Thursday 29th August 2013 - Ladbroke Grove to Paddington

Finally got the right filter from a motor factors around he corner in Kensal Green. Fitted it and changed the oil in the morning and cleaned out the fuel filters ready for our jaunt on the tide.  The Thames can be quite choppy and narrowboats are not intended for these waters!

Made a late move round to the Paddington Arm - a short dead end arm right next to Paddington Station but exceedingly posh.  We moored up right next to a very smart bistro/bar and sat out on the back deck with our G&Ts watching everyone with their hugely expensive cocktails.

Our mooring at Paddington

Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th August - Remained at Ladbroke Grove

Friends Kathryn and Brian had been planning to join us but we couldn't manage the timing.  Plan A had been to travel back with them along the Thames from Lime House, which is quite adventurous as this section of the river is tidal, taking us beneath Tower Bridge and passed the Houses of Parliament.  However the tides were not right for several days meaning we would have to adopt Plan B - the shorter trip along the Thames from Brentford - and not as interesting.  Our intention was to be on the Basingstoke Canal for my birthday.

I spent part of Tuesday trying to book the boat through Brentford and onto the Basingstoke Canal.  In the event I was unable to do either.  No answer from Brentford and the Basingstoke was closed due to low water levels.  In the end we decided to wait until tides were more favourable and booked to go out through Lime House 8am on Sunday.

Cycled in to Marble Arch to pay a cheque in and have a look round in London.  On Wednesday spent the day trying to obtain an oil filter for the boat so that I could service the engine before venturing out onto the Thames.

Monday 26th August 2013 - Remained at Ladbroke Grove

An easy start today. Claire and Rob arrived around noon - after a busy day at the carnival yesterday for both of them!  Mark was keen to see more of the carnival, while Claire seemed Carnivalled out - so we fired up the engine and moved the boat round to Little Venice and the very end of the Paddington Arm to see what it was like.  Rob helmed there, with Claire helming back.  It was quite a sight moving along the canal with thousands and thousands of people partying on either side, and hundreds of Police keeping an eye.  We spotted stored riot gear but none of it was needed.

Mark enjoyed himself and stayed out a little longer than planned, making it an interesting exercise to get him to the tubs to Victoria before the trains stopped.  He got back to Fleet just after midnight. Lovely having all three of them with us.

Sunday 25th August 2013 - Rickmansworth to Notting Hill

Heavy rain again in the night.  Set off at 9am with an outside chance of getting to Claire and Rob at Notting Hill.  Coming in to the first lock we found a huge tree that had fallen with the weight of water, lying across a boat.  The owners were standing around scratching their heads.  We moved passed very slowly in case we disturbed the tree any more.

We paired up with a young boater named Tom in an unnamed boat, with his girlfriend as far as Uxbridge marina.  Mark and I worked the boat while Annie kept us well supplied with food and drink.

In now lovely weather we made Bulls Bridge by 3pm.  This is the junction between the GU and Paddington Arm.  As the weather was so good, and we had made good time we decided to press on up the Paddington Arm, arriving at Ladbrook Grove moorings at 6pm.  There was ....er.... a bit of noise going on.  Sunday was the childrens parade of the Notting Hill Carnival so we quickly shut the boat up and walked in to see what was going on.  We caught the tail end of the procession which was fantastic - loads of noise but a long walk back as the Police were enforcing a strict one way system.

Bed by 10pm - all shattered.

Tescos moorings at Rickmansworth

Saturday 24th August 2013 - Hemel Hempstead to Rickmansworth

After a sleepless night it was a slow start and we did not get going until mid-morning.  We paired up with a couple, Joe and George, moving their boat down to Brentford.  It was nice to team up with someone who was a good boater!  We all got on well with them, with Mark and I sharing the helming.  Joe was stopping at Rickmansworth, so we stopped just after they did.  Moored up at Tescos while we shopped for a few items, then moved to the other side if the canal.  Rain on and off all day.

Friday 23rd August 2013 - Tring to Hemel Hempstead

We had planned for Mark to join us after work tonight and Hemel Hempstead station looks close to the canal.  Annie was reaching the end of her tether with tiredness but we had to press on, with Annie taking over the driving and me doing the locks.  All the locks were against us which slowed us down somewhat but still managed to moor up near the station at 4.30pm.

We walked into the town centre and found as Asda store to catch up on food shopping before Mark arrived.  I walked over to the station to meet hom at 8.30pm.  Annie did us all a lovely curry - looking forward to having Mark on board!  Noone got much sleep as the rain on the roof was so heavy.

Thursday 22nd August 2013 - Leighton Buzzard to Tring

We need to push on hard if we are to get to London to meet up with Claire and Rob so we set off early.  We were soon joined by Nb Little Pumpkin crewed by Ray and Jill who we got on with well.  It makes life so much easier if two boats share the double locks on the GU canal.  We got on really well, until we caught up with a slow moving wide beam - who appeared content for us to operate the locks for him.  So we stopped for lunch to let him get ahead.

Ray and Jill stopped at Marsworth mid afternoon, but we had to press on through the next flight of 6 locks and got as far as Tring before mooring - it was already getting dark.

Marsworth

Wednesday 21st August 2013 - Milton Keynes to Leighton Buzzard

We had noticed that Maisy was scratching  We didn't get moving a lot and close investigation revealed..... FLEAS!  Boats are not good places for fleas.... correction they are very good places for fleas but not good for getting rid of them, with no good vacuum or boil washing machines.  So it was a case of finding the nearest Pets at Home and getting on the bikes to buy flea treatments, for both dog and boat.  Treatments were applied forthwith and I am pleased to report.... no more scratching!

We didnt get going until 1pm.  It was a warm afternoon and we made good progress, despite being held up behind a painfully slow widebeam.  I had to walk up and negotiate with the two boats ahead to allow us passed! Moored up for the night at bridge 72 on the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard.

Slow queue

Tuesday 20th August 2013 - Nether Heyford to Milton Keynes

Stockton isnt as ugly today as his feathers are starting to fluff up. Small mercies....  Set off at 9.30am with me sanding the new tiller handle to get it to fit as we went.  Arrived at the northern portal of the Blisworth tunnel at 11.55am - at 3,050 yards long this is the longest tunnel on the system in regular use.  Annie drove through and made a fantastic job of it - meeting just two boats coming the other way.  Whilst this is a wider tunnel and allows two way traffic, it is none the less daunting passing other boats in the dark underground.  Made it through to the other side at 12.35pm.

At Stoke Bruerne lock amidst seemingly hundreds of gongoozlers, a lady came up  and introduced herself.  Kathryn Doddington who organised the Basingstoke Canal reopening cruise, had recognised our boat name and chatted to us for as long as it took to lock through.  She has recently moved to Stoke Bruerne.

There are lots of hire boats about now.  Some moving erratically, some barely moving at all.  Still we all had to start somewhere!  Caught one up moving slowly, then got passed as it ran aground.  Made sure they got off first though.

Moved into Milton Keynes before stopping - we have to press on hard if we are to make London by the weekend.

Entering the Blisworth tunnel

Annie helming through the tunnel, looking understandably pensive!

Crossing an aquaduct

Mega-mural in Milton Keynes

Monday 19th August 2013 - Braunston to Nether Heyford

Stockton the heron is still with us, squeeking away and looking much stronger than when Annie found him. Spotted the pump-out location last night - so set off early to move round and pump out the foul tank.  Took on water at the same time.  Had breakfast, then walked back to the Chandlery to get one or two things including oil, which needs changing when I get time. Also bought a new tiller handle as the old one got broken going into a lock yesterday.

Paired up with a small narrowboat owned by an ....older couple.  He left one lock too fast and hit a boat waiting to come in.  The owner wasn't pleased as they had only had it 3 weeks - he may have been upset but he in fact shouted at Annie thinking we were with them!

A lovely but tiring day.  Moored up on a bend just before Nether Heyford.  Drilled out the stub of the broken handle out of the tiller tube then bed.

Braunston as busy as ever.  Hire boats coming down slowly caused a queue

Locking down out of Braunston

Breakfast for Stockton

Sunday 18th August 2013 - Leamington Spa to Braunston

During breakfast we noticed that the boat was leaning a bit - and that the lean was getting more pronounced.  This is usually a symptom of being aground at the edge and the water continuing to get lower.  Fearing being completely aground we struggled to re-float the boat and went through the next lock as quickly as possible.  At the lock we teamed up with an ex-hire boat owned by a lovely family.  They had just bought the boat and were taking it home to Pewsey on the K&A.

Coming down the Stockton flight, Maisy found a little bundle of fluff on the towpath and started sniffing at it - a baby heron! There were no trees around or anywhere it could have fallen from so Annie brought it back to the boat. Butt ugly little thing. Heron is now named Stockton and we will try and keep him alive longer than Duck!  Fortunately we still have the cat food we got for duck and Stockton seems to eat it - though he cant open his beak, Annie has to force it in.

Having said goodbye to the family who were heading down the Oxford canal, we arrived in Braunston at 4.30pm and moored near the junction.  Walked into the village in the evening and had a drink at the Plough Arms.

Meet Stockton the Heron

The Blue Lias

Sharing lock with nice family we didnt get the name of.

Are we nearly there yet?

Flowers Annie and Julie bought in Southport are still looking good

Saturday 17th August 2013 - Lapworth to Leamington Spa

Started off at 9am, first passing through the Shrewley tunnel (500yds).  As soon as we got out of the tunnel the Hatton flight appeared, rolling down the hill. This set of 21 double locks is quite daunting and used to be known as the 'stairway to heaven'.

As we arrived at the first lock we were joined by Nb Florence and her crew of 4.  This was something of a Godsend as negotiating the flight with a single boat is very hard work!  We were quite lucky with boats coming the other way and it took us about 4 hours to get down with one team locking through and others preparing the next lock ahead.

Going in to the last lock Florence's skipper tried to fish something out of the water, but missed.  Being further back I was able to line up on what turned out to be a rucksack and managed to pull it out onto the deck.  It was very heavy and attached to something underwater but separated as I pulled it aboard. It was only later that we had an opportunity to look in the bag - and the contents were quite worrying.... Someones phone, wallet, console, clothes, bible.... their life.  Annie rang three numbers scribbled in a book and soon determined that the owner was a chap living rough, who had been helping boats up the locks for money.  I got an overpowering feeling that the owner may well been have been down there with his bag.... it wouldn't have taken much to fall in and the bag would have taken him down.  We moored near a road bridge and the Police came and collected the bag - and promised to let us know the outcome.  That put a bit of a downer on the day.

Entering the Shrewley tunnel with its peculiar parallel towpath tunnel 

Pub. 'nuff said.

One of the locks on the Hatton flight

Looking down on our overnight mooring from the Radford railway viaduct

Friday 16th August 2013 - Wilmcote to Lapworth

After a night of very heavy rain, it was necessary to bail out the bilge which had more water in it than was good for it. Started off in foul weather gear but the sun soon came out and we were back to T shirts.

The locks on this canal are a pleasure - but the bridges are a swine!  They are so narrow there is inches to spare width wise, which means you have to slow right down and get lined up exactly.

At 4pm we got to Kingswood Junction where there is a short connection between the Stratford Canal and Grand Union.  We made the right turn an were soon heading back south - towards London.  The plan is to meet Claire and her boyfriend Rob at Little Venice in London.

Moored at Tom O' The Wood moorings and walked over for a (expensive) beer at the Tom O' The Wood pub. Early to bed ready for the Hatton flight tomorrow.

Going over the Bearley aquaduct

A feature of the Stratford Canal is the use of barrel vaulting for the roofs of its lock cottages

Another one.  Well you had loads of brickies building your canal - why not make use of them and do the roof in brick!

Maisy travelling on the roof

Thursday 15th August 2013 - Stratford upon Avon to Wilmcote

Left Maisy on the boat whilst we went into town to buy Kim a birthday present - she is coming over to us on Saturday which will be nice.  We also went to Morrisons to get the weeks shopping.  Late morning we cast off and made our way over to the lock - the last on the Avon and first on the Stratford upon Avon Canal.  The gongoozlers were wall to wall watching us lock through, with lots of photos being taken of us - er why?  There followed a tricky manoever through a low tunnel, then the first of the Stratford flight of 15 locks.

Found a very quiet spot to moor for the night near bridge 58.  Took Maisy a late evening walk down a footpath through a wood and across a railway line out into the fields - Maisy loved it.  Brought some wood back with us for the fire as its getting noticeably chillier.

Park moorings in Stratford

Looking up the Wilmcote flight out of Stratford upon Avon

Nice CRT Volunteer lockie who helped us up some of the flight.  Took a bottle of iced water in exchange

Looking back down the flight to Stratford

Windy bike

Wednesday 14th August 2013 - Gordon Grey lock into Stratford town.

A beautiful morning so had breakfast on deck.  Moved the boat into Stratford upon Avon, mooring up at the park near the bandstand.  Walked into town and did some shopping and a look at some of the sights.  Spent the day reading and catching up on scout stuff.

A cooler afternoon with rain in the evening and overnight.

The RSC

Tuesday 13th August 2013 - Evesham to Stratford upon Avon

Set off under blue skies and straight through the first lock.  After that every other lock was against us.  During the afternoon the rain started and wind got up and it was bad enough for us both to get our foulies on.  Caught up with the boat ahead, which was a slow moving wide beam - but a nice family.  They stopped at Bidford, where we had hoped to stop, but they took the last mooring!  So we had to continue....

Eventually we stopped just beyond the 'Gordon Grey' lock outside Stratford - a beautiful quiet spot, except or the weir next to us.

Monday 12th August 2013 - Remained at Evesham

We moved Ceilidh up to moorings next to Evesham Lock, which we considered more secure than the public moorings in the town, if we were going to leave her to go to the funeral.  In the event we didnt go to the funeral so moved the boat back to the town moorings where it would be easier to walk the dog.

Watched the Perseid meteor shower around 11pm - a great display.  But you could hardly see the meteors for the bats flying around the boat.

Sunday 11th August 2013 - Pershore to Evesham

Annie went a swim at Pershore swimming pool first thing, returning for breakfast.  We set off around 10.30am, again pairing up with Marlin.  They stopped at Hampton Ferry to meet a friend for lunch.  We continued into Evesham to moor on a pontoon.  Walked into town for a look around but its not as great as its cracked up to be!  Marlin arrived and moored about 1/4mile ahead of us and were chatting to their friend Roy.  On our return I walked up to Marlin to invite Martin and Ros for drinky poos on our boat.  Could hardly get a word in edge-ways as Roy was in full flow talking with Martin and Ros looking glazed. We agreed they would join us at 7.30pm.

At 7pm I got a call from Ros.... they might be a bit late as Roy had been taken ill.  They knew he was ill because he suddenly stopped talking - they suspected his diabetes was causing problems.  We kept watch on them by binoculars - they seemed fully in control of the situation so we didnt go over - even when the ambulance arrived.  About 8.30 they rang to say he was now much better and was talking 10 to the dozen to the paramedics.  They would walk him home (when he stopped talking) and was the offer of a drink still on - they desperately needed one!

Had a lovely, but tad late evening with the crew of Nb Marlin.

Lovely detail to a thatch at Wyre Piddle

Fladbury Mill on the approach to Fladbury lock

A lady in a coracle

Annie managed to take this great snap of a Kingfisher sat on a rock

Saturday 10th August - Tewkesbury to Pershore

Annie spent the morning phoning family.  It is by no means clear if we are going to her Gran's funeral on Wednesday in Gosport (family stuff!) so we need to hang loose until we know.

Set off mid morning and stopped almost immediately at Tewkesbury marina to fill up with diesel.  We are burning almost exactly 1 litre/hour.

We spent the best part of the day slowly moving around Bredon Hill with its iron age hillfort on top.  At Strensham Lock we locked through with Nb 'Marlin' and stayed with them the rest of the afternoon - its much easier two boats locking together.  We finally both moored up at the town moorings in Pershore.  Marlin's skipper walked over to us a short time later and asked if we would care to join them in the ritual they go through each evening of 'G&Ts'.  Of course we had to share in the ritual.  They are Martin and Ros and showed us Marlin - 50ft long because that is the width of the bottom of their garden against the Erewash canal.  They had incorporated some great ideas into her design and it felt longer than Ceilidh!

After tea Annie and I went a walk around Pershore, which was humming with activity.  Nice place.

Looking back to Tewkesbury. Some of the old bridges are fun to navigate beneath!

Topping up

Eckington bridge with Bredon Hill  behind

Friday 9th August 2013 - Gloucester to Tewkesbury

Went through Gloucester lock without any difficulties but the tide was against us on the way out so we made slow progress.  There was lots of debris and at one point Annie had to avoid a tree floating towards us!

We stopped at the Haw Bridge pub to let Maisy off to powder her nose, but felt duty-bound to avail ourselves of the facilities while we were there.  Arrived at Upper Lode lock and had to moor, climb the ladder and rouse the lock keeper who was reading his paper!  There was a large swirl of water in the lock which might have been 'Keith' a seal who has been spotted in the river here over the last few months.

Arrived at Tewkesbury at 4.30pm and entered the lock.  The volunteer lock-keeper took our £50 for a weeks licence on the Avon and showed us to our mooring which involved a tricky reversing manoevre and sideways shimmy to get our 54ft boat into the 54ft 1inch gap between two other boats.

After settling into our temporary abode we walked into town to explore.  Very pretty and historic.  Did some historical research at the Black Bear, the oldest hostelry in Tewkesbury.

The girls, ready to set off again

Annie dodging trees

Haw Bridge Inn and moorings

Approaching Tewkesbury

Narrowboat left hanging precariously by last years floods 

View from the top

About to undertake historical research