Home again.

Well, that's another holiday over, back to work tomorrow. I have to say it's been really good despite the weather butting in and changing our plans for us. And didn't it go quick, three weeks gone in a jiffy.When I look back it was a bit risky knowing TQ had to be back at base by a certain date, but at the time we didn't know we were going to be caught out by the weather. Twenty-six hours of heavy rain made the River Soar rise by at least eighteen inches over night, and at Kegworth Lock it almost went above the red level marker, stopping short by an inch. After four days waiting for the level to drop back into the amber we decided it was too late to go on let alone do the Ashby Canal as well, so we turned back the way we came.
This morning we were up at 05:30hrs. to prepare TQ for the next owners and the syndicat walk-through before the AGM, all of which went very well and now I have a lot of work to do arranging the Winter maintenance programme.

Preparing To Go Home

Yes, it's the end of our holiday and it has flown by. I'll be back in work on Monday morning and within the hour it'll be as though it never happened.

Today we started unloading TQ and cleaning her up ready for the walk-through as part of the AGM tomorrow morning. It was perfect weather for hosing down the paint work and I managed to obtain a washer to seal the fuel leak - thanks for your help Keith. I cleaned out the gutters around the deck board and counter hatch and polished the brass. Oh! And I painted the gunwales and cleaned out the stove. We've been busy.

For the first (and last) time this holiday we had lunch in the cratch, the weather was so good and the windsock nearby has been hanging for most of the day.

Tomorrow we get dieseled up, (no!), pumped out, and vacated by 10:30hrs. ready for the other syndicate members to arrive prior to our AGM.

A bit of shopping, then back to base.

Had an easy morning as it had been raining all night and the trees were dropping water on the roof. Never mind, bacon and egg for breakfast, lovely jubbly, that makes up for it.

Took some measurements of various bits of TQs anatomy and then took a walk to Midland Swindlers Chandlers and bought a new centre rope and a bow line as the old ones were getting frayed. In fact the other day I was pulling on the centre rope and it went twang as another strand broke. Also bought a new chimney stack, twin walled as before, and now it stands proud on our roof top, with its shiny brass rings and fittings. Midland had a 20% off day today, and it was quite busy. Question for you, if they can knock off 20% for one day, why can't they knock it off every day? They'd sell a lot more stock, and make more profit.

We have developed a fuel leak, nothing serious, although it must be stopped, our fuel filter housing has a bleed screw on the top and the sealing washer has seen better days. I've tried in several places this week to get a bonded Dowty seal but I've had no success. I feel a trip in the car coming on tomorrow.

Talking of tomorrow, we've got all day to spruce up TQ and get her ready for the AGM walk through on Sunday. Better get started now!

"Nothing" at Yelvertoft and little room at Braunston.

Two days blogs in one today because there was no internet, mobile phone, TV, or satellite TV here at Yelvertoft.
First day (Wednesday).
Up with the lark this morning and we're third in the queue for the Foxton Flight of locks. These are a doddle compared with the heavy beasts encountered on the River Soar and elsewhere on the Grand Union. Ten locks in staircase, (two sets of five) in an hour and then there's a twenty mile pound to Watford. We got as far as Yelvertoft and we called it a day, not bad, we were short of Watford by about three miles. Mind you it was windy, but sheltered in the places that matter. As we approached Yelvertoft there was a large dark cloud on the horizon and it was definately full of rain, and we just got moored up a short way past the marina when it started to pour, but a it didn't come to much in the end.
Second day (Thursday).
Marvellous innit! Didn't only start the engine this morning, but also started the rain. I might have known, there was a lovely rainbow ahead against the black sky. It was time to press on and it wasn't long before we arrived at Watford Locks. These like Foxton are also a doddle, but there are only seven with just four in staircase. And strangely, like those at Foxton, are single width. Either side of Foxton and Watford they're double width and I wonder if there were any plans to widen them at some time.
Back to Braunston and the tunnel is a bit wobbly inside, we met two boats coming in the opposite direction and you have to be extra careful you don't collide or hit the tunnel side as the starboard navigation light comes alarmingly close to the wall. Panic over and at Braunston Locks we waited for the boat that was behind us in the tunnel to buddy up with us through the locks. There was a boat moored just short of the locks an I asked if they were going through and he said "No, I'm going to turn around". He proceeded too ram his bow into the opposite bank and try to get the stern past the concrete edge. Eventually he found the right hole to poke his nose into and managed to get the stern around. It provided a bit of entertainment, though.
Had a bit of trouble mooring in Braunston, it was packed and there was one boat moored outside the pub and I tried to get in between it and the end of the hedge, but there wasn't enough room by about two feet. We decided we'd try to moor the other side of this boat, but just before we pulled out another narrow boat bagged the space. So we moved on, and further along there was a space just big enough to get in. No pub for us again tonight, (we've been in three in three weeks) so a walk into Braunston to get fish and chips - just the job.

The Tranquility of Canal Boat Holidays on Britains Waterways.

This is probably the best way in the world to escape the rat race. It must be one of Britains finest secret assets, a legacy left to us by an era set in the industrial revolution by the engineers and navvies who changed the face of our landscape for ever. Names like Thomas Telford, William Jessop and James Brindley were the main pioneers and in more recent times Tom Rolt and Robert Aickman. These two men were responsible for the revival and restoration of many waterways after canal transport was superseded by rail and road. For years since the Second World War the canals were left in decline and many turned into stinking ditches filled with mud and litter. After countless man hours by enthusiasts and volunteers many of these canals have been restored to a navigable condition for us to enjoy today. Although there are still some areas where commercial traffic is utilised, the main traffic on the canals today is from the leisure industry and there are many companies now offering canal boat holidays like Anglo Welsh all over Britain.

So why choose a canal boat holiday? Well, there are many reasons. Britain holds some of the very best scenery in the world, much of which you can't see from a car or coach and in a canal boat at four miles an hour there's plenty of time to enjoy it. And then there's the wild life. Herons adorn the banks and towpaths and then you get that glimpse of electric blue as the kingfisher dashes past on its way to the next over hanging branch to await and capture it's next meal. Red kites patrol the skies and voles swim the waters, and if you're very lucky you might even see an otter.

The landscape is forever changing as you move along, from the rural and isolated to the industrial and derelict to the modern and redeveloped, and with careful planning you can choose your mooring. In fact you can wake up in the morning to a different garden every day and you don't have to mow the grass. Restaurants and pubs are in plentiful supply if you choose not to eat on board and there's often one or two nearby to choose from.

So what are the boats like? Today they are well equipped with all the galley facilities you would expect in your own kitchen at home. There's central heating for Spring, Autumn or even Winter cruising, and for those who like extended cruising there's even a washing machine/tumble dryer. Bathroom facilities include a shower, basin and pump out toilet and some boats have a bath. The boats are easy to handle in the water and a crew of two or more make light work of the locks where you can meet other boaters and you always get a cheery wave and a "good morning" from people you meet along the way.

So when your nearest and dearest asks "Let's go to the beach", or "let's holiday abroad", or "let's take a coach trip this year" - I've got a better idea, why not go on a canal boat holiday instead? You won't be disappointed.

Christmas liqueur in the making.

Had a day off from blogging yesterday, actually I couldn't, there was no signal at all where we were moored. That was out in the sticks again between bridges 68 and 69. We'd moored there on the way up and found it such a nice place. Reeds front and back and a clean well maintained towpath with pilings. Not only but also, SLOES. Not in bucketfuls, but nearly enough to make a litre of sloe gin for Christmas.
Talking of sloes we had a slow journey from Newton Harcourt through five locks and Saddington Tunnel, to our chosen mooring spot, to find someone had already bagged it, but not to worry there was another just like it a few yards before. No internet connection here but good satellite TV, Er'll was happy.
Made it to Foxton today and we wanted to go in the Museum, unfortunately it was closed, but we could take a walk around the grounds and see the remains of the Incline Plane. They're very optimistic about restoring it, but it's going to cost mega bucks.
Here's some Foxton photos:-



We went in the Bridge 61 pub for lunch and very nice it was too. We only had a pint and a baguette and both were very good. The Foxton Locks Inn didn't appeal to us as we like the more traditional, but we're prepared to give it a go one day, but not this evening as it's now raining quite hard. Tomorrow it's the locks and then the Laughton Hills.