A MIXED BAG

Weather has a profound effect on our daily life. The weather forecast can decide whether or not we untie the ropes and ‘cruise’ on. DolcieBlue (DB) on the move is the way we choose to live. I’m not sure if it’s the trust in the nation’s meteorologists or the weather presenters ‘spin’ in creative presentation of the weather scenario. We live on an island affected by an oceanic climate which, in the big picture, needs to be translated to regional micro climates.  A double tap with the blunt end of an index finger on the barometer can be of more help. OK we are not in the South East, where the weather is likely brighter and warmer, we are in the East Midlands with changeable weather, but usually drier than the West Midlands and Wales. Today it was forecast over 56% possibility of rain. There were a couple of drops this morning but nothing to speak of.  

The step off DolcieBlue (DB) onto terra firma or terra ‘squirma’, depending on the ground moisture content, is mostly on to grassy towpaths where the nearby towpath track is dirt or patchy gravel unless its seal has been upgraded. The Canal & River Trust have responsibility for the towpath and I am guessing they work with local councils in some regions where the towpath is accessed by ‘others’ on the ‘green corridor’, as it is known, as well as boat traffic. ‘Others’ refer to cyclists, anglers and gongoozlers to name a few. Oh yes the diversity of our world.

Kiwis aboard

Nearly 2 weeks ago we left the Ashby Canal to cruise along the Coventry Canal before it morphed into the Birmingham & Fazely Canal which will take us to Fradley Junction. Along the way we had loosely arranged to meet up for five minutes with Kiwi friends who drove to our mobile meeting point. Mobile in that we were on the move and it was through technology of a mobile phone and social media that we could keep in contact. While they travelled by car from Bakewell in the Peak District we were on the move for 10 miles to hopefully meet at our last suggested meeting point at Hartshill Yard near Atherstone. They arrived a few minutes before we did and when I phoned them to confirm we were close they were in the distance walking in our direction along the gravelly towpath. The smiles didn’t leave our faces. Where there’s a will there’s a way!

Catch up done, we cruised a couple of miles to the Atherstone Locks and did 9 out of the 11 locks including a pantry fill up at a nearby Aldi. I found a patch of hardstanding or aka concrete on the grassy towpath between Locks 9 and 10 and we moored up in what felt like the middle of nowhere. This is what is so nice about being Water Gypsies, there is a feeling of space and freedom in this crowded country.

The following day was calm and bright and sunny as was our disposition and we cruised a few miles to Hopwas. I got behind the wheel and could finally understand that no wind gives 120% confidence in steering. DB can keep a straight line with the handles on the ship’s wheel being fed hand to hand. I enjoyed it. It could almost be called relaxing. Oncoming traffic and moored boats were no stress, and a wave or a hello was possible.

We decided to moor for a couple of nights due to the weather forecast indicating 70% chance of showers the following day. I jumped off DB under the arched bridge at Hopwas and the spring in my jump meant my head thwacked the ceiling of the bridge. No damage done to me or the bridge just a quiet “ouch” left my mouth. Recently mown grassy moorings were our chosen spot and we tied up using our mooring rings. I relocated some of the grass clippings so they wouldn’t be walked on or blown on to DB. Once upon a time when we had lawn we used to compost lawn clippings. Good food for our veggie garden. None of this activity for us now. There were a few boats moored nearby and the warm day meant ‘land’ people were walking on the towpath. Della and I went to check out what the attraction was. It must be the Hopwas Hayes Wood and safe to walk through as there were no red flags flying which would indicate the Army were using the Whittington Firing range. The perfume of nature was potent with a spicy floral scent that stimulated my olfactory centre. I didn’t think it was the scent of Bluebells but it might have been. I know blooming Bluebells give beautiful ground cover. The next day under moist grey conditions the ‘heady’ perfume was barely noticeable.

Back to the weather forecast. Fine weather was forecast for the weekend after a day of rain in Hopwas. So canopies down and we headed to Fradley Junction to join the Trent and Mersey Canal and spend the weekend in Alrewas. We know it well, it felt like being back in ‘home’ territory. We thought we’d stay a few days, that is more than 48 hrs so mooring time limit is well marked and we had to reverse back to available moorings.

Some Captain Clever Clogs, in his boat, called out to me “What is that terrible sound coming out of your Bow?” I knew exactly what he was going to say but I looked at him in a puzzled way and hopefully gave him a Manuel from Fawlty Towers “Que”? Irritating Clever Clogs replied “Bow Thruster, terrible Bow thruster.” He left me no choice in my response “Where’s your horse?”

As with all the best planning we became aware the weather forecast had changed and a couple of days later we moved to Willington and moored up at a favourite spot, of ours, an open space towpath side near Mercia Marina. 

Mercia Marina

We had D Day deadline to meet. D Day, loosely speaking, was marked as a family day booked for us some months ago. We all had our Dental treatments. Of course Della was booked in to her Vet’s for a tooth clean.  I hear too often of dogs having their teeth pulled as they get older and think that we can be proactive for Della. Della is not her normal happy self after this palaver, the general anaesthetic has upset her routine. But........

We are on the move again under the mixed bag called the Weather. Will summer be here next week?

TO STEER OR NOT TO STEER?

I am not planning to talk Bull-Ox about this question. There are definite advantages to Me, the Admiral, steering DolcieBlue (DB). I like to believe I am gaining confidence behind her wheel. That I can legally drive a car 130kmph is no comparison to being in charge of 20 tonnes of floating steel moving at a mere 2 knots.

Tiller Queen 2013

I was slow in getting my NB Avalon Mist ‘Tiller Queen’ badge which I, albeit briefly, wore proudly and I envisaged to achieve steering prowess and get my  ‘Wheel’ Badge was a fathom too deep for me (Imagine outstretched arms to describe this feeling)!

We are on the 22mile lock free Ashby de la Zouche Canal, known as the Ashby Canal which is entered from the Coventry Canal. The weather was unsettled and we moored up after Bridge 2 for the better part of a week. I captured some lovely rainbows on my camera.

When the wind briefly settled and the weather reports indicated sunny weather, we moved to     sign posted 48hr mooring at Bridge 5. We could keep our canopies in situ until Bridge 15 (which fellow boaters told us was low) and so we did and all was calm. Our dental appointments are looming and we wanted to ‘do’ the length and back of the Ashby Canal before heading in the direction of Burton- upon - Trent so canopies were removed without argument and off we went.

We battled with gusty winds for this journey passing beautiful farmland with fields of flowering Rape plants and a few scattered villages. 

Historically we cruised near to the site of the Battle of Bosworth 1485 where Richard 111 met his death, the last English monarch to die in battle. A few hours later I decided it was now or never to take my turn at the wheel (no pressure from the Captain), and Chris readily agreed. It is tiring standing to steer as I was about to find out. The wily wind does interrupt the smooth passage of a flat bottomed floating steel boat and it takes manually controlled rapid wheel movement to keep DB in line. Not to mention the ‘Ashby’ is shallow and reduces rudder efficacy. It has nothing to do with the hands on the wheel handles. 

And there are 61 Bridges of which many are arched and positioned on an angle. Reverse throttle is essential and the bow thrusters are useful. My biggest gripe, that day, was the unattended boat moored on a bend just before a bridge. I needed Chris to fend off the boat with hand power. It played contact sport, on the following day’s foray when Chris was at the helm. No more said. We spent the night, after 12 ½ mile cruise, moored near the friendly village of Shackerstone. The village is near to the site of Gopsall Hall where Handel is reputed to have composed ‘The Messiah’ in 1741 at the Temple in its grounds. 

The Shackerstone Railway Station has been retained by enthusiasts and a Steam Train operates historical journeys in the weekends and Bank Holidays.  

Up bright and early and expecting a fine day for cruising we found the skies were overcast and the wind was blowing a gale. We kept to the original plan and braved the pesky wind to get to the Ashby Canal terminus. More bridges, a 250yd crooked tunnel and a couple more bridges and we were there. ‘Winding’ in the wind involved a several point turn and then the sun came out. After breakfast I offered to steer DB back to Shackerstone. 

This was the first tunnel I have ever steered through. There was no wind in the tunnel, of course, but its crooked and narrow width guided by our headlamp was a challenge. I did it although I cannot report DB was untouched by my novice steering ability. The Tunnel had short Stalactites hanging from the ceiling and large spiders hanging about on stumpy webs. (Spiders don’t freak me out, maybe if I was in Australia I would be apprehensive.) I know what the tunnel ceiling looks like because I was ‘Lady holding the Lamp’ when we first passed through.

Tunnel completed, I felt competent to continue steering. I passed a canoeist or was he a kayaker rowing in the opposite direction and managed to yell out ‘Hello, you are smaller than me.” DB’s engine drowns any distance conversation. He was lucky as the wind was giving me grief. I approached a bridge and I was being edged closer to Port and the angle of the bridge and a craft moored near the exit of the bridge gave me no room to manoeuver. Do I need to say any more? The result was a spontaneous etch on the arch of the bridge as the side of the wheel house was being ripped off and the bow was stuck in the hedge growth. “Help ME!!”

All’s well that ends well. Captain got her sorted and I continued behind the wheel a while longer. I learnt that when in doubt throttle back and move slowly. Don’t panic. Keep a handle ahead of the wheel!

The following day I took to the helm again. The wind was still gusty but I kept calm and concentrated. I have had a further long stint behind the wheel after the Atherstone Locks. What a difference no wind makes! It makes me think that all my excuses about high wind and shallow canals were not a figment of my imagination. I could actually steer without needing to over correct and face oncoming traffic and bridges without going around the bend!

GET A HANDLE ON IT

Our 2015 cruise season has started. I flew back into spring in England, a couple of weeks ago, after visiting my dear family and friends in New Zealand. Heartfelt thanks to them all for their love and hospitality. I appreciate that you all have busy lives and were able to make time for me who flits about!

This trip I found out I had finally reached the status of seasoned air traveller. Shame the airline of my choice doesn’t put me in that league! I had no signs of time zone jetlag on arrivals ‘Downunder’ and return to  ‘Upover’ following the long haul of at least 27 hours, each way, including transit stopovers. I was aware, this trip, of my fading memory and the realisation that I am well and truly ‘Muddle Raged’! Hiss and snarl with low capacity for frustrations of daily life. The words “Don’t you remember?” have become irritating and invite thoughts of dementia marking my ‘sidelines’.

I understand my lifestyle is enviable but then so are reminders of a ‘normal’ life that escaped me. I am now living a life of ‘dreams’ that unwittingly happened to me. No I am not sobbing about it; in fact I am embracing my luck and good fortune. ‘Don’t dream it be it’ is my mantra.

I was better than pleased to get to the tail end of my flight Auckland-Brisbane-Du(don’t)bai-Birmingham International. In my state as free spirit with no alcohol I passed through the Immigration eye scan, collected my semi smashed 4 wheeler suitcase and traipsed past ‘Nothing To Declare’ to the Arrivals hall. I was brought to a halt when the Cabin Crew, in front of me, stopped walking. Their uniform indicated this was the crew of my flight. Not being slow in getting my mouth to work I had words with the uniformed Captain Pilot in front of me.

“Keep moving I want to get out of here. Oh and thank you very much for a great flight.”

The pilot appeared happy with my brief words of appreciation and did not hang around. Or was it the ubiquitous passenger had become a person?!

I was ecstatic to be reunited with my hubby and dog and keen to be back on DolcieBlue. It did take me a few days to really feel back in my place at ‘home’. I certainly am there now and it’s lovely.

DB had a few days tied up at the water based workshop at Braunston Marina, while I was away. There was essential work to be done on the stern deck to gain access to the 5 batteries in situ near the engine. The original floor opening to the engine was suited for a short small skinny person. You get the idea!

The new hatch in the foreground

The boys at Colecraft didn’t look this skinny or the other S words above! Be warned no Boatbuilder is perfect but we love our DolcieBlue.

Now with the modified access the Captain is able to happily go into the engine chamber and deal with all that needs doing down there. And being the bottled blonde I am, I like the aesthetic of the new stern covering.

Another boon is the proper ships wheel. I had never thought what a difference 6 integral handles would make. Gone is the excuse for a steering wheel with its whirly wheel and in its place is the real thing! Steering DB has taken on a new meaning. This has been helped with some technical adjustment that means steering the rudder doesn’t take an excessive amount of turns. Even I, the self appointed Admiral of DB, have begun steering not only on the Captain’s command but at my whim as well! Hallelujah.

Indoors, I wallpapered the ‘living room’ last November and the porthole liners are permanently in situ (for as long as permanent is) in the living room and bedroom. (I cannot bring DB to berth category!) The bedroom portholes also have foam plugs that are easily put in situ at night. The battle with condensation on these windows is over.

The latest installation has been doors into the bathroom which means the bathroom can be shared when we have guests. No need for the Thetford toilet now in the small room with the inverter. Yay.

That’s the nuts and bolts of home improvements to date. There will be more.

We are now in Cruise mode. We left Rugby, yesterday and moved along the Oxford Canal passing, and I quote “That bloody (excuse for a swingbridge) bridge at Roses’ “. 

At Hawksbury Junction a bloated floater, probably a stoat or possibly a badger, was sadly at the gate to the Stop Lock so I phoned C&RT to report it. I felt I should let the Authority know as someone who has an ‘ology in Elf and Safety needs to grapple gently with this. I am not qualified.

Saturday May 2^nd and here we are moored up on the NO EXIT Ashby Canal (aka Ashby de la Zouche Canal).

NEWSFLASH .....We have heard NB Avalon Mist has been sighted in Willington (Trent & Mersey Canal) and good reports have been announced. Sweet as!

BEEN THERE BACK HERE

Dona Pepa Sunset

The end of a ‘holiday’ arrives quickly when it is expected. Happiness does not stall time.  As our luck has it the end of this adventure is our return to life as water gypsies on Nb DolcieBlue, who has been floating on still water waiting for us.

I remember the haste of moving from water to motor vehicle, early December, and packing all and sundry in anticipation of almost three months of winter sun. ‘All’ equates to clothes, electric blanket, woolrest and books. ‘Sundry’ is the perishable food. Nothing much really, but it was a careful carful that left a mini lounging space in the back seat for Della aka The Navigator!

The new SatNav, an EBay bargain or was it Amazon, is helpful once we overcame the scant instructions on ‘hard copy’!. This sort of thing ages me beyond my years! The English ‘Man’ sound-voice pronounces “Over” as “Offer”. He always stated we drive “offer” the roundabout. Our local journeys in the Costa Blanca were mainly carried out using hard copy map reading, initially, until the roads became familiar. I remember the frustration, at first, with the map trying to identify where we were....the landmarks all looked the same! I did improve, in time, and began to drive on my own by myself. 

I joined up with the ‘Ukeaholics’ a Uke Group/workshop that consist of a few ukulele players having fun on a Friday afternoon. I will rejoin them next winter in Spain. I will practise.

We really enjoyed the winter sun in Spain, an event to be repeated by us for future winters. The language transition from my ‘pombal’ Portuguese to ‘paloma’ Spanish is working. I recognise many simple words, even though they are spoken faster with a guttural sound. My favourite words are “La chica guapa” (‘Beautiful girl’ said to us by dog lovers in reference to Della) and “Vale” (pronounced ‘Baley’ meaning OK or Cool).

So on the last day of the short month of February we got in our packed car and headed north. I insisted on being the Driver all the way to London. I was dreaming of kudos in my action to do this....by the end of March I will have driven sizeable journeys in Spain, France, England and New Zealand! The European leg was fantastically organised on the SatNav by Chris. He made sure we followed the excellent toll free roads in Spain and instead of motoring towards Madrid and onwards to Burgos, which we know well.

We exited the Valencia region and spent the first night in Tereul in the Aragon region. 

Albarracin

The next day, we drove slightly off route to take a glimpse of the nearby historic village of Albarracin and have breakfast. 

A big drive followed to Pamplona via Zaragoza and bed for the night in the mountain town of Irurtzun, Navarre region. Day 3, on the road, was the winding descent of the Pyrenees to Bayonne. The road was like a goat track and it was raining. Bayonne was busy and, like everywhere these days, roundabouts were abundant. Eventually we found our way to the péage motorway and 130kph to Bordeaux. Best to just pedal to the metal to drive up the East Coast of France. We took the free RN 1 in the direction of Niort. Comfortable sleep, that night, in a typically quiet French Town where everything was either closed either for forever or at 1600hrs. Made sense, to us, that I had made Chorizo and Egg Pie for the trip.

Day 4 saw us on more country goat tracks to get us back to the RN 1. I’m sure the rural roads look scenically fabulous in the summer but in late winter, I find no appeal! It was at least a 6 hour drive, in the rain on péage motoway, to get us to our last night’s accommodation, inland from Le Touquet leaving an hour’s drive to the Ferry port in Dunkirk. Phewwww! I celebrated our safe arrival with spilling Della’s container of dog biscuits on the ground, only to carefully retrieve them and leave the container behind the next day!

Spelling?

We were booked on DFDS Ferry to Dover and had planned to leave more than adequate time to get to Dunkirk. Driving along the motorway we could see no outstanding sign to the Car Ferry and once the signs to Dunquerke stopped appearing a mini panic took shape. And we had still to fill up with diesel! Speedy Sarah tail gated the cars and gave noises to the ‘Froggy’ drivers who couldn’t react quickly to a ‘green’ light. Suffice to say we found Carrefour for diesel, I drove one red light, and we made it safely to the Port with ½ an hour to spare. Della passed the Pet check through the car window and I found her microchip with the hand held scanner. Dog aboard sticker put on the windscreen and we were in the boarding queue. Fabulous crossing, in a classy Ferry, that was almost empty.

For our future reference Brittany Ferries are dog friendly and we will investigate Portsmouth to Le Havre or St Malo rather than driving up to Calais or Dunkirk.

Who cleans the windows?

I finished the day off driving to Dartford to stay the night with friends. I had bought Hot Water Bottles on Amazon to be delivered to them so we could be certain, the next day, we would be warm in bed on DolcieBlue (DB). All was spot on.

Della & Ruby

The final day’s drive, and Chris is at the wheel. I'm tired! Minutes after we had left our friend’s place we were in the Dartford Tunnel and my phone rang. I was gobsmacked when our friend told us we had left the Hot Water Bottles behind. No chance we could go back and get them! Dam bugger and blast. I beat myself up for a while and then I got over it.

DB had been ‘turned around’ at the Marina. We cannot understand why they did that but it was probably helpful as there was a fierce wind blowing when we arrived. Her engine started straight away and Chris was able to take her on to the Canal to meet me in Braunston, less than 2 hours later, where we would unpack the car.

Grand Union Canal, Braunston.

How exciting to return to our home in DB. She is in great shape and cosy warm once the fire was lit. There really is no need for the Hot Water Bottles!

Spring sunset

Right enough Blog. I must literally F L Y yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

BAKING IN SPAIN

FACTOID... 2013 The estimated population of England 53.1 Million 

                     2013 The estimated population of Spain       47.25 Million

Am I too small for my size?

Land Mass in England 130,390 km2 (UK 243,789 km2   248 people per km2)

Land Mass in Spain 499,542 km2   12 people per km2

La Mata

“The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plane.” I remember giggling to those words, recited to me by my grandmother, when I was knee high to a grasshopper. I had no idea, then, that the actual words are “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain” and I had no idea what a Cockney was and that I had a Kiwi accent. I could digress further but I want to briefly mention rain and the temperate climate of the coastal Costa Blanca in Spain. We had two days of rain in December, three days in January, and the outlook for February is more rain this month. It's raining today and forecast for most of the week. I don’t bemoan the fall of rain in this dry part of Spain, as rain is an essential for the water of life. I have lived in a similar dry climate, in Portugal, where rain in winter is essential to fill the reservoirs. One late Autumn a flash flood decimated our valley, burying the well and the result being Senhor Water Diviner locating a suitable site, on our small holding, for a bore hole. But that was rural Portugal and not the 21^st Century tiled jungle of Spain. Here water is still essential and the urbanisations are connected to mains water. We are told that water bills are sizeable and we will have proof of this when we leave,B in 3 weeks. In nearby inland rural communities outside there are shallow canals with water flowing, I am assuming, to water the crops and citrus trees.

I had low expectations of spending winter in Spain and I am pleased to report that I am really enjoying the blue skies, warm sun and coastal walks beside the blue Med. At first I was concerned that I would react to being in an ‘expat’ setting but it’s good. The British ex-Pats appear happy with their choice to live in Spain apart from the news the ‘winter heating allowance’ for British pensioners (of which there are many) living in Spain is to be stopped.

We are renting a two bedroom terraced casa in Dona Pepá an urbanisation on the edge of Ciudad Quesada near 2 large Salt Lakes. Torrevieja is the nearest major town and Murcia is close, as well. The urbanisation was really like a ghost town until a couple of weeks ago. Now there are a few more people, but not many, around. The casas are built for the warm spring, summer and autumn but not Winter. They are not warm at night-time unless you are fortunate enough to have underfloor heating or a woodburner. The gas heater, we have, is OK and we don’t use the Air-con unit in the bedroom. Instead we have our electric blanket and ‘woolrest’ (that is a woollen underlay on the mattress) and we are cosy warm at night.

I am aware that I am in Spain and I attempt to speak Spanish in situations when I think it is appropriate. It used to irritate me, in Portugal when people, with English as their first language, would not make the effort to learn the simple but polite words ‘se faz favor’ (please) or ‘obrigado/a’ (thank you). I understand it can feel embarrassing to say words that are not familiar and feel like an idiot saying them but, hey, in return what are ‘your’ expectations of people who move to ‘your’ homeland and can’t speak the lingo! Have some empathy!

At the Supermarket I needed some Baking Powder so I could make ‘Dumplings’ (I forgot to bring ‘Aunty Betty’s Dumpling Mix from England). Baking Powder is ‘Levadura’ in both Spanish and Portuguese. I asked a helpful Senora where the “Levadura” was and she discussed it with a colleague and they decided I was asking about laundry powder as they heard me say “Lavadora” which translates to washing machine. So they thought I was after Laundry Powder for my dirty washing. In the end, after much laughing, miming and words I was taken to the Baking Powder. I didn’t have to speak English and we all kept our respect in good humour. It is a moment that comedy is made of. And I’ll never forget ‘LEVADURA’.

Look what we bought DolcieBlue!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Day by day counts slowly in comparison to the flight of weeks! It is close to yesterday that I penned my last blog but the words have become a distant memory.

Autumn cruising

An update from then until now will put the Blog back on track. We had the brief reality of winning an auction for a widebeam. The seller’s non contact approach was strange but we resisted applying any pressure. My sleuthing nature found the same said boat under auction on eBay. We contacted Apollo Duck for more information on the Auction we bid on. Apparently the ‘seller’ thought we had spammed the Auction and placed the blame with us. Yeah right der! What a Wally! Luckily we do not own another lump of steel.

We moored in Leamington Spa where we experienced more nerdish behaviour. Twice in one week we woke up to DB adrift on the canal. The first time DB had floated to the other side, a bit disconcerting when looking out the window and thinking I’m sure my view was to the towpath side when I went to bed. Oh well ha ha, we’ll move back to where we were. That’s when 3 mooring pegs became 2. Mooring pegs do not float and we have an uber-magnet to fish out metal ‘drops’ into the canal. We put the event down to our hammered peg angle  in the wet ground. Three days later and another morning! Chris called out “We’re adrift!” This time we were resting, at 645 hrs, in the style of a ‘barrier’ across the Grand Union Canal. This could not be a coincidence and now imaginations pictured bored youth picking on us. 

Pegs don't float

A search in the murky depths for 2 mooring pegs was fruitless and we cruised along a few metres to a 48 hour mooring with rings and tied up without event. During this time we had to drive to Derby to finish clearing out our ‘Lock-Up’ facility on land we visited Midland Chandlers at Mercia Marina where we purchased new Mooring pegs in the shape of a lengthy P. Our mate at Midland’s knew Leamington Spa and said the sport of releasing mooring Pegs is not uncommon. Hopefully with this carry on, in future, we can be confident the rope will still be attached to the Peg and we can share the laugh at play time.

The mild autumn continued with a few patches of rain. The towpath becomes muddy and the hunt for ‘hard standing’ moorings is challenging. Gumboots (Wellingtons) are the best footwear choice and Della’s paw washer is a boon. DB’s floor is slowly being covered with my collection of cotton rag woven rugs. It is pointless to mop indoors.

We avoided the rain the day we left Leamington Spa and I trudged my way up the Fosse Locks. The two Bull Mastiff dogs were still hanging around one of the Locks and Animal Services at Stratford Council received a call from us. I’m sure the dogs are fine but they give out a threatening vibe and the last thing I needed was a wet muzzle sniffing my news.

Paddle up to empty Lock

Next day we worked our way up the Stockton Locks eventually to return to the top of the southern branch of the Oxford Canal to moor at Napton-on-the-Hill near the bottom lock, where we had arranged to meet family from NZ. We knew the Napton locks were closed with the bottom locks under repair and it turned out advantageous for us as after a night on a muddy mooring we reversed to a slot by one of the two water points which was on stony puddled ground where we stayed for a few days. Of course we were considerate and consulted other moorers and a person wearing a C&RT jacket.

It was a fantastic frosty day the day we took our family on a day cruise back along the Grand Union Canal and down the 3 locks by Calcutt Marina including a cruise past some Boat-candy in the Marina. The names on the boats were, at times, a source of amusement.

What goes down must go up and we did our final three locks of 2014 and cruised back to our illicit mooring at Napton to drop off our crew who were staying at the very comfortable and warm Converted Stable at the bottom lock Napton-on-the-Hill. A big thank you to Nigel for accommodating our large family. The nearby Folly Inn fed us delicious home cooked food and a good time was had by all.

Paint it pumpkin?

Back to the three of us, we cruised along the Oxford / Grand Union Canal to Braunston and turned to Port to enter the Oxford Canal where we moored for a few days to get a bit of work done on DB. The living area has been wall papered, the inside frame on the entrance door has been painted, the ‘dodger’ stern wrap has been sent for repair, and the bedroom porthole frames have been sent off to be extended.

Our 2014 Seven Month Canal and River Odyssey ends with Nb DolcieBlue tied up in an understated way but with safety at Barby Marina.

In contrast we, boarded our red boat on wheels, packed to the gunwhales, and drove to the sunny blue skies of the Costa Blanca Spain where winter becomes a past memory.

Hasta Luego.  

FELIZ NAVIDAD