4 years later... 😁

Easter morning 2021 bright and early. Moored near Tyle Mill waiting for lockdown to end... 

April 26th - Rushey Lock to Eynesham

Set off at 10am, winding both boats. A boat came around one of the very tight bends giving me nowhere to go but into the bushes.  Fortunately Annie was ashore and managed to pole us off from the bank.  Met a hire boat heading back to his hire base as most of the family hated it ad his mother in law was unwell. Passed hire base as ambulance arrived so it was pretty serious.

April 25th - Bablock Hythe to Rushy Lock meadow

Set off at 10am on quite a cold morning -2deg C overnight. No lock keepers in sight all day, all self service. At the first lock just as we were coming out another narrowboat set off in front of us (thats considered bad manners) He was slow and holding us up so we both moored up in a convenient field to have a cuppa and wait for them to get ahead.  A small group of runners jogged into view and we got talking to a very nice lady, Mina Guli who told us she was just running into London to finish er '6 Rivers Run' to help raise awareness of clean water in 3rd world countries. I thought the 6 rivers might have included the Avon, Trent etc but was gobsmacked to learn she was running the Colorado River, the Amazon River in South America, the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia, the Yangtze River in Asia and the Nile River in Africa, finishing on the River Thames on 30th April!  Her youtube video is here

April 24th - Osney to Bablock Hythe

A late start (11.30) back upsteam passing Godstow. Watered and de-rubbished at Eynesham Lock. Arrived Bablock Hythe without seeing another boat moving.  Pub didnt open until 7 so Pete and I went after tea.

April 23rd - London Marathon

Up early and caught the 7.42 train to Marylebone, then the underground to Waterloo to meet Jess & Kim. Thence to Canary Wharf to meet Abi, Julie and Claire.  Fought our way through the crowds to get a decent view and managed to spot Mark on the course no less than three times!
Met Mark at the finish on Horseguards Parade then back to Claires for a BBQ. Charlie managed to make the BBQ. Caught the train back from Whitton at 7.30pm and made it back to the boat by 10.30.
An amazing day seeing everyone, topped with an amazing performance by Mark - one very proud Dad!

April 22nd - Godstow to Osney Lock

Just about finished the front steps just as Pete and his friend Helen arrived on Canny.  They moored alongside for lunch then we both set off for Osney. We intend to leave the boat here whilst Annie and I travel to London to watch Mark in the London Marathon.

Front steps finished bar the painting

April 21st - remained at Godstow

Worked on the boat today.  Started building a set of steps at the front to replace the current open ladder steps. To do this it was necessary to remove the front radiator, which doesnt work too well anyway.

Investigating central heating pipe runs

April 20th - Oxford to Godstow

Walking Peggy at Godstow Abbey

Watlington Hoard at the Ashmolean

Took time whilst in Oxford to visit the Ashmolean museum to view James's viking 'Watlington Hoard'. Very special.  Moved on to Godstow and moored up next to the abbey.

April 19th - Sandford to Oxford

Beautiful day - just jumpers rather than coats like yesterday. Spotted a tree lying on the towpath that had already been cut up, so we moored and scavenged it!

April 18th - Abingdon to Sandford

Up early for a badly needed pump-out and top up with water. Met Mum and Chris fir a coffee at the Kings Head at Sandford.

The last post - spotted on a walk with Peggy

Abingdon to Sandford - lovely day

April 17th - Abingdon

Pulled into Abingdon for a couple of days. Joined by Jess, Kim, Bob and Sophie for a bbq

April 9th - Broken down at Reading

Narrowboat drive train. Great when they work but we've been broken down for a week. Rattley box on right was not transferring power to whirly thing at left (off screen). Looking at crane out (£600) and new prop shaft (£200). Gulped. Bought hack saw (£3.10p) Cut worn 2 inches off end of shaft and reconnected coupling. Whirly thing goes round again. Currently undergoing sea trials but ok so far (touch wood)!

March 15th - Frouds Marina to Tile Mill

Found Bill and paid up for our stay in the marina (24 days). Filled up with water. Whilst we have our own tap on the pontoon this is a pumped supply from a well, which is shared with every other craft in the marina.  Hence filling was a tad slow!  Bought 3 bags of coal - our last from a marina if we can help it. Much prefer to buy from a working coal boat - cheaper and more convenient.

March 14th - Back to boat at Frouds Bridge

After a great fortnight in Egypt, Jess brought us back to the boat today. Put everything away and lit fire to start warming boat. Even with the stove on high it can take a couple of days to fully warm the boat.

Winter 2015/16

We over-wintered on Ceilidh on the Kennet & Avon between Reading and Newbury.  Planned winter stoppages (lock closures) were a little harsh in our area meaning effectively we were limited to a length of the navigation between Theale and Woolhampton.

Summer 2015

Unfortunately Mum had a bad fall at the end of April.  We stayed on the Thames at Reading for the 6 weeks she was in hospital - much more convenient than travelling in by car as it was only a short walk each day.  Mum was able to return home in June with sister Chris and I taking it in turns week on week off to 'keep an eye'. During this time we shuffled between Kennet Mouth on the Thames and Theale on the K&A, both within easy reach of Mums.  Later in the summer she was well enough for us to spend a few days cruising on the Thames.

April 18th - Reading to Burghfield

April 16th & 17th - Remained at Reading

Walked Peggy round to Nb. Blue Wolf to say goodbye to Shaun and Debs.  The tree has now been cleared and boats are on the move again.  We wish them well!
Spent the day working on the boat - tightened fan belt, cleaned fuel system and made a 'knob' for the throttle lever.  Annie blacked the stove and cleaned up the cratch area.

On Friday I spent the day at my Mums whilst Annie replaced the zip on the cratch cover.

Black Swan

April 15th - Day trip to Henley

Today we were joined by Jess, Charlie and Alizée.  They parked in the nearby watersports car park and walked round to us, meeting us coming through Blakes Lock.  Had a great day doing a few locks and mooring and having a picnic in Henley.  We got back to Reading for tea and walked them back to the car.

April 14th - Reading Tescos to Reading Jail loop

Received an email from CRT to say that the K&A canal was closed due to a fallen tree above County Lock in Reading.  This meant that Shaun and Debs would be stuck in Reading until it is cleared - hopefully soon.  We moved both boats round to the Reading Jail loop and moored up.  Annie, Debs and I walked up the canal to see if we could see the tree.  Couldn't miss it! - a stonking great thing.  CRT had removed a few branches but this looks like it might take a day or two!
 Caught the bus to go and see my Mum in Tilehurst in the evening.