 |
| Off again! |
 |
| Yet more interesting boats |
 |
| Moored outside Sainsburys |
 |
| Llanthony Secunda Abbey |
These are the voyages of Ken, Annie and dog Peggy. As we cruise we will try and keep the blog up-to-date - internet access permitting of course. Ceilidh is a 54ft cruiser style narrowboat. It was built by J Pinder Ltd for Black Prince hire boats in 1995.
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Thursday 8th August 2013 - Shepherds Patch to Gloucester
After yet-another-final-farewell and goodbye to Pete and Wendy we left Shepherds Patch heading for Gloucester. Annie got off and walked with Maisy the last mile into Gloucester, catching me up after I had moored at the Sainsbury's moorings. Caught up on shopping (now desperate) at Sainsbrys then walked into town after lunch. I waited with Maisy at Costas whilst Annie went into some of the shops. On the way back I explored Llanthony Secunda Abbey and tithe barn ruins - and collected a bag of huge blackberries, which Annie added to those she had collected earlier and made us a lovely crumble for tea.
Friday, 9 August 2013
Wednesday 7th August 2013 - Shepherds Patch
Spent the day servicing 'Forget me not' AND her crew (as it were)
Jobs :
Refix front button fender - done
Wire in new (very nice) fridge - done
Fit new shower pump - done
Repair Pete's bog brush hair cut - done (Annie)
Afterwards Pete cooked the four of us a lovely meal as a final (on this occasion) farewell
Jobs :
Refix front button fender - done
Wire in new (very nice) fridge - done
Fit new shower pump - done
Repair Pete's bog brush hair cut - done (Annie)
Afterwards Pete cooked the four of us a lovely meal as a final (on this occasion) farewell
 |
| Remedial works to Pete's hair-piece |
Tuesday 6th August 2013 - Shepherds Patch to Sharpness
Spent the morning doing emails back to Fleet dealing with some unfortunate building work to the scout hut.
That out of the way we set off for Sharpness which is the terminus of the canal. Stopped for water at Purton and walked down onto the beach to see the Purton Hulks. Continued into Sharpness and moored up for a walk around the old basin and port - which is still working with real live ships in!
Got talking to a chap on a ketch who had bought it in Tobermory and sailed it down south. He was catching the evening tide. Moved the boat back towards Shepherds Patch to get internet. Curry for tea!
That out of the way we set off for Sharpness which is the terminus of the canal. Stopped for water at Purton and walked down onto the beach to see the Purton Hulks. Continued into Sharpness and moored up for a walk around the old basin and port - which is still working with real live ships in!
Got talking to a chap on a ketch who had bought it in Tobermory and sailed it down south. He was catching the evening tide. Moved the boat back towards Shepherds Patch to get internet. Curry for tea!
 |
| Wreck of the 'Arkendale H' sunk in the Severn Bridge disaster in 1960 |
 |
| Sharpness point |
 |
| Sharpness Docks - with real live ships! |
 |
| Wending our way back to Shepherds Patch |
Monday 5th August 2013 - Shepherds Patch
Crew: Ken & Annie - and Maisy the dog
We arrived back at Shepherds Patch about 3.30pm and found the boat straight away. Colin and Anne had tied it to a post, which was fortunate as some of the pins had pulled out with the wash from the big trip boats. Boat in perfect condition - thank you Colin and Anne for taking such great care of her!
Decided to move the boat 50yds forward to a vacant mooring on the wharf.... and the heavens opened. We both got SOAKED. Was just going below to dry off when Pet and Wendy on 'Forget me not' hove into view. Helped them moor up and all went back to our respective boats to await the deluge stopping.
We all had a meal (and a jar or two) together at the Tudor Arms.
We arrived back at Shepherds Patch about 3.30pm and found the boat straight away. Colin and Anne had tied it to a post, which was fortunate as some of the pins had pulled out with the wash from the big trip boats. Boat in perfect condition - thank you Colin and Anne for taking such great care of her!
Decided to move the boat 50yds forward to a vacant mooring on the wharf.... and the heavens opened. We both got SOAKED. Was just going below to dry off when Pet and Wendy on 'Forget me not' hove into view. Helped them moor up and all went back to our respective boats to await the deluge stopping.
We all had a meal (and a jar or two) together at the Tudor Arms.
Friday 2nd August 2013 - Shepherds Patch
Crew: Colin & Anne
Drove to Gloucester town centre - lovely Roman town, similar but less grand than Chester. Lots of quaint little shops, Cathedral, antiques market (full of junk like we've already got loads of!) & a coffee and a cake at Costa.
Quick trip to Halfords on way home for new bike lock and back to Ceilidh for a late lunch & packing etc. Setting off soon - its now 5.10pm.
Drove to Gloucester town centre - lovely Roman town, similar but less grand than Chester. Lots of quaint little shops, Cathedral, antiques market (full of junk like we've already got loads of!) & a coffee and a cake at Costa.
Quick trip to Halfords on way home for new bike lock and back to Ceilidh for a late lunch & packing etc. Setting off soon - its now 5.10pm.
 |
| Cathedral |
Thursday 1st August 2013 - Shepherds Patch
Crew: Colin & Anne
The temperature actually reached 33.5 C by pm! Luckily there was a pleasant breeze but we were still roasted!
I can only describe our early morning take off with Ceilidh as precarious - put it this way. All the other happy, smug campers were out on deck, biting their lips in anticipation of a certain catastrophe (would have helped to have pushed off in the first place, as we attempted to turn her around.
Thankfully Anne's brain cells engaged in the nick of time and no harm done. I'm sure our bridge keeper phoned the next few bridgekeepers to warn them we were on our way because as soon as they spotted us in the far distance, the bridges were lifted.
We had a beautiful trip as far as Quedgeley Wharf then turned around and tootled in the sunshine back to 'our' patch. The only problem was that we were out until nearly 4pm and we were STARVING! I didnt dare leave Colin on deck alone for more than a couple of minutes. At one stage he did say "Annie would have baked a cake by now". My response was "The difference being that Ken would have been at the helm". Enough said :-)
When we got back we set up deck chairs on the towpath and were soon joined by a lovely couple of passers by from Bristol - Ros & Mike. They told us they'd seen us coming through Saul Junction and that we looked perfectly competent. Looks can be deceiving! They shared a nice cold bottle of Rose with us and left at 7pm - time for tea. Fitted in a towpath walk before bed.
The temperature actually reached 33.5 C by pm! Luckily there was a pleasant breeze but we were still roasted!
I can only describe our early morning take off with Ceilidh as precarious - put it this way. All the other happy, smug campers were out on deck, biting their lips in anticipation of a certain catastrophe (would have helped to have pushed off in the first place, as we attempted to turn her around.
Thankfully Anne's brain cells engaged in the nick of time and no harm done. I'm sure our bridge keeper phoned the next few bridgekeepers to warn them we were on our way because as soon as they spotted us in the far distance, the bridges were lifted.
We had a beautiful trip as far as Quedgeley Wharf then turned around and tootled in the sunshine back to 'our' patch. The only problem was that we were out until nearly 4pm and we were STARVING! I didnt dare leave Colin on deck alone for more than a couple of minutes. At one stage he did say "Annie would have baked a cake by now". My response was "The difference being that Ken would have been at the helm". Enough said :-)
When we got back we set up deck chairs on the towpath and were soon joined by a lovely couple of passers by from Bristol - Ros & Mike. They told us they'd seen us coming through Saul Junction and that we looked perfectly competent. Looks can be deceiving! They shared a nice cold bottle of Rose with us and left at 7pm - time for tea. Fitted in a towpath walk before bed.
 |
| Saul swing bridge |
Wednesday 31st July 2013 - Shepherds Patch
We spent nearly all day at the Wetland Centre, it is like a zoo for birds! Very good and well worth a visit - we particularly loved the otters and whistling ducks! Something for all the family. Later on we paid a quick visit to Frampton and had a pint in the Bell Inn before a shop at Tesco in Cam. Later had meal at the Tudor Arms. The weather has been warm, breezy with squally showers and rather overcast. Forecast for tomorrow is 29 deg C!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)