next stop the fishing tackle shop for a fresh supply of maggots. The maggots keep rather well in the fridge, something to do with it being so cold I think as they often come out frozen stiff, and then off to the butchers. I had decided to have a barbecue this evening so the butchers was the next stop. A piece of steak, a pork chop, a lamb chop, a few sausages, beefburgers and, would you believe it a couple of small bones, with meat on for D'fer, they were free. Returning to Almyne I passed a florists and on impulse purchased a small bunch of flowers. With such a riot of colour all around me when travelling it would be nice to have a little of this inside Almyne.
The trip back this time was much easier and as I arrived at Almyne a gentleman on the next boat approached me and we got chatting. He has been on his boat for the past twenty years, and having reached the ripe old age of eighty four, was slowing down a little. His name is Edward T. Wilkins and is the author of 'With a Flower upon the Ocean'. I am now the proud owner of a signed copy. His wife had died just a month ago and she is buried overlooking the canal, so he appreciated my mission.
Although it does not sound as though I had done much in Rugeley, it was four and a half hours after arriving that I set off again to find somewhere for a barbie and after an hours travelling I spotted what looked like a suitable place. Moored up and looked around, yes, this will suit me. Sawed up some logs for a fire and arranged them in a little circle and collected some smaller stuff to get it going. Then some investigating.
I came across a tiny brick built tunnel, it was no more than two feet wide, three feet high and six feet long with an arched roof. A tree had rooted on top of it and the roots of this tree had moulded themselves over the whole of the arch over the opening. This tunnel led to a larger vaulted ceilinged room that looked out over the river at one end and had a simple brick wall at the other. The imagination ran riot. Could this have been the end of a priests hole, or an escape route for the manor house several hundred yards away. Were there really Hobbits living here once? See all the pictures of the hobbit hole and campsite.
I found out later on in the day from a local fisherman that it had at one time been a boat house for the local manor house, but when the canal had been built it fell into disuse because the canal was between the manor house and the river.
Anyway, enough of this drivel, on with the story. The clearing that I had chosen for my barbecue was between the canal and the river, so I had a vista of water, at different levels, on both sides of me and two of the fallen trees had been attacked by someone with a chain saw and turned into settees. With the shafts of sunlight through the trees and a flock of geese sedately working their way up the river and the bats swooping low over us catching moths and flys it was the perfect setting for a camp fire and a barbecue.
We stayed up late into the night eating, drinking and sitting round the camp fire while I taught D'fer all the old songs that I could remember, it was a little piece of heaven.
Tue, 24 Jun 2008
Over the river Sow
Tixall lock
Great Haywood junction
Acton Trussel heron
A folly
11 miles 4 locks
I fell asleep under the starts last night in front of the camp fire and woke as the fire was dying out. The potatoes that I had put in the embers were probably cooked to perfection, but I was too tired and full after the barbecue to want to eat anything else.
Woke to the sunshine coming in the windows sometime after nine, but who cares, I certainly didn't.
First stop, Great Haywood junction , where the rubbish was disposed of and the porta pottie emptied. I hadn't intended to spend very long here but as I got off Almyne D'fer
leapt off and started doing a little dance in the grass with his nose, alternately poking the grass and looking at me. There was something scurrying around, except that it was not quick enough to be called scurrying. I pushed D'fer out of the way with my head, because by this time I was pushing my nose into the grass. It was a mole. We watched it scampering about in the grass for some time and if I had had a camera that would have got close ups it would have been too late to set it up, but the thought was there. Another of those wonderful incidents that so few people get to enjoy.
Then on to Tixall wide . Wide is an understatement, I thought I was heading out into the ocean. Although I could see the banks in all directions there was the feeling that if Almyne sunk here she would go with out trace, over an aqueduct with the river Sow underneath and a wonderfully gentle trip on towards Acton Trussell , just two and a half miles from Penkridge . I just had to take a picture of the display of flowers at Tixall lock, and I could see why it has won prizes for best kept lock. Passing Milford Wharf I spotted a sign on a boat advertising canopy repairs and new canopies. One of the things that I have been intending to do for a long time is to repair the cratch cover. It is a fairly insignificant repair, but as they say, a stitch in time. The flap that covers the zip had started to work loose and although it has not yet caused a problem, if left I might find that the cratch is getting wetter than I would want.
I yelled at the only person I could see, asking if he was involved with the canopy repair, to which he said that he was. Pulled over and moored up against his boat, he checked out the cratch cover and said he could do it so removed it and took it on to his boat, returning a few minutes later with the repair complete. He charged me the princely sum of five pounds, a bargain.
After two fairly long days I made an executive decision to eat out tonight, so had a meal in the gardens of The Moat house, watching a heron stalking fish on the water and having a quiet chuckle listening to the reps chattering away on their mobile phones, still working well into the evening. What a life I lead?
Wed, 25 Jun 2008
5½ miles 6 locks
Set of from Acton Trussell towards Penkridge just after ten and although it was windy again it was not nearly as bad as it had been last Saturday. Coming in towards Penkridge I spotted Midland Chandlers so pulled over and went to see if I could get a fan for the fire. There is a wonderful fan that sits on top of the stove and starts working when the top of the stove gets hot enough. It has a clever little electric motor that is driven by heat and because it sits on top of the stove blows the hot air around before it reaches the ceiling. I am not going to say that I want the weather to get colder, but there is the perverse need to test it out.
Penkridge for midday and straight off to the market to spend some money. Well I tried to spend some money but could only find a couple of things to purchase, some epoxy putty, it is always useful I am told, and a new waistcoat with loads of pockets, oh and a canal style mug. D'fer
insisted on me getting some more dog biscuits, and another bone, he has not had a proper bone for ages, even though I thought that the bone I got for him in Rugeley was a proper one.
Ever since Fradley junction I have been leapfrogging some boats and waving to the occupants and they have been waving back. As I was walking in to Penkridge I spotted them in the pub car park and we had a brief chat as I walked on.
Left Penkridge, as the tow path there is not suitable to allow D'fer the freedom to wander, and set off into the sticks. For a while the canal parallels the M6 motor-way and I spotted three 'Eddie Stobart' lorries, so the world does still exist. I was not going to moor up to listen to vehicles rushing around all night, so continued on for a while till the canal veered off and everything became quieter. Found a nice little spot where the sun would wake me in the morning (as long as the threatened rain held off).
I hadn't long settled down to prepare dinner when five boats went past in quick succession, all of the the people I had been waving to, and moored up a little further along the cut. After dinner I took D'fer for a walk past their boats and fell into conversation with them. They were welcoming enough, but not yet ready to invite me for a drink. It will happen.
Thu, 26 Jun 2008
Woke up to the sound of rain, had breakfast to the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof, walked D'fer
in the rain, decided to go nowhere.
Stayed in and lit the fire, the new fan works a treat so after an hour or so updating the web site I had a nap, followed by a longer nap, followed by a bite to eat.
It has actually been a really relaxing day and although I managed to write up the previous few days adventures, accompanied by the drumming on the roof, and prepare all the pictures, to the sound of surf on the beach, the signal was too bad to upload all of it, so that will have to wait for a good signal day.
I wonder if the signal is affected by the rain.
Since I am approaching my first destination, and it is raining still, I decided to see just how far I have gone so far. Two hundred and fifty eight miles, one hundred and ninety eight locks, twenty four swing bridges, fourteen lift bridges and one set of traffic lights.
That is exhausting, I'm off to bed.
Fri, 27 Jun 2008
Tree felling
Gailey Lock
A Wheelchair
6½ miles 2 locks
Set off several hours after dawn. Having seen the sun come up twice this week my body clock is becoming a little disorientated.
I enjoy travelling at my pace and slowed down and pulled over several times to let people past, if they want to rush around that is their prerogative, but I do feel that they are missing so much in their haste to get to their next destination. Today's six and a half miles took just four and a half hours, and allowing for two locks, my average speed was something in the region of one and a half miles an hour.
Of course this gives me the opportunity to avoid the occasional obstacle in the water, like a tree here and there. Some of them can be rather large and very new.
The second lock of the day was Gailey Lock and the approach is rather different, and the castellated building seems to the the lock keepers cottage, makes you wonder about the competition along the cut when it was first in use. Stopped off to get rid of the rubbish, empty the porta pottie and top up with water.
Leaving Gailey and passing on through Calf Heath there was a wonderful chair in someone's garden. I am sure that some of these people just put these things in their gardens to amuse the boaters. A little further along passing a long line of very tall trees the effects of the winds earlier on in the week was made apparent. One of them had been blown down and was laying half way across the canal. Even at only one and a bit miles an hour I had little time to take pictures and steer Almyne around the obstruction that narrowed the canal to less than half its normal width.
Stopped for a midday bite to eat and a drink. Set off again just in time for it to start raining, so didn't go too far. Pulled over, lit the fire, started up the computer and, hey presto, a good signal area so spent the afternoon roasting in front of a fan assisted fire (drying my wet garments) uploading all the pictures and days reports and catching up on linking to places that I have visited or spoken about.
Sat, 28 Jun 2008
Almyne from the junction
The junction from Almyne
Old heron
Almyne from the junction
Decorated signpost
Washing day
1½ miles
Another grey day, but at least it is not raining. Set off just after nine to do the one and a half miles to Autherley junction. As I pulled away I noticed that I had been moored up by the local sewage works, not that I had smelt it, but that was probably the reason for the sound of running water all night as the outflow was barely fifteen feet in front of Almyne's bows. Got to Autherley junction, the target for today and this week, just before ten.
Walked up towards the junction and spotted a heron. One day herons will become en everyday occurrence, but I am still enamoured of them, they are so big, and apart from that I haven't seen many since leaving the Kennet and Avon. Anyway, this one was sat on the signpost, presumably a good vantage point for prey. Talking to a guy a little later on he told me that this particular heron likes ducklings, for dinner.
Wandered a way along the route towards Wheaton Aston and chatted to a number of fishermen on the tow path. There is a match on today, so I will give them a break and not take Almyne past them and spoil their swim till after the match is over. Foraged for timber in the woods, but because it is so close to civilisation there was nothing useful.
The day looked as if it would hold up, so did the overdue washing, knowing that I could pop around the corner as anytime to top up with water if needed. This time I did not bother running the engine as the batteries were reading twelve point six seven volts, about as fully charged as they can be. Finished the washing by two, in time for Rosie
and Jim
to visit.
Rose had been looking for canal memorabilia, in particular wooden spoons and mugs, and the shop by the junction sells a whole bunch of that sort of stuff, so I had rung her and told her, hence the visit. We all took a stroll to the shop and Rose got some bits and pieces and I purchase a Nicholson's No 2, the next book that I will need for my travels. Now I know that some people would say that I should have purchased them all in one go, simply because I will be needing them all, but by purchasing them as I need them I gain a sense of really getting somewhere. I also purchased a brass miners lamp, not that it can be used for reading or anything by, but they are decorative, and I like them.
Back at Almyne we sat and chatted about this and that and what my next plans were. Being the sort of person that will take advantage of a situation I asked Jim if he could run me to Morrisons, which although it is only a ten minute walk, carrying the shopping back, with D'fer
would take a lot longer than that, and he agreed. I had made a list of all those items I was running short on like washing powder, washing up liquid, wine, tea, and a list of items that I wanted to keep me going for the next few days, like bread and meat. While we were there I asked if they were staying for tea and Jim agreed so I got some salady stuff as well.
Back at Almyne, I started unpacking everything and Jim produced some extra stuff that he had purchased to compliment that which I had purchased, and then set off to collect Ady, Rosie's son. We all spent the whole evening sitting on the back of Almyne eating a buffet dinner Al Fresco. One day I will look up this Al Fresco guy on the internet and find out why eating in the sunshine is named after him, like the sandwich is named after the Earl of Sandwich.
Ady is so enamoured of Almyne that he has volunteered to escort me down towards Wolverhampton when I make that part of my trip, a flight of twenty one locks, so I might just do the Wolverhampton area sooner rather than later, while I have the help available.
I have been thinking for some time that I should find a home for the push-bike as I have never used it and probably will not use it as I can see now way of controlling it and D'fer on the main roads. The tow path would be no problem, but main roads would be something else. Anyway, while Ady was here I got him to try it out, as his bike has ripply wheels, and he might as well make use of it, and he is quite willing to take it off my hands until I need it.
When they left I put the bike back on top of Almyne and D'fer, being astute, realised that my attention was focused on the bike and not on him and decided to find out where they had gone. The first I realised was the sound of car horns from the bridge over the canal where Jim had parked his car while visiting. Whistled as loud as I could, because I was still struggling with the bike on top of Almyne and after a few seconds (which seemed a lot longer) D'fer appeared running back down the tow path from the bridge, accompanied by more car horns. He spent the rest of the evening tied up to the tiller on the mooring rope. It gives him about twenty feet of rope to hang himself from.
Did a little fishing as the sun tried hiding itself behind the trees and then dropped below the horizon.
Tonight I did not eat supper as I was still full from an evening of overindulgence.
Sun, 29 Jun 2008
Sunshine at the junction
Looking towards Wheaton Aston
It is only eight days past the solstice, but already the nights are drawing in. Which reminds of me why Arthur Askey was banned from the BBC when he said on air 'Winter drawers on' and the controllers felt that the connotations of drawers and knickers was too close to the mark. My, how times have changed. What a cheeky chappy he was.
I know that I am putting off the last stage of the journey which is why I am having another lazy day pottering around and catching up on the web site again. Once I start to fall behind it becomes a mammoth task to get it all back in place, but I will catch up. Alternated between taking D'fer
for a walk, the web site, fishing, which is quite good here, and browsing on the remains of yesterdays salad.
During one of my fishing sessions three people walked past and one of them stooped down to look at the maggots in my tub and asked if they were tasty!
Mon, 30 Jun 2008
One side
The other side
View from canal
7 miles 2 locks
Today I go to Wheaton Aston, but first Hannah
is going to paint the plaque that hangs on the side of Almyne. We did lose it once on the way to Bristol, but some kind gentleman found it and when he spotted us in a lock on our return he gave it back and we have been worried about losing it again ever since. So now the plaque can hang inside Almyne and the message is still on both sides.
I was up and had finished breakfast by the time Hannah arrived just before half nine. She set to straight away a little nervously but after a while she relaxed and it went well, finishing the first side before midday, accompanied by several cups of coffee, I like to keep my workers happy. While Hannah was doing that I tried to make a sling, as in David and Goliath, out of string. I had looked at several on the internet and they were either made out of a leather pouch and string cords or knitted from wool. Anyway after many aborted attempts I came up with a sling that actually works. The pouch is shaped and a stone sits in it quite nicely. At the end of one of the cords I have tied a tiny monkey fist knot and at the end of the other I will tie a Bosun's Whistle Knot to form the loop that sits on the finger.
With the first side complete I turned Almyne around so that Hannah could do the other side, which was completed in double quick time now that she had gained the confidence from the first side.
Through the stop lock at Autherley junction and off on the last stage of the beginning of the journey. A stop lock is a lock that is barely six inches rise (or fall) but was put in place originally to ensure that the working boats had to stop and pay their dues for the canal they were travelling on.
Ever since starting on this mission I have always felt that after the very emotional Bath locks, where I started scattering Geri's ashes, the next big emotional point would be reaching Wheaton Aston and the next would be when I ran out of Geri, so this last stage of the first part of the mission was approached in a cautious state of mind. I travelled very slowly, not caring if the boats behind me were being held up, in fact I never once looked behind me to even see if there were any. I don't know if this was because I was putting off the arrival or just enjoying the perfect travelling conditions. I remember very little of the journey apart from the growing feeling of being at peace with the world and at one with Geri, nothing else existed but the sun, the scenery and the two of us.
Approaching Brewood I spotted Sue on Thea coming in the opposite direction. I waved wildly and thanked her for the help she had given us when I broke the rudder on our way down. She waved back but did not seem to connect with my wild gesticulations and shouts, but it still made me feel good.
At the lock at the top of Wheaton Aston I really took my time. No one else was around and with confused and mixed emotions I emptied the lock and proceeded the last few hundred yards to the point where we originally collected Almyne and moored up in almost exactly the collection point.
Now I had to find Mark
Jeeves, the guy we purchased Almyne from, if he was still in the area and had not gone off to Australia for the gardening job he had been offered out there. The obvious place to start looking for him was in the local hostelry, where Geri and I had partaken of our first canal side pub meal together. I walked in and was immediately told that 'Dogs are not allowed in here', so parked D'fer outside and re-entered to order a pint and make my enquiries. The landlord claimed to have no knowledge of Mark so I went outside to sit with D'fer. There were a likely looking couple of guys on the next table so I enquired of one of them if he knew of a Mark Jeeves and he denied all knowledge, but his companion enquired as to why I was asking. I explained that we had purchased Almyne from Mark two years ago and I just wanted to hook up with him since I was in the area. He gave me Marks number saying that it was not him who gave it to me and that Mark is an ex paratrooper and not to be mucked about with.
I rang Mark and he recognised me almost immediately and said he would be at the pub within fifteen minutes. He arrived and we had a pint together and I told him of my mission and that I wanted to thank him for letting us have Almyne as it was the best two years of Geri's life.
We got chatting and he told me that he has a girl friend, the first since 2006. Needless to say, after another couple of pints I was good for nothing and we agreed to meet up again tomorrow.
On the way back to Almyne I got chatting to Clive
and Shelley who have been on the K & A last year, reminiscing about anything and everything.
I was expecting to be really down, but it has actually been rather uplifting. Having said that I am waiting for the downer still, somehow I don 't think it is going to happen.
I have honoured my promise to Geri and now feel liberated and freer than my mind thinks I should be!
A sobered tomorrow might put a new light on it, but I don't think so. I feel a kind of peace and contentment and the absolution of completing the allotted task, even though the task was allotted by me (I think).
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