British Summer Time

When I'm pootling about over winter and moving every couple of weeks, it is difficult to say definitively when I have started the new season's travels. However, this week there have been two significant things which enable me to say that I have started out: the first is that we are now into British Summer Time so it's not getting dark until 8pm and the second is that I've been through my first locks of 2014 and I am pointing South. Blisworth tunnel was very wet this time through, the wettest that I've ever seen it. This weekend the hire boats were out in force including one party that had megaphones to communicate with each other. I needed to replace the glass in my stove which had broken over the winter and I was also going to replace my bow and stern fenders but they are quite heavy and I think I will need some help with those.

Back home I did a little bit of gardening in the hope that I can make an impression before it has it's major growth spurt. I was very pleased to see that I have got newts back in the pond and there were also butterflies and bumble bees in evidence so back to where I started: it is Summer Time :-).

Passed the Safety Examination

I made my way to Braunston for the safety examination and all we needed were two replacement fire extinguishers and a dab or two of mastic to stabilise the gas pipe battens. I was pleased with that and even more pleased that Rick came over to do the mastic. Several friends are currently moored nearby so on Tuesday I was off to the Plough for a meal with Linda. It was good catching up even though we were fighting to hear each other every time England got anywhere near the goal! It will soon be time to put Olivia to bed for the winter so I doubt there will be many more posts. I'll have my head in the books planning next year's trips :-).

Brinklow

I was last here on 23rd April when it was warm and sunny, 18º, and I was setting out on this year's adventures. Now it is mild, sunny periods, 18º, and I am almost back from my travels! Quite sobering to think that Olivia will soon be put to bed, so to speak, but on the other hand it is getting dark by 7pm meaning that I have to shut up shop too early. Good news from my friends that I had to abandon in Blackburn on 23rd August. They have had their boat fixed and are on the move again.

Considerate rain

This is because it did not materialise until I had almost reached my planned mooring. I had ascended the last seven Atherstone locks by midday, stopped to take on water and empty the Elsan and then pressed on for another few miles. Up until then it was a mild and calm day. There is not much boat traffic today. I think a lot of boats are being tucked up at their moorings ready for winter. Talking of which it was getting dark at 6.30 last night! Just to lower the tone for a second, where I have moored there is lots of dog mess. It really annoys me that dog owners can be so selfish. I have to closely watch where I step each time I leave the boat. I imagine it is the detritus of a previously moored boat and that makes it all the worse. Hopefully the rain will disappear by the morning so I can be on my way. I'm only 3 or 4 cruising days from home and the end of my fabulous first "retirement" season.

A quick update

I have got as far as Atherstone locks and have taken a few days rest from cruising. I am nearly back to my winter cruising area so can take it easy for a day or two. I need to sort out the boat ready for her safety examination next week. I have spent the time updating some of my old posts with photos. I went back as far as 15th August so do feel free to revisit some of those entries.

Busy with boats on the Coventry canal

It was raining when I awoke this morning but it soon passed. I started off from Fradley but made slow progress due to the number of moored boats and also the amount of boats travelling north, almost all of which I met at a bridge or in a narrow place. Having spent the year on a number of barely used canals it seems strange to now find myself in the opposite situation. What really strikes me is that I have travelled this section of canal in 2008, 2010, 2012 and again now and it is much busier this year. It makes me wonder what it might be like in a couple more years.

I walked into Tamworth for a look around. It has a very nice park bordered by the rivers Tame and Anker as well as the castle gardens.

It's true that things do happen in threes

Firstly there was the rope round the prop, then one of my solar lights went overboard and now one of my fender brackets has snapped. Three things over three consecutive days! However they are only minor niggles. I had another good cruising day and I'm now moored opposite a pig farm which has lots of cute piglets. Even better there is no significant piggy smell. Lots more boats moored here than when I last stopped here.