31st May 2009
We went to Tring Festival on Saturday (by car). Had a nice time, walked up and down the moored boats and had coffee from shop set up in one of them. We were looking for Julie (who does the roof top gardening bit in Canal Boat and also Face Painitng) and walked up to the only face painter around except it wasn't so we found another one which was. We had a coffee together with Barry. He is a painter (of boats not faces) from Fenny Compton. All in all we had a very nice time
On Sunday we took Mum up to the boat and set off up the locks and a little way towards Braunston. Our exit from the moorings, loo pump out and marina were perfect. I am getting much better at this even more so as Jo was steering!
The next day we went up Bruanston locks and walked back down halfway for lunch in the Admiral Nelson. Service, beer and food were all very good. We had been intending to go down Buckby Locks towards Gayton junction but hadn't enjoyed sharing the locks with a rather chauvinistic gentleman. So we decided to go through Bruanston tunnel turn at the junction and drop down in the evening then turn right up the Oxford canal.
On the way back through Jo was driving and our glow lamp of a headlight wan;t much good against everyone else's mega watt powered lamps. I was sitting in the front and spotted a low very badly lit boat in front of the brightly lit one. I could make it out from my angle as it was casting a shadow. I thought it must be a loaded traditional boat and then thought that Jo wouldn't see it from her position at the back. I rushed through the boat with only just enough time to warn her but as I arrived on the back deck there was no sign of the boat!
We moored in Braunston and had a nice view from our bedroom window.
The next day we headed up to Newbold and the following day to Ansty. I was intending to go to Coventry but Mum had a persistent headache so decided to turn at Sutton Stop and head back to Newbold.
On the way through the tunnel I tried an artistic shot.
We were going to go out to the pub that evening but Mum became quite unwell and complained of double vision. Hurried telephone conversations with my siblings decided to get her home the next day. I set off early and then despite Mum's reassurances rang her doctor. They didn't like the symptoms and booked an appointment at 5pm. We cruised 7 hours non-stop back to Calcutt then flew south down the motorway and made it at 4.45. Mum seems better but they are investigating.
In hindsight it was one of those old age things and nothing needed doing and she got better.
Cheers Graham