Monday 11th August.
To London with Pam to see Shakespeare in Love at the Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin's Lane. A pleasant pre-theatre dinner at Brown's Club next door to the theatre-an excellent Chicken Caesar salad and a very nice bottle of Viognier- and then the show. A tremendous, fast moving, humourous and well performed play. See it.
The evening was to mark the official end of Pam's birthday. A lovely evening and, I hope, a lovely birthday for a lovely lady.
Tuesday, 12th August
Shopping for the voyage takes longer than expected thanks to a false fire alarm at Tesco. Loaded grub on board and drove to Hinckley hoping to leave the car at the Lime Kilns pub on the Ashby canal till we arrive next week. Unfortunately the landlord declined (for very valid reasons)so had to dump the car near Trinity Marina in Hinckley and grab a cab to Nuneaton to catch a train home. Courtesy of my old sod's rail pass the fare was only £3.30. but it had to be that train hence my haste thanks to a failed attempt by someone to burn down Tring Tesco. Just hope car is alright but what the hell. I'm on holiday.
Wednesday 13th August
Almost ready to go. Weevils have been installed in biscuits and the water tank is full(ish). It seems to take longer to get ready to cruise these days but whether that's because of arthritic knees or because I am now owned by my possessions I know not, The forthcoming trip to Leicestershire is the longest run Independence has done since my return from Llangollen last October so fingers crossed.
I have a new bathroom cabinet which was an old one I bought in the Red Cross shop for a fiver and repaired and got my mate Bill to tosh it up.
 |
| wobbly back stairs dismantled. |
The backstairs have been refurbished and dewobbleisded
 |
| The chillies have gone back to Pam's for safekeeping whilst I'm away. I'm very hopeful they will be right for the judging in September. |
 |
| Pam and Joe came for a farewell picnic |
 |
| A supply of lettuce and basil to ward off scurvy. Also a tasteful jardiniere to demonstrate our love of nature |
 |
| And freshly dug potatoes for the voyage. |
Geoff J arrived 1ish and after a delay for a thunderstorm we set off fo Marsworth. At the top of the flight of 7 down to Marsworth we teamed up with a Wyvern boat "Poppy" crewed by Stuart, Jo and Charlie. A very pleasant run through the locks arriving at the Red Lion in time to avoid a stupendous hailstorm. It's all in the timing,
A couple or 6 tonic waters in the Red Lion and a curry on board of monumental proportions. Mike the landlord of the Red Lion turns 40 this weekend -Happy Birthday Mike.
 |
| Bloody August!Hailstones. |
 |
| Heading north near Slapton we saw these "wigwams" for rent. I expect they are too much wampum for me teepee (geddit?) |
 |
| The crew of Poppy-good people |
 |
| At Church Lock I was pleased to meet Jules Fuels and have a fill of diesel |
A reasonable start (8.45) in the morning of Friday but Poppy left first and were joined by another Wyvern boat flying along with a crew of Germans.
By the time we reached the first lock Poppy had parted company with Von Richtofen who was pressing on ahead on his own so we were reunited with the winning combination (Poppy) of yesterday. Apparently the Germans were late back to Wyvern by about a day.A slow run to Leighton Buzzard mainly because we were following the Luftwaffe with little traffic coming the other way. A pleasant trip though in good company. A stop at Tesco and on to Soulbury where another pleasant surprise awaited. My old mate Mario who now runs a pub in Fenny Stratford was in the Three Locks pub for a pint so a very pleasant hour ensued. After making our farewells a return to the boat for roast duck. Splendid
 |
| The Grove Pub. Lovely flowers |
Saturday and an 8 30 start to get through the three locks and thence M Keynes. We were joined by a couple of Brummies (father and son I think) who had just picked up a boat and were moving it back to Birmingham.
We parted company with them in the race through MK but my efforts to get through in a hurry were thwarted by a slowcoach who didn't get out of tickover and presented no opportunity to overtake.This was to become a recurrent theme. Like the music from Neighbours. (which I don't)
At last to Cosgrove where we moored for the evening AND I was able to get a Times (for the prize crossword-v important) from the handy shop in the Caravan Park.
After a siesta off to the Barley Mow in Cosgrove for dinner.
I never really think I'm on hols till I get to Cosgrove (it's something to do with the MK Triangle)
 |
| A refreshment break in sunny Wolverton where I failed to get a Times. I could have got the Khartoum Express or the Beirut Mail no prob. Very ethnic Wolverton. |
I have the happy knack of regularly getting soaked on the canal between Cosgrove and Stoke Bruerne. This was special. As it started to spit I reached for my waterproof just inside the Boatman's Cabin. It fell on the floor out of reach just as the heavens opened and down came rain, hail, frogs every bloody thing all accompanied by the boater's favourite -a strong crosswind -rendering it impossible to take the boat out of gear and shoot down to get the coat.
And then things went wrong.(er)
In front of me was a boat that was doing 1 mph and I was getting frustrated with lack of progress
Another slowcoach and a soaking and then he/she went even slower. They were slowing down to let their sodding dogs off for a run whilst I was struggling to keep the boat mid-stream. Then it really rained. Oh Boy. Did it rain. I could not see through my glasses as I overtook the dog owners' boat which was all over the place anyway. I did my best glower as I passed but they couldn't see me through the rain. And then the dogs who were as obedient as they all are took off alongside me as I speeded up whilst their owner ( they understand all I say) shouted for them to come back. Hee hee they followed me for ages but unfortunately they didn't understand my commands to jump in the canal and ****ing drown. The owners I mean not the dogs. Hmmmm maybe I mean both. Grump.
Through the flight of 7 locks at Stoke Bruerne with Paddestoel (Dutch for Mushroom or Toadstool-can't remember) but they were all fun guys (hee hee) who knew what they were doing.
 |
| Looking back down Stoke Bruerne |
A pint in the Boat at SB and into Blisworth tunnel. I don't like tunnels, never have, never will but you have to go through them if you want to get anywhere. Being mid afternoon in August it was very diesel fumed and it took me a while to get orientated cannoning off the walls a couple of times to shift some rust. Then on to Bugbrooke for the night dining on roast pork at the Old Wharf Inn. (Good evening. Has the old dwarf been in yet? )
We got the last mooring which was a bit bumpy but after dinner we felt no pain.
The following day took us to Long Buckby up the Buckby locks from Whilton. Weather was a bit Autumnal but the New Inn awaited and we met Danny and Jan on Mozark who also moor at Cowroast. They were returning from Leicester. Always a pleasure.
 |
| Autumn on Whilton Locks Aug 2014 |
 |
| Pretty aint it? Eggcellent in fact |
 |
| That's the M1 though the trees |
 |
| Down to Braunston |
Along the Northern section of the Oxford canal to Hillmorton locks for the night. A pint in the Stag and Pheasant and spag bol on board
 |
| A Very fine tree on the Oxford canal. You can't see the two nooses hanging from the branches-evidence that they still hang in Warwickshire |
 |
| A very fine show of beans outside Rugby |
 |
| I thought she might. |
 |
| To Ansty for the night |
 |
| The delights of Hawkesbury |
 |
| with nature's beauty never far away |
Fear not-all was well. We embraced and she started first time. Drove back to the Limekilns pub and had a celebration dinner. Friday morning loaded car with goods and chattels and Geoff and returned south via Shackerstone to check out the mooring situation and The Griffin
Friday night and drinks with Helen Paul, Eunice and of course birthday boy Joseph
Joseph seems to have done well for his 13th birthday particularly in adding to his bank balance. In one of my regular attempts to bore the boy senseless (easy if you know how) I recalled that for my birthday I had received a '45 record of Lord Rockingham's X1 playing "Hoots Mon, There's a Moose Loose Aboot this Hoose." It was Joe's lucky day as I was able to find a recording online and play it two or three times. He obviously found it relaxing as he was still yawning an hour later. The record would, if I recall correctly, have cost 6s 9d, an amount so small by today's standards as to be meaningless in terms of Joe's wealth.
Anyway here it is.
A check on the moorings at Cowroast on Saturday and after a pint with Roy in the evening a lovely Pam cooked dinner
 |
| These were growing on the mooring of their own volition |
 |
| Had to finish on a picture of the rude veg of the Summer winner. Tee hee. |
.JPG)
.jpg)
