BOATS AND CANALS

On the Northern Oxford, there has been some sort of major pollution event here. Black water with scum and a stench that makes me hold my nose. Apparently it occurred a little whip ago amd has been reported to the EA. We are not cruising today just going through the motions!

Cheers Graham

A great read graham and wonderful pics as always many thanks.

_________________

.... my memory,s not what it used to be.
also my memory,s not what it used to be.

............................mike.

Thanks, I've got a fan! I only need one more and I'll have more than Morecombe and Wise.

We have cruised as far as Clifton today. We stopped at Brinklow for lunch and explored the motte and bailey cstle.

We are moored quite close to Rugby but you wouldn't know.



We went for an evening stroll up to the village and left the canal at the wharf.



We noticed that the wharf has a cafe, we may have to go before setting off tomorrow.

Cheers Graham

Why how many did they have?

Oh here is the missing 'a' from the castle.

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Maurice

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Is that a northern a or a southern one?

Morecambe and Wise used to go on about their one fan in the show.

Cheers Graham

A Northern 'a' wouldn't be much good for you so it's a Southern 'a'

Well them you probably do have more than them, I would say 100% more.

_________________
Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

That's a relief. Did I mention I had Faggots, Mash and Mushy Peas for dinner?

Cheers Graham

No, I can cope with the mash and mushy Peas, but you are quite welcome to the faggots.

_________________
Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

Dotterel is back at Calcutt. We left Clifton and headed up Hillmorton Locks before mooring and heading back, on foot, to the cafe above the bottom lock. We had two cups of rather good cappuccino each.



By the time we got back to the top locks they were repairing the ground paddle in the off side one. This is the tunnel which will seal your doom should one fall in above the lock.



We got going again and encountered another slow boat. The clue tends to be that they can't steer in a straight line and spend ages looking over both sides. We followed them at a crawl for a few miles and then moored for lunch.

After lunch we carried on, the wind had picked up so steering became a bit more interesting. At Braunston we turned at the junction and realised we had caught up the slow boat again. We moored for a while as in addition to being slow they never look behind them and so you can't overtake,

The mooring was nice.



Incidentally the piece of water on the far left almost cost me my life in 1973. I fell in and got my feet stuck in the mud on the bottom whilst staring at the bottom of the boat. I had that life flashing before my eyes thing finishing in what a stupid way you kill yourself. I managed to get free (obviously) and just had the hassle of getting back on the boat. I was wearing too many clothes ( it was February) to swim, my brother dragged me back into the front cockpit.

Anyway we set off after a short break and had a very invigorating cruise in gales back to Calcutt.

We did 109 lock miles in our 8 day cruise. Tomorrow we will drop down the top lock to get the loo pumped out.

Cheers Graham

Another interesting read. Is the first photograph your own mooring, it's a really lovely spot.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

No, it's the cafe at Hillmorton.

Cheers Graham

Oh! right, but it's still a lovely spot.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

Boats everywhere at Calcutt today. We finally spotted a gap and got down the top lock and onto the wharf. One pump out later we shared the lock with a very nice couple. The lady driving was a bit worried about the boats touching in the lock until Jo reassured her. She had met others in locks who shouted at her if her boat dared to come anywhere near theirs. It's a lock with turbulent water - stuff happens!

Cheers Graham

i love faggots and mushy peas..........the best i've found at the moment is in the butchers shop at barton marina,on the trent and mersey.....go the for the faggots and home made poek pies.

_________________

.... my memory,s not what it used to be.
also my memory,s not what it used to be.

............................mike.

Ah! Pork Pies now we are talking. We always used to get one from my first cousin once removed at Christmas. They lived in Lincoln, it was from Melton Mowbray.

Cheers Graham