This is a bit more - I'll come back and finish it ... and put in the photos ... just as soon as I can.
19th July - continued from previous entry.
Once through the main locks we headed for the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. We just wanted to go to Tixal Wide to moor up for the night. Rumour has it that when the canal was in the planning stages, the ‘Lord of the Manor’ granted permission for the canal to go through his land – on condition that it would widen out in front of his residence, thus providing him with a better view. His wish was granted and, although the manor is long gone, the canal and its ‘wide’ have survived and it has become a popular place to moor for the night.
We turned into the canal and almost immediately we saw water lilies in great abundance, there were mayflies dancing across the surface water and the evening sun cast its soft golden light over the perfect scene. There were many boats; people sat drinking wine, reading books or just shooting the breeze. We passed a man who was fishing just as he pulled a sizeable crayfish up on the end of his line. It was an evening for feeling good about things. Sadly we were not able to moor up, there simply wasn’t room, so Tony turned a slow arc in the ‘wide’ and we headed out again. It was a shame – but at least we had made the effort and we also took a little of the atmosphere with us. We had to go through one lock before we found a place to moor and then we put a couple of chairs out onto the tow-path and had a beer; it had been a very pleasant day.
Tuesday 20th July
Tony’s knee, which had been aching yesterday, was swollen and painful. We found the nearest chemist and I went to get some advice from the chemist. They recommended a cold compress, painkillers and resting the leg. We stopped for a little while, wrapped a pack of frozen peas in a towel (where would we be without frozen peas in these situations?) and put them on his knee as he waited for the painkillers to do their work. He could hardly stand up – let alone steer the boat so I got my first long stint on the tiller. I do enjoy steering the boat, but I still panic in tight situations.
I had to ask him for help a few times, once when we went through a very narrow channel, and a couple of times when people were coming at me as I was passing moored boats (I’m terrified of hitting someone else’s boat) ... but for the most part it was OK. I did take a bridge too wide at one point and hit the bank with the back end. Harvey, thinking we were stopping, simply jumped off. Luckily I was able to coax him back on before the boat came too far away from the bank – otherwise I’m not sure what I would have done.
We eventually stopped for the night near Streethay wharf ... smack opposite a small airfield. I was just making a cup of tea when a small plane suddenly started to taxi into position, and then took off over the top of us. I took a bit of film to prove it – but I’m not sure how to get it on here .... I’m working on it.
No other photos today – I had too many other things to think about.
Wed 21st July
Tony’s knee much better – must have been the peas!
This turned out to be a steady day with lots of locks. Progress was slow because the traffic was quite heavy in both directions. The sun was riding high in a cloudless sky; it was hot and by about 1pm we were worn out, so we stopped for a couple of hours to let it cool down a little. When we set off again it seemed that everything was back in sinc as boats were coming out of the locks just as we were ready to go in. We were through in no time, but it took a while to find a nice place to moor up for the night. The middle of nowhere is always a favourite spot and we did eventually find a little haven. It was only 9:30 when I took Harvey out for a final stroll – I think he thought we’d gone mad but sore and weary bodies need sleep, stupid to resist really.
Thur 22nd of July
An 8:30 start... late!
We were not in a rush so I spent a bit of time cleaning up the boat. Harvey is losing hair as fast as I can sweep it up and it’s easy to get very untidy on a boat when you’re on the move. I walked back down the towpath to get the number of a chap who makes chimneys and we got set off around noon. We got as far as Nuneaton when a chap, coming too fast through a bridge, pushed us into the side. We stopped for half an hour and I went to the post office to post a few cards off.
Set off again in search of somewhere nice to stop for the night before we go into Coventry tomorrow. On the other side of Nuneaton three kids, with nothing better to do, decided to try and urinate on Tony from a footbridge. Luckily Tony had worked out what they were up to and got himself under the hatch in time. Not a pleasant experience, and it’s hard to understand this kind of mentality, but no real harm was done. It did unsettle me though and, even though we moored up well away from any houses, for the first time I didn’t feel totally safe. Harvey seemed to pick up on it and he growled at anything that moved for the rest of the evening.
Actually Harvey is starting to get quite protective about the boat – he doesn’t like it to be out of sight if we’re walking along the towpath and if Tony and I are doing something outside the boat, like mooring up, he always sits close to the stern and lets us know if someone is coming. It has surprised me because he’s as new to all this as I am.
Friday 23rd July
Today we went into Coventry basin, almost in the centre of Coventry. We passed through the industrial area to get in and I found it depressing. The local council had made a real effort to clean up the towpath, there were statues and lovely wrought iron work everywhere, but everything was covered in graffiti; except the swans and you had to wonder how they had managed to stay white in such an environment.
We needed to do some shopping and noticed from the map that there was a Tesco on the way. It was signposted from the towpath so we moored up and I left Tony with the boat, and Harvey, and set off to go shopping. I passed a small estate which was surrounded by a high metal fence with security locked gates, and of course security cameras everywhere. It almost looked like a prison, but it was designed to keep the potential ‘inmates’ out. I didn’t hang around; I got back as soon as I could to find some rather dubious looking characters loitering on the tow-path. Tony said they had been walking back and forth so we were glad to untie and get out of there. Finally we came into the basin itself and there stood a huge statue of James Brindley doomed to forever study the huge ledger on the table before him.
As soon as we were in close enough, Harvey jumped off the boat and ran over to James, giving him ‘What for’ barking and growling. It’s a shame I wasn’t fast enough to find the camera and film him as it certainly had me laughing.
The basin itself was really well maintained and interesting. We wandered around for a while, looking at the buildings and reading all the various bits of information dotted around the place. There were only about 5 boats moored up and I wondered what it must have been like when it was in full swing.
Not far from the basin was the Transport Museum, housing the land-speed record breakers Thrust 1 and 2, and all other types of vehicles back to the penny-farthing. Ice cream vans, buses, motorbikes, Jags, Rollers, the first Fords ... it was really quite an education, and quite frightening that some of the cars now classed as museum pieces have gone past in my lifetime. I was just starting to feel old when we spotted a photo of the minis in ‘The Italian Job’. I had no idea that part of the mini chase scene had been shot in the Coventry sewers ....but I didn’t feel so bad about my ignorance as it seems that ‘Not a lot of people know that’.
I’m a bit worried about Harvey who is off his food. He left his breakfast, totally shunned all dried food and would only eat a little bit of the tinned stuff. I know he needs to lose a little weight – but this is not a good way of doing it.
The internet was working quite well so I used the evening to catch up on a few emails. To say we were so close to the centre it was surprisingly quiet.
Sat 24th July
We got up early and went back to the Transport Museum as Tony wanted to have a photo taken with ‘Thrust 2’. This time we went on the simulator, it was too late yesterday, to see the film taken from inside the vehicle as it broke the land-speed record. I thought it was great and my knees were well wobbly afterwards! We walked down for another look at the beast that still holds that record. Tony stepped into the ring briefly to get this photo. A smile would have been nice – but hey – here’s the proof that he was there.
A bit of shopping and it was time to set off. We meandered our way back and, having now done the whole of the Coventry canal, we headed for the Oxford canal. We’re slowing down now that we are so close to Cropredy – we don’t want to get there too early, but we did need to get somewhere near before we started to take it easy.
Sun 25th July to 28th
We spent the next three days moving towards Braunston – very slowly.
We bumped into some friends from Skipton but they had to moor up a little further down the canal so I took Harvey for a walk and popped down for a natter and a cup of tea – that’s when they told me about some new books that show you what’s around the canal – shops, vets, docs, etc. etc. I think they are called Canal Mate .. I’ll be looking them up as I’m sure it’s a good idea to get them. Finding Docs and Vets is easy enough when you have internet but shops are a different ball game, I’m sure they must be very useful.
We had an evening meal at the Barley Mow in Brinklow - that was really nice, they were helpful and friendly, the food was good, the beer well kept and they were not expensive either; a perfect place to take a breather.
Harvey still wasn’t eating (although he didn’t refuse his Sunday pig’s ear) so we located a vet in Rugby and I took him for a check up. He suffered the indignity of a thermometer up his bottom with reasonably good grace and it turned out that he did have a temperature. He has been drinking canal water when he gets the chance (I’ve tried to stop him but he’s sneaky) and it seems that there are lots of bugs in the water at the moment and so he was given a course of antibiotics and the vet said to put him on chicken and rice for a couple of days. His ears perked up at that, chicken is his favourite so here’s one dog that will enjoy being poorly. One last kiss for the vet (from Harvey not me) and off we went £50 poorer! Back at the boat we decided to move along a little before stopping for the night and in our haste to move I left one of my favourite cups on the bank ... grrr.
Wed 28th July
We came through Hillmorton locks – they are ‘double’ in that there are two single locks side by side. It was nice that they were still all in use as it meant for a quicker passage through – exactly what they were meant for in the first place of course. The only problem was that there was not much space for the windlass and at one point mine spat back and hit my hand – big bruise, big bottom lip – but I didn’t cry!
Finally we pulled into Braunston but couldn’t get onto the water point before turning onto the Oxford. Our cassettes were both in need of a clean and it meant a considerable walk to sort that one out..... must buy another cassette.
The dongle internet was so slow it was untrue and Tony wanted to bid on something on Ebay so, having been told that they had free Wifi, we went across to the pub. Tony sat outside with the laptop and Harvey as I went in to get the drinks. He had given me £10, I got a pint and a half of the local ale and came back with £4.20 change. Tony’s face was a picture ... “How much?”. It perhaps wouldn’t have been so bad but it was all in vain, I couldn’t get onto the Wifi anyway, the battery on the laptop was running low and then it started to rain so we had to go back to the boat anyway.
That’s when we spotted the other boat – the one that towed the butty ‘The Star’ that we had seen earlier..
I’ll slot the story in as soon as I can get Tony to dictate it.
We decided to stay here another day as I needed to get to the post office and we needed a few provisions.
Thur 29th July
I walked into the village with Harvey. It is an old village and has a very pretty church, a windmill, and some lovely features on some of the old cottages. I got everything we needed and then I walked back via the chandlers. I was delighted to find a small ‘Tippy’ for the ashes from the fire. I struggled last year without one as the one from the cottage was way too big to keep on the boat. This one fits neatly behind the stove and will be invaluable. I also noticed that they sold paint. I have decided to paint the bottom part of the boat black instead of green – it’s easier to maintain and looks better too. I didn’t buy any as I wasn’t sure exactly what to get – or how much – I needed some advice first.
The weather has been really good to us and we have been able to sit out on the chairs – this evening was no exception and so we sat shooting the breeze. Harvey, much improved sat at our feet. I was having trouble getting the tablets down him no matter how much I ground them down, so I knew he was on the mend.
Fri 30th July
Up – not too early and I wanted to go and get the paint before we set off. Harvey had had his walk and breakfast, oil and water had been checked and so we were ready for off, I was just about to go over to the Chandler’s on my own when Tony piped up
“I’d better come with you or you’ll come back with a cabbage!”
It’s great to know he has so much confidence in me!!
We got the paint and set off. Made our way through Napton locks but didn’t realise we’d finished them so Harvey and I walked miles looking for the next one before realising we were wasting our time. We found a nice spot to moor up ... and that was it for the day.
Saturday 31st of July to the 15th of August
The Oxford canal was dug to follow the contours of the land. That later changed and some parts were shortened but today’s journey still took us around lots of impossible bends through about 4 miles of system back to a point 1000 yards or so from where we set off. Not that we minded or anything, it just seemed strange when the canal were built for working boats. We then passed through a narrow channel that was once a tunnel, not an easy bit. We stopped at Fenny Marina for diesel and a couple of other bits and pieces and on through the lock into Cropredy. Two weeks to go and the place is already full of boats. We went on through and found a place to moor up – but then realised that we were too close to a wasps nest – not good! We moved on a little further and manage to get the very last mooring on the metal shutters. It’s a nice spot, but quite a way from the water point, a problem to be solved as our water tank will not last 2 weeks ... no way. The loo also needs emptying and of course we have to get rid of any rubbish too .... all these facilities are in the same spot. We’ll solve it.
Once moored up I called Neil and Caroline as they live in Twyford, which is not so far away. To my surprise and delight they said they would come over in a couple of hours so we went out for a meal which was more than we had expected to do. What a lovely way to start our stay in Cropredy, especially as they brought us some beer – and we spent time sitting on the towpath playing guitars and having fun before we went out to eat.
Day one over, we had two weeks to wait and I thought it would drag – but it went really fast!
We had to walk to the water point each day to fill up our water containers as we daren’t move the boat in case someone came along and took the mooring. That process took the best part of an hour. We got most of our provisions at the local Spar shop and I made good use of the post office to catch up with ‘no computer’ people I haven’t been in touch with for a while Actually I’m glad that some have held out – writing letters by hand is therapeutic.
A couple of days in, we met the chap with the boat in front of ours. He lives in Banbury and takes refuge on his boat as often as he can. He remembered Tony because Tony did some work on a friend’s boat in Cropredy a couple of years ago. His name is Chris and it would be hard to find anyone kinder. He offered to take us to Tesco and he also helped with our water situation by bringing us some huge containers, already full of water.
Neil and Caroline very kindly offered to accept post for me so I was able to get a trolley, a new cassette for the loo, some books, a water pump and, most important of all, a whirly gig (no cuddly toy I’m afraid). I managed to find a small airer on Amazon so it should easily attach to the swan’s neck (tiller) and I will be able to dry my washing outside ... heaven. Neil and Caroline called back to see us a couple of times and also took us to Tesco. People are so kind!
I had a walk into Banbury one day – that was nice – I don’t often get the chance to get into town shops so it was good to replace the rucksack that gave up the ghost and get a few other bits and pieces.
A boat pulled in behind us and we met Ian, another nice person; where do they all come from?? We moved our boat up a little so that he could get the front part of his boat on the shuttering. He wasn’t staying, just leaving his boat in situ so that he and his two lovely kids could come back for the festival.
Other visitors were Pam and Colin from Brook St (my home for 10 years before I bought the boat); they were going past and so decided to call in – I really do appreciate it when people do that. It was lovely to see them too and catch up on the news from ‘back home’.
Mark and Dominic came for dinner one evening and I just about managed to rescue the Lasagne from certain death.
Tony saw a generator advertised in the shop window at the Spar shop so I bought it – I’m sure it will come in more than handy. A few days before the festival Tony woke up with a really bad back; he had an accident a few years ago and so, every now and then, it gives him hell. Luckily it cleared up the day before the festival started – that was a relief.
A week before the festival things started to arrive in the fields, toilets and showers for the campers and, in the main field, a massive stage, lights, the sound tower, road surfaces, fences; it just kept on arriving! It was fascinating to watch; and quite an education too.
Suddenly it was Thursday the 12th, the field opposite the boat filled up with tents in the space of 40 minutes. Talk about well organised!
At around 2 pm we ventured into the village. I don’t know what the locals think as their quiet village is transformed. Rivers of people flow down the streets, in and out of the pubs, and on to the festival ground, but everyone is good-natured and there is no trouble – great huh?
After two weeks of really nice weather it started to rain. It seemed so unfair, but it seems that ‘festival goers’ are immune to it now, so up went the brollies and spirits stayed high. The music began to play and it was a great festival.
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