Watford Locks

Left Braunston today and as we approached the first lock, I was informed by the lockkeeper that a boat was coming backwards down the lock, so would we mind waiting. I went and warned Andy and sure enough eventually this man appeared walking the boat backwards with the centre rope tied around his waist! It took him forever to get the boat in the lock, he appeared to have no steering. On speaking to the lockkeeper it became clear he had been to a beer festival at the pub above the lock and was now returning to his mooring below the lock and the easiest away for him was backwards! He was well hungover and looking at the mug of cider on his back cabin he was still drinking!!  A second lockkeeper arrived and decided to go and "have words" with the boater, regarding the safe steering of a boat under the influence of alchohol!!
Another boat joined us and we came up the lock flight with hire boat "The Andrew" from Calcutt. These boats (think there might be more than one) are hired out to navel personnel and their families, and are run as a charity I think, I might be wrong. Well!!! If the man coming up the flight is current member of the naval service , God help us!
He had a young boy, his son with him, and at the start of the flight sent the boy to do the paddles. He was about 8 years old. No way could he have done the paddles. Luckily the C&RT lockkeeper was on hand and he did the lock with me. He was so worried about this boy that he told the boat to get inside his boat with daddy and proceeded to do the whole flight of six with me. We had a great laugh, he had a good sense of humour! The man on "The Andrew" did not talk to Andy at all and spent most of the flight on texting or phoning on his mobile. I did not even get a thank you! He was the most ignorant, arrogant person I have met. What a good start to Monday morning!

Headed up the Leicester Arm and arrived at the Watford flight. We reported in with the lockkeeper and there was a queue of about an hour and a half, so we had some lunch whilst we waited for 5 boats to come down the staircase. Our turn next. As we turned the corner I met a woman who instantly said 'I know you, we've met before' . We both recognised each other but where from?? She and her husband had met us earlier this year (May 20th) on the Buckby flight as we were going down to London and we shared a pint at the New Inn at the top of the flight. Their narrowboat is called Sylvia and they were heading down to the Thames but as yet undecided which route to take. They helped us up the flight, a very nice couple who moor at Yelvertoft. Such a shame we can't remember their names!!

Mr nb 'Sylvia'

Me and 'Mrs nb Sylvia'

Andy and Mrs 'nb Sylvia'

Go girl go!

Bridge 100 South Oxford

After a brief visit to Braunston and bumping into Elly and Mick again, we arrived Bridge 100 for the weekend.

Andy has started re-lacquering the mushrooms on the roof. We have nine of these so it is a long job! We first lacquered them about 4 years ago and they are looking sad now. We found some lacquer remover and he is laboriously removing lacquer and polishing and then re-lacquering. He is hoping the weather stays dry! He is well and truly lacquered at the end of the day!!

You will admire our temporary mushrooms!

Temporary rain covers!

Before

After - slightly better!

Hilmorton Again

Now on our return trip to Braunston and then on to the Leicester Arm. Took these photos of the lock arms on the Hilmorton flight. The wording has been carved into the lock arms.

 

Rugby/Hilmorton

Did all our shopping at Rugby and winded outside having said goodbye to our South African friends Brian and Cecelia on nb Life after Work, when we came across our New Zealand friends John and Elizabeth on nb Helen Louise. Unfortunately they were not on board so we will catch up with them later on.

Moored at Hilmorton today as Andy is going to give Jojo an oil and filter change. It is our eleventh wedding anniversary today! No plans. Happy Anniversary Andy X

Braunston 2

After finishing the blog yesterday our friends Brian and Cecelia on nb Life After Work pulled up along side for a chat. We last saw them on the Thames heading in the opposite direction to ourselves. Luckily the boat moored behind us decided to leave so Brian and Cecelia pulled their boat in. Andy was trying to fix the grease tube on the stern gland along with Neil, and Brian came along to help as well. After a few hours of tinkering it was decided that the mending was a failure and further attempts would be done in the morning. Brian and Cecelia offered to share their briar with us. (I believe that is South African for BBQ) We had a very pleasant evening putting to rights all the things boaters moan about!(I think cyclists came up quite a bit!).
In the morning Andy went back to Midland Chandlers and bought a new complete unit and with the help of Brian's drill managed to fix a new pump. Thank you Brian. Nb Life After Work then left for new moorings and we waved them off.

Brian and Cecelia

We walked to the pub (The Boathouse) and met up with Steph and Ant who had come to see us and bring some post. Had a nice sunday roast and then went for a walk into the village before looking at all the boats for sale in Braunston Marina. We then took Steph and Ant for a trip on Jojo back up to the pub where they had left the car and we carried on cruising to Onley. Sorry Steph and Ant but I forgot to take your photo for the blog so have put in an earlier one!

Steph and Ant on a previous visit

As we approached Onley we saw nb Life After Work moored and invited Brain and Cecelia on board for tea and cake. Thus finished a very sociable weekend!

Braunston

Here as promised is the photo Elly took yesterday after they popped on board for a coffee on their way to Warwick and then a little break to Wales. Nice to see you again and lets hope you come back to Aston for the winter!

Elly, Mick, Jean and Andy

We are now at Braunston. Andy has been to Midland Chandlers and is now tinkering in the engine room, as men do! Probably will be back there tomorrow to get more bits to tinker with! Arrived here and moored next to Neil and Mary n.b Isandlwana who are still here, having left us yesterday. Had coffee with them on Gongoozerlers Rest and shared some boating chat, like you do. Steph and Ant coming so will pop to the pub for lunch. Also passed Carol and Barry n.b Winton's Folly moored outside Braunston! What a social weekend we are having.

Bridge 100

Arrived here (Bridge 100) yesterday and cruised through a very hot day. On route from Banbury we passed Cropredy Marina which has witnessed a few improvements since we looked at it on foot a couple of weeks ago, namely some water (not full yet) some brick edging to the entrance and what looks like a wooden hut where the services and office were going to be sited. Still can't see it being opened in the next couple of weeks. There was no sign of any water and electricity stantions to the jetties and still some jetties to be planked.

 

When we arrived here yesterday we spotted nb Isandlwana belonging to Mary and Neil Downes who we knew a couple of years ago when we moored at Hayford Fields marina near Bugbrooke. It was nice to have a catch up.

It was such a hot evening inside the boat that we sat out and I managed to get a shot of our solar lights on the roof, this was taken about 9.30 p.m .

Having passed Barry and Carol on nb Winton's Folly moored up yesterday, today we were tooted by our Austalian boaters Elly and Mick on nb Parisienne Star, who moored up behind us and we spent a couple of hours chatting about our travels. Elly immediately got stuck into my jigsaw puzzle. (Have finished it now Elly, alas 3 pieces missing). We hope they will moor at Aston with us again this winter before returning to Australia next year. After a couple of attempts to get the timer right, Elly took a photo of us all and is going to email it to us. Watch this space or theirs!

We plan to go to Braunston tomorrow and then on to Rugby for supplies. After that we think we go up the Leicester Arm and attempt the river Soar before returning to the midlands.