Lister.

                        

Lister with boating pal Scooby.

We were so sorry to hear what had happened to Paddy and Ruth’s dog Lister,.nb Comfortably Numb. A couple aged around 60 ish were passing with their Rhodesian Ridgeback cross dog on it’s lead when it suddenly lunged at Lister. Ruth who was sitting out on the towpath with him was quite shocked and tried to defend him. She hurt her hand doing so and you can see what happened to poor Lister. His leg was badly damaged. He had several stitches done under anaesthetic to hold the wound together plus a course of antibiotics. So with trips to the vets and a much lighter wallet for Paddy let’s hope he will now begin to make a good recovery, although it will take a while. The man had no control over this dog as it was too big for him to handle. Apparently they are boaters, so look out for them along the cut and beware!

Happy un-Birthday to me!

                                             

Well I treated us, well mainly me, to Gordon’s and a box of Black Magic chocolates. So in my posh cut glass charity shop purchase I poured a tot of gin, then added some Elderflower Tonic which was a new product from the Bottle Green Drinks Co. A perfick combination, as It was absolutely delicious! The Cabin Boy has been very well behaved of late, so I shared the chocs with him. I must say he makes a superb toasted cheese and herb sandwich in the Dualit. today though is…hot so we are back on the salad stuff.

Busy again.

                        

We ascended the locks, but there was no-one to share with, nor were there any ‘helpers’! So we are now feeling tired.

Old and new friends.

     

We had noticed the good ship Bones with nb Merlin moored nearby, so we joined with her and her young crew member Joe to peruse  the car boot sale up in the village. That didn’t take long because there were no bargains there that we needed. Back at the boat the boys managed to coax the boat into life ready for take-off. Steve joined the little flotilla on his boat and Victoria arrived for a days boating. So after a bit of entertainment with the ships cat and much chatter, we were off to help them with the locks. We met a single boat in the bottom lock so he paired up with Steve, followed by Bones and Merlin. With so many steerers and lock wheelers, plus boats descending, it wasn’t long before we all reached the top, phew! Boots remained underwhelmed with it all, while Tigger enjoyed her walk helping Mel at the locks.

           

After some tuition Joe took over steering Bone’s boat doing really well. We had quick goodbye hugs, then waved them all off on their way into the tunnel. Bon voyage everyone! All this had been thirsty work so on our way back we sat outside The Admiral Nelson with drinks just chiilin’ for a while. The food smelt so good that we also stayed for lunch and very tasty it was too.

Just a Perfick Day.

       

We were up at 6.30am having slept well, but the trains start running quite early and may have woken us. On looking out the heat of the sun was causing an eerie mist to rise from the canal. After porridge with honey and a cuppa we decided to move off as our black tank was brim full. The water would have drained out of the locks overnight we thought. We were right and sailed straight in to the first one. Then we spied an old lady approaching, so opened up the other lock for her ascend. No other boats on the move until we got to Barby straight. Braunston moorings were pretty full as we cruised along to reverse into the marina. Another boat was at the services so we were invited to breast up behind him. The pump out equipment has all been renewed costing c£1,000 apparently, hence the price has gone up to £15 now. Still a good job which lasted about 9 minutes.

       

Luckily we moored on the last remaining 48 hr space near the ladder footbridge. After a snack I went on a circular walk around Braunston. I just like all the quaint buildings spread out like little gems along the main street. Today has been mainly HOT with fabulous wispy white cloud patterns above us, luvly jubbly. Later on Steve and Denise nb Riverside Escape came calling and we enjoyed chatting all about our various cruises over a few drinks. They follow our blog so had a rough idea where we were, but we didn’t know our paths would cross, so it was a lovely surprise for us when we met up. Well that’s the joy of being on the waterways, the longer we are cruising the more friends we are making. All this happened on Friday !3th, with no mishaps, fantastic!

Around Hillmorton.

                               

Well the locks have been busy today according to the volunteer lock keepers. Sixty boats had passed through the bottom lock before three o’clock. With the light evenings some boats are traveling until dusk, so goodness knows how many will have used the locks by then. I went to post some snail mail, then sat watching the boats go by for a while. A new engine was being fitted into a boat at the boatyard. There were loads of gongoozlers and cafe customers sitting outside Canal Chef enjoying the sunshine with drinks and icecream. We like the area between Rugby and Norton Junction because there are plenty of taps to fill our water tank up. So, it’s showers every day, instead of once a fortnight now, luxury indeed. All the washing has been done and dried on the same day too, perfick.

Lazy days of summer.

  

Just enjoying the sunshine reading, walking and drinking  not thinking of anything to write in particular, sorry! Plenty of boats rushing hither and thither, not having time to admire the flora as much as I do.

Steerer’s assistant.

     

We came down the locks and spotted this lady steering ably assisted by her hairy lookout!

Salad days.

Come on now settle down now, it’s time for a nap in the sun! The washing is blowing dry nicely in the breeze the salad stuff is in the fridge. The winter woollies have been packed away, yet again, bring on the sunshine.

Mixed weekend.

So, what have we been doing over the weekend? Not a lot really as we battened down the hatches on Saturday and stayed on board with the rain beating down on the roof. However the sun was red hot all afternoon and as the night sky was so clear we saw the International Space Station pass overhead, amazing! The fuel boat ‘Auriga’ came by towing anther boat, so I helped them with the locks for which they were very grateful.

  

The small tugboat ‘Kinver’ and ‘Muchgigglin’ were moored by Grantham's Bridge. There are volunteer lock keepers here most days and it has been very busy all w/e. For that reason we always stay put at weekends and keep out of everyone's way!

  

A big pedalo Swan arrived, was hoisted out and wheeled up around the lock. We had booked a table at Canal Chef and when we arrived the dining room was packed. The roast beef lunch was as excellent as it ever, perfick. Afterwards a walkabout was needed to help walk it off!

Sunset.

Enjoying the sunny weather while it lasts!

Duck family.

     

This clever Mrs Duck had raised twelve offspring who were nearly as big as she was. She herded them everywhere and when she called them to ascend the duck ladder they did so.

Sunshine and Showers.

     

Well the animals and birds along the canal don’t seem to mind the variable weather we are having. The birds have been singing happily from dawn to dusk in these ‘ere parts. It’s great to wake up to the birdsong every morning, putting us in a good mood for the day.  Apparently we can expect more of this type of weather in the future due to global warming/climate change. or so the ‘experts’ tell us. One good thing about the warmer wetter spring, the greenery is bursting forth at a tremendous rate. It may be a good year for wild fruit picking too, as the Blackberry bushes are flowering well already.

Early start.

  

Because of the fine weather the boating season seems to have started early. Braunston was full up over the weekend, no moorings were to be had anywhere. Even the Boathouse pub moorings were full, with a few on the Puddle Banks too. Saturday I did my usual ‘boatwork’ inside listening to Brian Mathew. In the afternoons I usually go for a circular walkabout chatting to people. I bought a piece of Ginger Cake and Bread Puddin’ for our tea from Gongoozlers Rest. They make excellent freshly made takeaway hot and cold goodies, including pots of local Honey, perfick!.

.

Busy Braunston.

   

I wonder why this old 70 footer ‘Peacock’ can glide under the bridge without touching the sides? Clifton Cruiser's new hire boat ‘Wild Goose’ flew under smacking the concrete, and this bridge is fairly wide too.

   

The service station at Braunston is not very well placed right on a bend, but it never occurs to boaters to wait a while to squeeze through the narrow gap! The blue boat on the right was moored filling it’s water tank when two Willow Wren boats full of ‘sailors’ came through scraping moored boats as they went, including ours.