Monday 7th September to Saturday 25th September
Tuesday 8th September
We made our way to Fradley Junction yesterday morning and, yet again
were caught behind two slow moving boats, which meant a longer journey than
normal. Of course this was our own fault again, because we walked to the shops
for the Mail before setting off. Still, it was a very pleasant morning for
cruising, so we weren’t complaining.
There was an interesting ad in the Mail though, a full page spread
about books on Tablets and iPads and, since I still know nothing about these
things, I have emailed for more info.
Today we’ll be off to Whittington where, if the weather is kind to us,
we’ll stay for two days and get some more painting.
I received an email from another person enquiring about my Cartoon
Portraits yesterday morning. Unfortunately I didn’t see it until much later in
the day. The request was for a cartoon for his wife on their wedding
anniversary. I asked him to send me the usual details asap, but have not
received a reply as yet. He wants the cartoon for this coming Saturday, which
is pushing it a bit, but I said I would do my best for him, even though I would
normally need seven days in order to create a good cartoon.
With Cartoon Portraits it is necessary to concentrate on the person’s
face, before adding it to a cartoon body and then filling in the rest of the
cartoon with other objects, which all depend upon the person’s likes and
hobbies etc. Still, perhaps he’ll get back to me today, although I’m not really
expecting him to now when he had all day yesterday to do so.
Friday 11th September
Yesterday dawned bright but misty and, when it came to leaving
Whittington the sun was just about ready to emerge from the mist.
Unfortunately, as seems to be our habit of late, we found ourselves behind two
slow boats and spent an extra half hour in getting to Fazeley. Thank goodness
we had no locks to contend with. Apart from a visit to the shops and Wifey
doing a bit more painting, we had a pretty restful day.
We’ll stay here today and, if the weather holds good, get some more
painting done.
Saturday 12th September
Well, Wifey did rather well with the boat painting yesterday, going all
over the outside of the bow and some of the inside. Now, you may be wondering
what I’ve been doing whilst she’s been slaving over a mucky paintbrush. The
problem here is that we can’t both be in the same place wielding a paintbrush
and, since she does such a good job of it, I seem to be somewhat redundant.
Have no fear though, because I have no doubt my turn will come.
Today, with nasty, threatening skies, we made our way through five
miles and two locks, to Polesworth, getting a pretty good dousing along the
way. However, it looks like the rest of today is going to be a mixed bag; one
minute rain and the next sunshine.
We’ll stay here tomorrow, of course, because it’s Sunday and the pub is
a short walk away.
Wednesday 16th September
We spent Saturday and Sunday at Polesworth and came through to
Atherstone on Monday morning. Unfortunately, with the weather being so bad,
we’ve been unable to get any more boat painting done and, looking at the
forecast for the rest of this week, it’s unlikely we’ll get anything done soon.
Last year when we stopped her at Atherstone, we did notice a few
problems with TV reception; we do have a railway line running close by. This
year it has been a much bigger problem, because there seem to be many more
trains; especially freight trains; passing through here at all times of the day
and night. So, next time we come through Atherstone, we’ll stop for shopping
and carry on through. This must be just about the worse place on any canal for
interference of TV signal.
Today we’ll go up a few locks and head on to Springwood Haven Marina,
where we’ll top up with diesel and buy some more coal and a gas bottle.
Friday 18th September
On Wednesday morning we set sail for Springwood Haven but stopped off
at Hartshill instead. This is because we were fortunate to meet up with the
diesel barge along the way, and we topped up with diesel and bought a gas
bottle and three bags of coal. So, instead of going on to Springwood Haven;
where we originally intended to do likewise, we stopped short at Hartshill and
spent the night there.
In the afternoon on Wednesday we took Alex out and made our way across
the bridge, with the intention of walking up to the local pub. However, since
this seemed to be quite a busy road and had no footpath, we decided against
that idea. We simply wanted to see what the local pubs were like so we could
possibly pay one of them a visit next time we come through.
We left Hartshill at about 08.00 yesterday morning and made our way to
the Ashby Canal, where we stopped at bridge 3, where Wifey managed to get a bit
more painting done later in the day. We’ve had some rain overnight, so I’m not
sure that she’ll be able to do any more today.
Sunday 20th September
Yesterday morning dawned with a thick fog, so we had to delay our
departure from bridge 3. Thankfully we didn’t have to delay it by much and were
at Lime Kilns by about 10 am. Upon arrival we took a walk to the local BP
garage for the paper and milk. Later in the day, once the boat had thoroughly
dried off, Wifey got stuck into some more painting.
This morning we’ll do the garage walk again and then we’ll pay a visit
to the pub which, strange to say, bears the same name as the place we’re now
moored at.
Tuesday 22nd September
We took the bus to Nuneaton yesterday and shopped at Asda. We
desperately needed bread and, since we prefer uncut, looked through the rack to
find a large wholemeal. We came away from Asda’s minus bread because the latest
‘Use By’ date we could find was for the 22nd. With the best will in
the world, Wifey and I would never devour a whole loaf in two days. So, off to
Gregg’s where we can at least expect the bread to be fresh on the day.
Friday 25th September
Yesterday morning, after a short walk to the shop for the Mail and
milk, we left Hinkley Wharf and headed for Market Bosworth, stopping off at
Sutton Wharf for water and the disposal of rubbish.
There is a new marina being constructed at MB, which is just past the
road bridge, and the long term moorings before the bridge are now 48 hour,
where they were long term moorings last time we came through. Unbeknown to us
the first few spaces outside the marina have now been turned over to long term
and, when we arrived at about 11 am, all the 48 hour moorings were already
taken, so we had to moor up at the new long term moorings. We’re hoping we’re
not asked to move along today, because we really do need to stay here until
Saturday morning, when we will walk into town for anything we need, but
especially the Mail.
We’ve not really had enough good weather for painting of late and, now
that autumn is officially here, I suppose we can now expect even more damp
mornings. Still, we do still have a few weeks to go so we might be lucky.
Alex takes a dive:
It was never advisable to let Rusty off her lead, because we couldn’t
guarantee she would come back at our call. With Alex though, we have found that
while we’re moored up along the canal, he will make a run for the boat when his
lead is released.
Yesterday afternoon Wifey took him for a longish walk and, when she
came within sight of the boat, she let him off his lead. As usual, he took to
the sprint and raced towards the stern deck, which he was approaching from the
bow end. Sadly our wee pooch misjudged his leap onto the stern deck and went
head first into the canal. By the time Wifey had hauled him out he was shaking
like a leaf and she even had trouble coaxing him onto the boat.
I suggested to Sheila this morning that, now that he’s discovered what
it’s like in the canal, perhaps it will be safe enough to leave him off his
lead whilst we’re cruising. After all, he’ll make the effort to stay away from
the edge of the deck now that he’s suffered his first soaking.
And, on that happy note I’ll see if I can post this blog.
Have a great weekend folks.
Dave, Sheila and Alex.
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