Ah...

There might be a route pic missing but we've gone from Coventry to Fradley to Great Haywood in two days. That wasn't the plan but ...... Allowed us to pop round to Tixal this morning and get this view

On route we travelled for far too long...and over two days...behind serious contenders for the most clueless hire boat crew ever. From standing on bank trying to moor with only rope anyone was holding not attached to the boat to still not, having had help on four locks, taken on that you make sure paddles behind you are closed when you are in a lock and you open the ones in front of 

you to make a lock work. They still wanted to open the paddles behind them!! It would be unkind to say more...and they are now on their way back to Drayton Hire Boats so we are safe! 

 Lucky to cross with a working boat at Colwich. Last time we went through, some years ago, I met a fantastic old chap who had grown up on a working boat.

They had news of him. I thought for sure they were going to tell me he died. . No....he got married last week!!!

This was on the lock. I thought it was for him but there were some at Great Haywood as well

Catching up and moving on

We had a visit on Sunday from Di,an ex colleague of Alistair's and her husband Pete. Really lovely to see them. This was us 60 seconds after they left. We had been opposite a pub...but under the bridge and a different world! 

Yesterday we moved on to the Coventry. Which is a canal we don't know so well but are really enjoying. We had intended to stay overnight at Alvechurch but the efficiency of postal service and our Doctor meant that mail and meds were collected by 1400 and the flight looked much more tempting.

A wave at Nikki on NB Miner Bill...fellow Tweeter. 

 We had stopped long before this!

A sting in the tale

Well a potential sting. Yesterday it was up to the Globe for a delivery from Ocada. Shopping opportunities are what you might call....lite on the Ashby. Top tip is to take advantage of the farm shops.  All easy, with James, our delivery man, arriving early and walking down to the tow path to find us.

The Globe is looking very smart. Just reopened after refurbishment. No longer dog friendly. We weren't going in anyway!

After that it was through the the tunnel and to the end of navigation. Lovely team on Eleanor looking after things.

Quickly filled and emptied and on our way. Moored at the very spot we had our eyes on but quickly we were over run by wasps so decided to move. Three hours later......

Hard to believe but that was three hours, without rain and we didn't see one boat on the move. It is August isn't it?

Now on our own, wasp free, and ready to sit out the rain.

First photo... Storm Petrel...the boat that inspired QISMA's colour scheme back in the summer of 2009.

 Coming to the end of navigation

Nudity on Ashby Canal ... no pics!

Although we've only been here once before, the far end of the Ashby is one of our favourite places. Great to be here in sunshine. We have given ourselves a day off!!

Yesterday afternoon a boat came past. oK..not unusual. Told us of nude man at Bridge 57. Now that was a first. We didn't race up there. We did walk LJ that way later in the afternoon. We are moored at Bridge 56. 

There is a car park just bygones Bridge 57. It was nearly full. The memory gears started grinding. We came back and googled Gopsall Wharf. As soon as the results came up we realised we had done the same in 2009. It is one of the premier gay cruising spots in Leicestershire. We won't be mooring there! 

,

A couple of weeks ago I was thinking about a walk I did with LJ. Could picture the details. Had no idea where on the system it was. Amazing...yesterday we found it.yards from our mooring.,

Very generous of you......not!

Back in April the catalytic converter was stolen from our car. We reported it to our insurance company. The cost of replacement was much less than we had thought so we did not claim. It's time to renew our insurance. The quote was too high. We could get over £100 off with the same company by starting over. Easy. Not really. They refused to accept us because 'the computer' showed an outstanding claim we hadn't informed them of!

Hours wasted trying to resolve this. one number is all you need they claim. Rubbish! We were explaining it to a call centre who then contacted the insurer....go figure. Did they explain things properly? Who knows. Then, they 'generously' did not deduct £25 cancellation fee from the refund of next year's insurance which they had taken before the company refused the policy!! Grrrrrrrrrr

It all falls into the 'I can't believe it category'.

Lesson learnt. Find out more about customer contact system before doing business with anyone! 

Back to boating. Not sure what critter lives in this house. First thought was chickens but no sign. Maybe rabbits? I can hear Lloyd Grossmn asking. How irritating! 

Friends of ours had a chimney made by The Little a Chimney Company...and here it is. 

Past the battlefield site and the Ashby becomes even quieter. Lovely. Nene ladder deployed. 

Strap that fridge/freezer on your back and bring it in!

Our fridge has been playing up. OK...our fridge has stopped working. It started playing up after Oundle ...which is a shame as we could have replaced it there. Still...we were on our way to Braunston so there really shouldn't be a problem.

An email to Midland Chandlers. Could we have a new fridge/freezer and would they take the old one away. The second question was politeness as Alistair knew that under some directive or other shops selling electrical goods now have to offer this service.

Reply from Midland. Yes to question 1. No to question 2.

We wanted to play nicely. We,left them alone and phoned the Bottom Lock Chandlery. Could not have been more helpful. Would order replacement and take the old fridge. Unfortunately, the website of CoolZone does not include the price of any of their products. We didn't want,to hang,round in Braunston so back to Midland.

We phoned a company that collects and properly recycles electrical goods. They weren't collecting in the area last week.

Time to remind Midland of their responsibilities. Copied to Head Office. Aha! Email from shop. Full content. If you bring it in we will accept it. Actually......... We don't have to bring it in. Do they actually understand 'I'm out on the boat?' It does make you wonder. 

Fuller reply and apology from HO. Yes aware of requirement,  Manager away, used so rarely member of team responding to our request not aware etc etc 

Second email followed. Longer than first. Ending with please accept £20 voucher to try and win back your custom,

Emailed Trinity Marina at Hinckley. Yes we can replace. Yes we will remove. By the way...we prefer to remove and replace for you. Why not come in and have free mooring overnight while it gets sorted out? 

Now....who do you think got our business?

Pic courtesy of my  buddy Simmo..who we didn't quite meet even though I had baked a cake! (Lemon Drizzle)

Where did those years go?

Hawksbury Junction and on to the Coventry Canal. We weren't going to trouble it much today. The plan was to get onto the Ashby. We unearthed our old log. August 2009 since we were last on the Ashby in SIR GALAHAD days.  

Hawksbury Junction. We always say we can never get moored there. Truth is we have moored there but prefer somewhere out in the country these days. The joys if dog ownership and all that!

And onto the Ashby. Nice and clear for the turn.

And our quiet mooring.

Where did everyone,go?

The route. 

We seem to have a new routine. This involves EFU...Early For Us...starts. About 0900!  Today it was through lovely Hillmorton. Single Locksare a delight. Especially so here as they are in pairs so two chances at each set.

And on through Rugby. A stop at Bridge 58 for a run to Tesco. And off we went. There was a lot of traffic until Newbould then....not a boat for 30 minutes and only a few boats before we moored.  It was like a tap being turned off. It's a long time since we've been this way and we really enjoyed the trip. Moored before we reached the motorway. Might be on the Ashby tomorrow.

Hello Braunston and Goodbye

A great run into Braunston. With traffic coming up at every lock and only us going down. Nicest of crews as well. Perfik. 

Moored up at the bottom for outings to a Bottom Lock Chandlers and the Rope Store...though it has a longer name than that! 

A bit of drooling over boat

in build at Peter Nichols. For another, post lottery win, life...perhaps!

After that we were away. To lovely spot on route to Hillmorton. 

Ying and Yang

A nice slow cruise along the Grand Union. Thinking how much I like the GU. Then we saw this..
Not very clear but it is the start of the Buckby Flight.  Only us going up. Disaster struck in the first lock. No-one injured but one witches hat drowned. There was also a domestic.

The tie rope  was very near to our much loved headlamp. I thought it was OK but ...at the next lock...Alistair said we had lost it. A sad looking QISMA came in.

I was despondent reader...has to be said. Little did I know...until 6 locks and  much much later when we accosted a passing mechanic, that The light just wasn't working and Alistair had removed the glass. It was safely on board. AND passing mechanic, who had just finished a job on another boat, sorted us out. Ying and Yang.

Through Norton Junction and one of the most photographed properties on the system.

And safely moored...if at a bit of an angle. Plenty of room for a wide beam to pass!

With headlamp.