Banbury (Cross?)

On a superb day we arrived at Banbury just before 0900. I am writing this in Banbury Library! Yesterday we spent at Cropedy, no evidence of the festival that Mrs B and company went to. Had a superb pint of beer in the Red Lion and today we plan to hit Wetherspoons here. We are hoping to see my Uncle and Aunt, Tam and Grace for lunch here in Banbury tomorrow. Hanley enjoyed his birthday party yesterday, he was twelve!

Fenny Compton

Its Bank Holiday Monday, the sun is shining, what's gone wrong?

We are still following the get up early, cruise early and stop early routine. Yesterday, just after six we set off for the Napton flight and arrived at the bottom lock for 0800. June stayed in bed while I took the wherewithal for tea making to the helm and made tea while cruising. She was up for locking and we had a nice clear run up the Napton flight. I wanted to stop at 0900 on the Engine Arm, but June said two more locks, they took over an hour! We stopped at Marston Doles for the rest of the day.

This morning, same routine starting at 0620, moored at Fenny Compton at 0900. In the next half hour many hire and private boats left Fenny, we walked to the village for a little light shopping and a newspaper.

We may get to Oxford, the current plan is Cropedy tomorrow and Banbury on Thursday. After that we will see.

-- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.15/80 - Release Date: 23/08/05

Off Again!

We left Crick Marina at 0700 on Friday 26th, bound for Watford Locks, as they opened at 0800. We were very surprised to find a hire boat filling with water at the top lock, they waved us on, so we were first down the flight. The essence of this cruise is that we will travel early in the day, but only a few hours a day. By 1000 we were moored for the rest of the day, on the main line, just south of Daventry reservoir. We spent a pleasant day doing a number of simple, but useful jobs on the boat and walking up to the reservoir with the dogs.

On Saturday we were moored in Braunston at 0815, for a newspaper, breakfast at The Gongoozler and visits to both chandlers. We then staggered round the corner, past the puddlebanks and are moored on a nice piece of armcote with a view! Tomorrow we will set off for Oxford, we may turn around before getting there though. - Watch this space!!

-- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.15/80 - Release Date: 23/08/05

Return to Crick

Today we are returning by road to Crick, to move back on board. On Saturday we will be going to Elaine & Gordon’s wedding in Crick and later in Yelvertoft. The day will start with breakfast for the men at Kilsby, where I got nicked for speeding, at 0800!

We may go gentle cruising some days later, possible destination, Oxford.

Crick Marina and Home

Well we did not make it to Braunston on Tuesday, we ended up close to Hillmorton Locks, by the golf course.

Wednesdaysaw us setting off at 05:20, passing through Braunston at 08:30 and then climbing the locks with very agreeable company. We waited an hour at Watford and arrived at Crick at 14:00; very knackered!

A superb steak at the Red Lion rounded off the day nicely. Thursday we drove home, and so finished a long but enjoyable voyage.

The main towns we visited were; Warwick, Birmingham, Worcester, Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Sharpness, Stourport, Nantwich, Middlewich, Runcorn, Hanley, Leek, Stoke-on-Trent, Stone, Shugborough, Rugby and back to Crick.

The boring statistics:- 485 miles, 350 locks with 218 engine hours. Make what you like of that! We plan to return to Crick on Thursday 17th.
    

Apres Shugboroug - Bottom Of Atherstone Flight

Well we survived the weekend; the music, fireworks and company were great.

Each day of the music involved an advance party setting off for a half hour walk to the site with chairs etc to claim our encampment, while waiting they drunk beer. The two evening performances were very good as they included fireworks. Sunday afternoon was very pleasant as we sat in the sun to listen and then walked back to the boats in the daylight - a novelty!

Because we have to get back to home quickly we have set off on long days journies, today we cruised non stop for eleven hours setting off at 05:00, yes 5 am!!!

It was worth it as we did not meet another moving boat until 0800.

Tomorrow we hope to get to Braunston.

-- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 267.4.0 - Release Date: 01/06/05

Shugborough Music & Fireworks Weekend

Yesterday, Wednesday, we arrived at Great Haywood for the Shugborough Weekend; we made contact with Sue and Dave on G-lands and joined them at Little Haywood. Here we await the arrival of the Sween and Critical Point, due today!

Our arrival at Stone on Monday was fraught, with what should have been a 2.5hr journey taking 4hrs. The only consolation being that it was far worse in the opposite direction. We took a lay day on Tuesday, for visits to laundrette and Wetherspoons, the traffic passing us was negligible! Morrison's was also useful as a source of Manx kippers!

The music starts tomorrow evening and ends Sunday afternoon. Monday we have to set off early for long days of cruising so that we can get back home for the end of next week.

-- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 267.4.0 - Release Date: 01/06/05