Home again

I took a slow boat home from Cropredy. I last left you at Fenny Compton while I had to return to work, spend time with family - both in London and in the sticks - and sort out bits and pieces within the house. I went to the music day at Braunston Festival and it was not at all bad. Quite long waits between bands but time was filled in with (mostly) good DJ music choices. A few more stalls to browse in the lull times would not go amiss. Returning to Fenny I found Olivia in fine fettle and I made for the Napton flight of locks. Nice cruising weather again - this was 31st August - and I moored by bridge 122, half a mile before the locks. Left Olivia again with another couple of moored boats. Only gone for two nights (work yet again) and when I returned I found that some git had been on board and nicked my new blue mooring line, extra long and purchased for the rivers. So if you see some shifty geyser showing off a new line, you might guess where it came from. I was a bit annoyed but once again overwhelmed by the balance in society, as when I mentioned my loss to a young couple at the locks, they were quick to offer me one of their spare ropes. I didn't need it as I have some old spares but it just highlighted the difference in people. They restored my faith. Through the locks quickly and moored up half way between Napton and Braunston. One of the local farmers will be very disappointed as a large brown woolly sheep with horns was floating belly up in the cut. I walked back for the car and luckily it was in one piece! Next day I moved through Braunston, up the locks and through the tunnel. All very straightforward and really good cruising weather. Again got some good exercise walking back for the car. Did 7 miles the first day and 6 miles the next one. Rick promised to help me with Buckby Locks and there he was waiting for me, despite poor phone reception which meant that my text had not been sent and all four of his texts came through after I'd met up with him! Quite a reasonable run down the locks although a gust of wind took Olivia's bow across the cut when I least wanted it too. Also it started to rain. I offered Rick a selection of my hats and raincoats but he declined them all, preferring to get wet rather than to look a pratt :-). I moored up and we went for lunch before a quick 2 mile hike for the car. I left the car keys with Rick while I took O back to her mooring so that he could bring the car to me and then I could drop him back to his mooring. Caught up with my neighbours as I had been away since the middle of May. Of the 30 plus days that I have been cruising this summer, only two of them were cold and only one was showery. MUCH better than the past two years (although I did about ten days less cruising this year, therefore, did ten days more chillin').

Cropredy Phase 3...

No blogs during the festival because we were having such a great time! If some of what I write is factually incorrect or chronologically disordered then please bear with me as all the days melded into one great weekend. I arrived Thursday morning, parked up and met up with Lynn, my first visitor. We unloaded our stuff onboard and then down to The Brasenose for the fringe.I have to admit I missed the first band, Bruise, but hear that they were good. (The drummer played again the next day, supporting Bryana Hardyman). At 2pm King King came on. What a fantastic band! This is the third time I've seen them and I enjoy them more each time.

Alan Nimmo getting into his stride

Shame about the rain but once you're wet you can't get any wetter. We met up with Andy who goes to my "blues local" in Northampton.

Cheers - from me and Andy

Next on, Wamma Jamma (who I have also seen in Northampton). Good stuff and again they were struggling with the rain - only the most stalwart in the audience stayed - even we had to run for the bar a couple of times when the skies opened. We went back to the boat to dry off and I could have been tempted to stay in - as we could hear the main festival from the mooring - but the others wanted to go back to the Brase. It was a bit of a bizarre evening as the act, Simon Kempston, was a really quiet person and the drinkers in the bar were easily able to talk over him. He would probably do better at a folk club or a dedicated acoustic venue. Andy drove home and Lynn and I went back to Olivia.

Friday we had a chilled out morning and browsed some of the stalls in the village. Then it was back to the pub for Bryana Hardyman. She sang some good songs and has a really nice voice. She did a version of Richard Thompson's Dimming of the Day which was well received. Next up, Blair Dunlop, son of Ashley Hutchings and a very good (and young) guitarist/songwriter - expect great things from him - he has strong  fairport/albion roots. Then Ashley's Rainbow Chasers came on and did a more than competent set. What can I say about Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges, an excellent musician and a set that went down really well with the crowd. It is great that the Brase is putting on acts of this calibre and, at this point, I should comment that the sound system was absolutely brilliant too. Once again, all acts were in competition with the rain but today everyone was better prepared. Andy brought us all a picnic, which was really thoughtful of him. Thanks so much, Andy.

Lynn applauds Andy for the picnic :-)

At about 2pm, Luke and Jane arrived on their bikes from Banbury, and were joined later by Jane's sister, Annie, who had cycled from Cheltenham! They were all camping in the field opposite the boat, which was convenient, to say the least. The three of them organised a BBQ back at the boat and we would happily have stayed there chatting and drinking some mighty fine wine but we received a text from another of our Northampton friends to say he was in the Brase watching Dave Onions, so we cleared up the barbie and went back along the muddy towpath to the pub. Dave had brought a carload of the Northamptonians with him and there was a great atmosphere with dancing, chatting and both Andy and one of the Daves being chatted up by festival goers. I'd like to thank my boat neighbours, whose names I never did get, for taking my water butt up to the water point for me and returning it full, a lifesaver.

Saturday started with rain, although rather lighter showers (either that or I am becoming immune). Luke, Jane and Annie had been off to the car boot and came back for breakfast and to show us their purchases. They claim that they knocked us up but we didn't hear them. Back to the pub for Spank the Monkey, The Producers and Letherat. All good although I have to admit that Letherat are not "my thing". The younger contingent loved them though. During the afternoon, I started to get a more and more throbbing toothache which did detract a bit from my enjoyment. Annie had to leave early afternoon (working Sunday) and Andy disappeared after the afternoon sets, I think the rain finally got to him. I popped down to the Red Lion for half an hour as my neighbour (the one who fetched my water) was playing in a band of samba drummers. There were about thirty of them, all dressed in black and gold, and VERY VERY noisy. I wish I had thought to get my camera out at that point. We went back to the boat and made ourselves a vegetable curry. (Actually Luke and Jane made it as my toothache was giving me gip and I couldn't concentrate). We spent the evening listening to Rick Wakeman and Fairport from the comfort of our own (dry) home.

Sunday morning the weather was really fine and we went for breakfast before Lynn packed up for home. Got a call from boater friends who said they were popping over so Luke and Jane packed up all their stuff while we had a cup of tea with Rick, Tim and Carole. At about 1.30 we started out for Banbury and at 2.30 we were still in the queue for the first lock. Why did I not learn from last year? Anyway, Luke & Jane had to cycle off to Banbury to meet their commitments, rather than the planned leisurely cruise down. I gave up after the first lock and moored up. Chillaxed for the rest of the day. Think I'm a bit "out of it" due to painkillers for the toothache.

Monday was another fine day, so back as a single hander, I cruised down the next two locks, winded at Banbury and came back up through Cropredy - stopping to use the facilties - and mooring between Broadmoor and Varneys locks. It gets a bit choppy between the locks so in the evening I moved up below Claydon locks.

Tuesday had been forecast persistent rain but turned out to be rather better than that. I took off through the locks and cruised up to Fenny Compton where I found a decent spot on the 14 day moorings. Walked back to Claydon to get the car and then packed up for home. Got to work for a few days and get this tooth sorted!

Cropredy Phase 2...

For the past two weeks I have been back and forth between my boat and home trying to fit in childcare, gardening and social life. Had my first cycle ride for about fifteen years and did 12 miles. Cropredy is beginning to hot up and there are not many places to moor now. The festival site is taking shape and signs are going up around the village. I went down to the Brasenose last night where a young band showed that the blues is not just an old man's game. Many of the boaters were down there getting into the festival spirit.

At Cropredy....phase 1

I just did a short 45 minute cruise so that I was close to Cropredy, well, a 20 minute stroll. I had found a gig that I wanted to go to at the Brasenose Arms. I am also as close to a bus route as it gets around here so I walked to Williamscote and got a GA01/2 (don’t ask) bus to Braunston where I’d left the car. I popped into Daventry for a few provisions and then parked up on a lane near the boat’s mooring. I went for a little walk before fetching up at the pub. In effect I was sussing out moorings for next week. There is one good place but only room for half a dozen boats. It’s a 14 day mooring but some of the boats there look as if they are fairly well ensconced.


The crowd at the pub are amazing. As a people watcher I had loads of material. There was so much tie die and those hippie trousers we used to wear; leather waistcoats; dreadlocks; that sweet cigarette smell from the 60’s (wink wink); etc. Next to me were a table of boaters: a lovely family with three little daughters who were delightful, especially the little one who wanted to keep up with her sisters. They were with several boaters who got more and more drunk as the evening wore on (in a nice way). One had come over on his bike and I feared for his safety cycling back along the towpath. There was also a woman who appeared to be on her own but unlike me, who was sitting quietly trying to be invisible, she was in a world of her own dancing to the music in a unique and idiosyncratic way. For those reading this who know her, think Karaoke Karen stylee. Anyway a couple from South of Oxford came to share my table and we had a great chat about music. She was my age and he was, perhaps, a decade older, so we had much in common re gigs and artists and experiences. She had broken both of her legs a few weeks ago falling down some steps at Tesco (so it happens to all of us when we reach a certain age - your art of balance just disappears). The band were pretty good, lots of slide guitar and a fiddle, but firmly placed in the rock-blues genre. The drummer used to be with Status Quo, apparently.

Today, I awoke to find the boat on a slope, I’d tied her up too tight and the water had risen. It was like walking on the side of a hill. I’m off to Banbury later to find a mooring where I can leave Olivia until I can bring her back up to Cropredy for the festival. The Brasenose has got a fantastic line up for the festival weekend including King King (who we saw at Upton last week), Letherat (who are playing the main festival, too) and Ashley Hutchings’ Rainbow Chasers plus many others. Should be great.

The long and winding.....canal

A non-descript start to the day weatherwise - grey cloud - as the BBC are wont to say. But it was warm and there has been no wind at all. The canal was as still as a millpond. The first boat that passed by did not return my “good morning” and just seemed to ignore my presence. I know the boat from my local area and it got me thinking about people and why they end up like they do. A good morning costs nothing and I think it makes us all feel better. Perhaps they had just hada row and didn’t feel goodmorning-ish. This part of the canal is very winding and you cruise about four times the distance that the crow flies but it is soooo pretty. I did three hours this morning and then dropped down five locks this afternoon so I am now only two miles from Cropredy but am much too early for the festival so think I’ll go to Banbury and then turn round and attempt to get a prime mooring position closer to the time.

Through beautiful countryside

I am moored at a really quiet spot in the Warwickshire countryside heading towards Oxfordshire. Unusual for the canal system, there is no railway line close by and no motorways or even A roads either. Pure peace. I had a long cruising day today (for me, anyway): almost three hours this morning and then three and a half hours this afternoon. There was no wind to speak of and it was warm, a good cruising day. I did get caught in a heavy shower which lasted about “three locks” but I soon dried out. (See what funny timescales we resort to when on the waterways!). The scenery on this part of the journey is lovely with winding canals, gentle hills, windmills (!) and pastures. I met lots of really nice, helpful people at Napton Locks: the Swedish family, the Ozzies, quite a few hire boat families including some sisters and their children and children’s friends, and a special mention goes to Milo and his mother who not only helped but Milo (about 5 years old) directed operations and blew his whistle to inform me that the lock was full and I could go. “See you next time” he said. Sweetheart.

21st July

Yesterday I came back on board after a fabulous weekend at Upton Blues Festival. It was such a nice evening that I decided to go up through the locks. Most of the mooring spaces were taken but I found a convenient Olivia sized space behind a big old former work boat. We had a drop of rain overnight but it quickly dried up and it was a lovely sunny morning. I cruised down close to Braunston but needed to walk back for the car which I hope I can leave for 3 or 4 nights now. By the time I’d got back to Olivia it was already 5pm so I decided to chill out with some reading rather than cruise on and then struggle to find a mooring. I promise to do a bit more tomorrow. Where I’m moored tonight there are lots of big bees but they are not striped but are black with just a tan bottom. Are these foreign bees? I notice another marina being excavated at Barby. At this rate there will be no quiet areas left any more following the adage “If we build it, they will come”.

13th July

Well I had to give up on the blog until I could get home to sort out my mobile broadband. I think I've sorted it now. I hadn't understood the particular deal I'd signed up for so I had no credit left. No doubt I'll suss it out eventually! We have had such good weather all the time that I've been cruising and only deteriorated the day before I came home. I took a chilled cruise down the Coventry canal through Polesworth, where I met Mick & Bet on their boat, Atherstone, Hartshill and Brinklow to Rugby. Had a lovely walk up through Hartshill Country Park and the viewpoint. I also had a day in Coventry - at the gallery and cathedral as well as a bit of shopping. With the lack of rain, parts of the canal were qute shallow and I did get a bit stuck in mud once or twice. I just pushed the stern out into deeper water and reversed out of it. Anyway I don't mind rhis rain while I'm back at work (the gardens need it) except that it is our students' graduation tomorrow so hope it brightens up for them. I'm at Upton Blues Festival for the weekend and back on board Olivia about Tuesday.

July 7th 2010

Well today I am in Lichfield and I am in the library using their internet. Fab. Why do we bother owning stuff when we can use this facility. So I have updated blog back to 3rd July. I think I know what my mobile broadband problem is, but as I can't access it I shall have to wait until I get back home to attempt it. I'm getting a network connection but no internet so I think I have failed to register properly when I changed over to BT. Shame on you - IT lecturer :-). (Well I always said I wasn't a techie).

Travelling into Lichfield was interesting - eavesdropping on conversations. First old boy to second old boy as a third passes by and greets them: "Is that the oldest one?" Second: "Nah, that's the tall one." First: "He's gone grey, in't 'e?" Then, First: "Does he still work at the box factory?" Second: "Nah, hasn't worked for years." First: "He was working last year at box factory. They moved to Tam'orth." Second: "Nah he in't worked in years." First: " Is that the oldest one?" Second: "Nah, that's the TALL one". I loved it. I might move here :-).

I'm going to get some culture in a mo and visit the Heritage Centre and possibly some other place connected to Samuel Johnson. Also I could really do with a haircut so might have to try and fit one of those in too. Anyway, it is great to be back on line!

July 6th 2010

Quite busy this morning, you would have thought it was a weekend! Did last five locks for a long while as I made my way to Fradley Junction. The locks are still vicious - poor Olivia keeps getting a bumped nose! Went to a café for lunch alongside the last two locks. Must have felt holiday-ish as I bought myself an icecream. Nice. Started off again to Whittington so I can get a bus into Lichfield tomorrow - I’m having a day off. It turned a bit cold and breezy so was glad to moor up at 5.30pm.

July 5th 2010

A much better day again. The wind has dropped and it’s sunny and bright. My bow fender (which I fixed with a bodge last year) split and I did another fix with baling string. Hope it holds out for a while. Today’s cruise was really nice, pretty, especially as the river joins the canal on the way onto Alrewas. Had a little walk and did some reading.

July 4th 2010

VERY WINDY today. I started out but after about an hour I thought the wind was getting stronger. At one bridge the wind caused me to clip the bridge ‘ole (as it’s known) and that sent us off to clip the other side. Blast. Olivia seemed to survive her clout alright. I started to look for somewhere to moor but had to wait until Burton upon Trent before a decent space revealed itself. By now, I had lost my cap to the Trent & Mersey when a gust took it. Shame, I loved that cap. - it’s the one on my Facebook and Myspace profiles. I had a walk into Burton, had lunch - a panini today - and found a replacement cap in Matalan. It's a bit bling though, I'll put a picture up when I get home. Thought about moving on but as it’s still windy I’ll leave it until morning. Mind you I think it’s going to be breezy again tomorrow.

July 3rd 2010

A beautiful morning, if a little breezy. Went through four progressively deeper locks culminating with the 12’ 4” Stenson Lock which the local boaters described as a little “firy”. A nice man helped me through the first lock and then asked if he could join me! I stopped for a drink at the 3rd lock but didn’t stay long as I took the opportunity to share with a boat when it arrived. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. I moored after Stenson Lock as there was a café. I was really naughty and had cheese and chips. I wanted a nice healthy jacket potato but they’d sold out. I had a walk down to Willington but it was nothing special. It has a useful little co-op though. Mercia marine had an open day so I called in at that. They had bands, bbq, stalls - both canal related and village fete types - and rides and stalls. I went back to Olivia and just spent the evening reading and listening to the radio. At about 10.30, the marina had a firework display which went on for a good half hour. Very good.

27th June

Amazingly hot even before 8am. I did some of the household chores :-) and then took off to Shardlow. Only an hour and a half - a couple of miles and a couple of locks. Shardlow seems to have more than its fair share of pubs - I counted five and didn't go right into the village centre. I had a nice lunch at a cute little place opposite the heritage centre that is only open at weekends: savoury pancakes, cake and a pot of tea - all under £4. Shardlow is right on the route of the 24/7 East Midlands Airport bus which took me to Loughborough where I could get a connection back to Barrow, the car and home.

26th June

Another beautiful warm day and I had started out by 8am!!! This was the stretch that I have been most wary of, so I have been pleased that we have had no rain for what seems like weeks. Just a few sparse locks and beautiful scenery. Even the power station at Ratcliffe has its place in the landscape. Coming out to the Trent and seeing a narrowboat coming out of the Erewash and appearing to be tiny was awe inspiring. There were loads of kids out in canoes some seemed very young (maybe 10 years old) and I thought how exciting for them - much better than playing computer games. There was no lock keeper at Sawley so that was fun working out which lock I could use and what I needed to do. Through that lock, I moored for the day even though it was only about 11am. After lunch I walked to Shardlow and back to suss out a nice place to leave Olivia for a day or two. I must have walked about 8 miles as the bridge over the Trent is down by Derwent Mouth so I had to do a work around. Went for a meal at a pub in Sawley - tuna mayo wraps and a heap of salad to make up for all the junk I've been eating so far this weekend.

25th June

I had a wander into Barrow just for a look round really. It's quite a nice little place - with a train station AND a decent bus service. When I prepare Olivia for "off" each morning by checking the oil, water, etc., I have to lift up the rubber mat and deck boards so I can get into the engine room. As I was doing that this morning, the mat rolled down knocking me into the engine room! I went in at quite a speed and scraped most of the skin off of my lower legs! Just hope I didn't break anything important in the engine. Ouch was my first thought and T**t was my next one. Anyway, half a tube of Germolene later, I started out. My first stop was Loughborough where I went to look for a few provisions and to have a little look round. Seems a nice town. (Later I spoke to a couple who stayed in the basin and highly recommended the restaurant actually at the basin). I cruised on through the wonderful stretch of Normanton to Zouch where I moored for the night. A great place for a summer's evening.

24th June

I arrived back at The Hope and Anchor, loaded up and started out on my cruise. A beautiful warm afternoon and a new part of the waterways for me, more clarity than the canals that I'm used to. I cruised up to Barrow upon Soar as I had decided that this might be a good place to leave the car. Just four locks all of which were reasonable, although at Mountsorrel a couple coming up the lock thought I'd "stolen" their turn but as I always do, I'd gone over to have a look ahead and saw no-one waiting. I had shut the gates and filled the lock before they appeared so even if I had missed them, they hadn't exactly been on the ball. Once I'd moored and had a much needed cup of tea, I walked back to the car, a distance of about five miles. As time was getting on, I ate at the H 'n' A which was teeming and a great place for people watching (but with an uninventive menu). Found a nice road in Barrow to park up for the weekend and went back to Olivia for a fairly early night.

June 20th

Up and ready to go at 9am. Met my neighbours for the first time just as I was preparing to leave. They'd been out all day yesterday. Started off quite cold so lots of layers. I got stuck under North Bridge due to a supermarket trolley, a bike and a lump of stone. Yobs! Why? Luckily a couple who were out cycling stopped to help me and with a bit of tugging we got the good ole girl free (and Olivia :-)). At the next lock I met a couple of Poles who were very happy to work the lock and to practice their English speaking. One of them told me he had been no good at school and was "allergic" to English language. He was doing well though; certainly better than I could ever do in Polish! At another lock I was helped by a man who runs boat trips for underprivileged kids. Everyone I have met have been lovely and friendly. I moored up close to the car and loaded up all the heavy stuff that I had finished with and then I cruised the last two miles to my stopping place. Tidied up and walked back to the car. It had certainly warmed up by the afternoon. Lots of people out walking, cycling, BBQing, fishing, etc. Home by 6pm to get ready for work tomorrow.

June 19th

A non cruising day. I went to the New Walk museum/art gallery and stayed a couple of hours. There was a really cold wind today so the museum was as good as anywhere. On the walk back I stumbled upon the De Montfort students' art exhibition so spent another couple of hours there before going back to Olivia for some lunch. I decided I had better fetch the car from Foxton (as Sunday bus services are notoriously poor) so X3 to Market Harborough and 44 to Foxton. Then, of course, I had to find a safe place to park for Saturday night. I decided that halfway between Leicester and my next stop might be useful and, after driving around for a while, settled on Birstall. I had to walk back to Olivia from there and the towpath takes you through some run down industrial parts of the city where the breweries, hosiery and dye factories used to be. Lots of scope for redevelopment though. I just hope they don't knock down the characterful buildings and replace them with bland square boxes.

June 18th

Again I was awake early and as luck would have it, my ankle felt much better. It remains a little sore but if I could just keep my foot straight it should be alright. Another twelve locks from Kilby to the centre of Leicester - and some of these were hard work. I shared a few with a hire boat but did quite a few by myself. Stopped after eight locks at the Kings Lock cafe for a break. It started to rain in the afternoon and when I got to Castle Gardens pontoon it was full, so I breasted up to one of the boats. No one was around so I couldn't ask I just had to do it. Over the next couple of hours three more boats came along and also breasted up. All very cosy. It felt cold today and nothing like a midsummer weekend. I didn't go out as I thought I ought to be around when the boat owners came back.

June 17th

I woke up early, about 6.30. A beautiful morning so I started out at 8am from my lovely overnight stop near Fleckney. I made my way to the first lock of the day and filled her. Just as I was about to enter a walker said "I hate to tell you this but below the next lock the canal has no water". I walked down to have a look and found that a paddle was up on the third lock and 2 locks and a pound were indeed empty. I put the paddle down and called BW for advice. Within 5 minutes a BW team were on the case (not a result of my call - that would have been miraculous - but as part of their daily checks). I was held up for an hour but chatting away to the BW team, the time soon passed. I was caught up by my mooring companions, Nifty Fifty, and we did the last couple of locks together. I stopped for a cuppa but within half an hour I was off again to do the remaining 7 locks of the day.  It's wonderful on a warm day like today when there is no wind. I met quite a few people to talk to at various locks but very few boats. I had to set each lock before I could use it AND some of them were really hard work. At the penultimate lock I twisted my ankle in a dip, and it has become quite painful. I just hope it doesn't hold me up tomorrow as I have 12 more locks and 8 miles to do. Met our friend, Pete, at Kilby Bridge and we had a drink at The Navigation pub. He is doing my trip but in reverse. (No he's not going backwards all the way, he is going clockwise while I am going anti-clockwise.) Sadly, I couldn't go on my planned walk because of my ankle injury. Blast.

I've started this year's trip

I had to wait until Saturday to have Olivia serviced. My fault as I was very late thinking about it due to the long, cold winter. As soon as she was ready I started off up the Grand Union through the Buckby Locks. Moored up about 8.30pm and it was a muggy evening. Within a short time we had the first storm of the season with torrential rain but I was nice and cosy inside Olivia. Sunday started with not a bad morning and I went on up the Leicester Arm to queue for Watford Locks. Had to let 4 boats come down but then we were very quickly through. I pressed on through Crick Tunnel and moored just the other side. Crick has a handy co-op stores so I topped up provisions but does not have a good mobile internet connection! We had some showers just after I moored up but it remains warm and soon dries. Monday was a greyer day but still reasonably mild so I continued up as far as Foxton. There was very little boat traffic and it rained on and off. I moored up by Bridge 60 ready for the locks next day but still unable to get broadband, so no blogging. With no blogging and no TV it was easy to get on with my marking :-). I awoke to rain on Tuesday but when it eased off a bit I joined the queue for Foxton Locks (my first time through them). Just an hour's wait while a couple of boats came up and then we started down. It rained most of the time so I always take my time so that I don't slip getting up and down the ladders, etc. Did the first set of five on my own and soon found myself a system that worked. When the lock keeper realised I was single handed he helped me down the last five (and it was quicker with his help). Have to go back into work for a few days now, so walked into Market Harborough and got buses back to Weedon to fetch the car. When I got home I found that the electricity had tripped and all the food  in the freezer had thawed. It was so "warm" that I think the storm must have tripped it. That's the second time I've had the system trip and BOTH times I've been away.

Better late than...

It took 6 weeks before I had another trip out - again it was a trip to Gayton to do the "ablutions". It was a beautiful day and thoroughly enjoyable. I stopped at Bugbrooke on the return journey and then at Stowe Hill where I remain at the moment while awaiting getting the engine serviced. Very late this year as I normally get it done in March. Think the cold winter put me behind. Have been using the boat as my second home - going there to complete marking of exams and coursework - away from distractions. I managed to fit a few walks in: 8 miles, 3 miles and 5 miles. I could do with the exercise and it is needed when sitting marking for long periods. Only another couple of weeks and I'll start on this year's trip. It is going to be the Soar and the Trent & Mersey, so lets hope there are no floods until at least August.

The Easter cobweb blowing weekend

So far this year I had only had one trip, which was at the beginning of March - a 6 mile return trip. Olivia was in quite good fettle but I did notice that the batteries were not being charged. When I met up with Rick, he had a look and told me that my Vbelt was rather loose and also fairly well worn. So when I returned for my easter trip I brought a new belt and Rick sorted it out for me. The weather was so wet and windy in the run up to Easter that I didn't get very far. In fact I did only 500metres the first day!! (This was because Rick was moored closer to me than I had thought). The next day I did one and a half miles and waited for an improvement in the weather. This took six days. (Obviously I could have got out before BUT I keep reminding myself that I have the boat for fun and don't want to struggle with wind and rain if I don't have to). I took a cruise down to Gayton and back on Easter Sunday. Now normally I would avoid travelling over a bank holiday but I was getting desperate for a trip. It was really busy, especially down at the Junction. During the trip I noticed that Olivia wasn't accelerating, even on full throttle she wasn't giving up any wash. More headscratching and problem solving discovered that there was a loose nut on the engine (sorry can't be more technical) that was letting air into the system. Tightened and bled, I am told that she is now revving okay so I look forward to my next trip which might be in a couple of weeks time as I have several other commitments that will keep me on land for a while.

So now my mind turns to planning the "season". I have already changed my mind about three times - so options include: the Ashby, the Shroppie, Llangollen, the Trent and Soar or the Warwickshire Ring. I had also considered going up as far as Wigan but time won't allow so will have to leave that for another time. I'm trying to fit the travel in with a couple of gigs and festivals that I really MUST go to :-).