ASHBY CANAL

Back in time, the tearoom on the inside

Tea shop Market Bosworth

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Shackerstone railway stn.

"VALERIE" moored at Shackerstone

Have now been on the Ashby for 6 days and what a wonderful experience it`s been. The canal is navigable for 22 miles upto snarestone. About 5 miles further on the canal is in water at Donisthorpe for about2 miles and there are plans to join the 2 sections once again.

The canal is mostly small villages and the largest place must be Hinckley so keeping the food cupboard filled is a must as most moorings -the best anyway- are remote. While in Hinckley i noticed on the map a greyhound track, that`s track not stadium just 800yds and it`s yards not meteres as i am old and english, from the canal. Now the one and only time i went to a dog track was 30 yrs ago so as i am retired and doing things i fancy off John and i went on a saturday night. Yes i am still with John, he`s a nice bloke and we get on ok pleasing ourselves if we stay in or go out no hassle. Well this track turns out to be a flapping track, that is it`s un-licenced.All it consisted off was a circular track of grass and sand with floodlights on poles that looked as if a dog collided with them they would crash to the ground. A small box on stilts was the control tower and a small bar area. Three bookmakers were on site standing on a long bench with their large bag and an assistant writing down the bets. I estimate the attendance was approx 150 punters so how they made money is beyond me. The bookies had the tote as competition. On the tote you could only bet 50p upwards on 1st and 2nd dog so you had to pick the two best dogs, but you could do a reverse bet so your 2 dogs could finish 1st or 2nd. Gonna stop on that as i am not other than the lotto now and again a gambler. Was a good night though.

The Battlefield Line is a steam railway of some 9 miles in length between Shenton and Shackerstone. The remainder of the railway ceased in the sixties and all that remains is run and maintained by steam enthusiasts.

Market Bosworth is a typical village along the Ashby and it was here the small tearoom was discovered up a small courtyard between the buildings. Going inside for a cuppa was like going back in time.It was crammed full of victorian bits and bobs and some intersting pictures of the village in the past, also on the walls lots of the old metal advertising signs.

So still on the ashby but i am going back to see family for the w`end as i have in the last week been made a g`dad again so must go and cuddle Teo my 7lb g`son. The name Teo is Turkish as my son steve is married to a lovely young Turkish girl Ozlem. For the trip i have hired a car this time to make sure ican visit a lot more people. The car co. will collect me canal side and drop me back on monday.

COVENTRY

Inside Coventry cathedral

The first bike i owned at 16

A small corner in The museum of transport

This s/steele structure erected to commemerate Whittle the jet engine genius

Coventry basin well lit at night

Well as i said in last post the the trip into Coventry was not very nice but the basin with it`s close proximity to the city centre made it a worthwile. The basin it self was well lit at dusk and very quiet even with a pub just a short distance away from the canalside. On arrival boats are met by city rangers based in an office within the basin who give out a small welcome pack including a very usefull map listing all the touristy type things and also laundrette, post office etc. From just outside the basin a footbridge takes you over the ring road and you are then 2 mins walk to the centre of this very interesting city. The museum of transport is very much a must see venue featuring cars, buses,lorries, pedal cycles and motorcycles amongst which i found the exact same model of a Francis Barnet 197cc that i owned in 1964 at the age of 16.

The museum was a wonderful experience lasting some 3 hrs for the princely sum of nowt.

Outside are the two steele arches to commemerate Frank Whittle the jet engine genius.

Moving across the city i noticed the huge modern shopping centre both indoor and outdoor the former being mostly under glass canopies so dry shoppers are happy shoppers, so what do they do........spend more. Clever these planners eh. The indoor market came next built like a giant roundabout, ok for you long time boaters that`s like a giant winding hole, me being new on the cut i can still remember them. Anyway the roof of the market was a car park(mooring).

Although not a religous person i felt i had to see the both the bombed and new cathedrals. I must say i was quite impressed by the sheer size and workmanship of this building from the stain glass to....well all of it.

Walking on came to spon street,not spoon, where although some of the buildings dating hundreds of years were on their original sites some had been dis-mantled during the re-building of coventry following the 1940 bombing and re erected to form a street to give some idea of coventry past.

All the walking around was spread over the two days allowed for mooring and this was monitored by the rangers so 48hrs and off heading to the Ashby canal i have read about on Sue`s blog RETIREMENT NO PROBLEM check this site out it`s better than mine but please come back here now and again. Link to Sue is on left of my blog. Sue does all fancy links in the text, i can`t get the hang of yet, and also Sue has photo albums go on check it out as i have finished for now.

It`s been a cloudy day today and i was very surprised it did not rain, in fact it finaly rained at 9pm but `VALERIE` was alredy moored in Coventry basin just a 4 min walk from the city centre. Will be out and about tomorrow looking for amongst other things the transport museum and the old cathedral. The cruise up here from Hawkesbury Jct. was not pleasent as the canal went past a mainly industrial scene some factories long closed down. Also the amount of rubbish in the cut was disgusting. At one point i had to stop to push a large tree trunk and part of a wooden fence to one side as they were right across the cut. Still the basin is well lit and clean and where else could you park so close to a city centre for free. Want to watch the England match tomorrow but picture not good as surrounded by buildings, but heh you can`t have it all.

RUGBY

The present tunnel with 3 colour lighting

The original tunnel

Hillmorton locks

The decorated bridges

Arrived at Rugby Thursday after passing through Hillmorton locks. This was my first experience of this type of lock and as you can see in the pic they are 2 single locks side by side so if it`s not busy you can use either and you might be lucky one of the two might be in your favour. The picture was taken from my boat and Tina/Andy plus John working their boats through ahead of me. Also you can see some newly aquired logs on my roof, they`ll be nice and dry by winter. There are three sets of these twin locks between us and Rugby.
We all made a night stop at bridge 58 Brownsover just on the outskirt of Rugby. This was a convenient mooring for Tesco and a retail park that much to Tina`s delight had a shoe warehouse. A lot of the bridges along here have been decorated canal side and make passing under them a pleasent change from brick arches.
Left early friday to get upto present location Newbold on Avon ( g`children get mum to mark your map) . Have moored just short of the illuminated Newbold tunnel(250yds long) as Tina/Andy have freind staying the w`end--hi des-- and i have arranged for Beccy to do some more paintwork on sunday, just some scroll work between windows.
While typing this blog a chap stopped by asking if i was the Valerie he had been reading about it seems for sometime. Nice to people who read the blog so if any one passes by please say hello.
While out walking managed to find the original Newbold tunnel that was in use before the canal company many years ago cut some 13 miles off the journey by re routing the canal thus cutting out the twists and turns which resulted the present tunnel going straight through the high ground not around it.

On my travels have caught site of a bird of prey being worked by a chap in a field right next to the canal and at 4 mph had agreat few minutes entertainment also a fox mid day trotting across a field. Nice to see foxy where he belongs running free un-like the urban fox dodging cars and people. OK folks that`s all to-night HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL YOU DADS OUT THERE.

WAITING FOR ENGLAND MATCH

Lunch with a view

Spotted these canoist`s at bridge 73 on the Oxford canal where we had stopped for the night to take advantage of a verychildren friendly pub/restaurant called the hungry horse. If you stop with kids be aware the downstairs soft play area leads straight onto the canal bank SO WATCH THEM, it`s a fire reg that the door has to be open in an emergency.

Just sitting on front deck with TV turned so i can watch the match in the fresh air and was doodling some figures and thought someone looking to be a boater might be interested so decided to blog before the ENGLAND game starts.

Started off N.B. VALERIE was a new boat and upto a week ago had done just over 200 hrs, yes i also before i became a boater didn`t realise engine hours NOT miles as on a car were the record of the use a boat has had. So for those 200 or so hours i have used 222 litres of fuel @ an average of 51p a ltr, so about 1 litre an hour. Don`t ask how many miles i have covered as i don`t record it. But if you delve back in the blog you can get an idea. Roughly...............

Hemel Hempstead to marsworth twice down to London back upto Braunston onto Crick and Mkt Harborough back through Braunston to present location RUGBY. Quite a lot of miles and a lot of nice scenery.

Have changed the engine oil twice at a cost of £23 a time and Gearbox oil once at £9. The engine oil filters are purchased through car spares outlets at a much reduced price than chandlery`s in fact half the price in some cases. Fuel filter changed at cost of £6.

So 51p per hour fuel and £61 maintenance. Licence for my 58` boat cost £547 Insurance varies but £250-£350 will get you a fully comp policy that includes contents. Just remembered changed my gas bottle at cost of £17 after 9 weeks use.

So hope that helps someone out there and if you want an honest answer from a virgin live -aboard e mail me. As time goes by things will need replacing such as water pumps in the boat but hopefully later rather than sooner, but of course i have a warranty to full back on of 1 year and the engine is for 2 years. Continuse cruising as i do is much cheaper than running a house. While cruising you generate electricity and lovely hot water. No rates, no tv licence. Burn logs-picked up as i travel- Free heat. Central heating boiler runs off boat fuel 51p ltr but not used much as logs heat boat well.

Anyway i love this life. Where did you eat your lunch today. my typical lunch view is in pic at top.

SIGNWRITE/NEW G`CHILD/SUMMER

Keirnan 1yr old after a hectic crawl around the garden finds a nice resting place

Keira, my latest grandaughter

A nice job made by the signwriter Beccy

Having secured a mooring in the Mkt. Harborough basin Beccy arrived on saturday morning to start on signwriting the boat. Now i know it was going to be called SELEUS as in les/sue in reverse but following the amicable parting of sue and myself and now being on my own i have called the boat VALERIE after my late wife. Anyway Beccy worked over the w`end and come sunday lunchtime she had completed the bow both sides and one side of the rear. As she wanted some time with family she decided to finish off on monday so i turned the boat in the basin and moored ready for her to arrive monday. I connected the electric hook-up that came with the mooring charge as i was going to be away for a few days visiting family.The good thing with the hook-up is not having to worry about the batteries going flat while away and my freezer thawing, also it gives me a chance to use the washing machine to my hearts content. Normaly i would put washing on as i cruise to maintain battery power.So off i went catching a train at Mkt. Harborough station and ended up standing all the way to luton as midland mainline for some un-known reason had put on a 4 coach inter city instead of the usual 8 coach. One of my sons met me at the station and within 10 mins i was cuddling Keira my newest grandaughter who entered the world 2 wks ago at just over 9lb. Managed to get down to Watford and see my other son Andy and his wife Bev and of course g`children Jack and Jordan- Hi there kids. Then back to luton and more visiting of freinds. Unfortunatly did not see my son Steve and his very pregnant wife Ozlem as she was not feeling to good. Will see you both when i next visit by which time i will be a grandad again.

So where am i now? I left Mkt Har` on thursday and caught up with andy and Tina on their boat YTENE and John on TUI at the bottom of foxton locks for a route meeting over tea of course. It was decided Andy/Tina would head for Rugby and John and i fancied Coventry so we all would cruise together for a while. So up the foxton flight we went one by one me in the middle. Now the way to go up a staicase flight, that`s where the gate you exit becomes a gate for the next lock is to let the person in front clear the lock and shut the gate before you do anything to enable your boat to enter. Now for reasons best known to John he decided to start winding the paddles before i had got half in to the next lock let alone shut the gate with the result i had no water under me and ended up hi and dry on the floor of the lock. Well we soon got it sorted but the lockeeper was soon down from the top of the flight wanting to know who drained the middle pound wasting his preciouse water. Poor John he had to own up.So at the top lock the ice creams were on him. That reminds me at the top lock as i was about to exit 2 young boys with parents wathing decided to get a bit to close to a swan and her young with the result out of the water came mum, they retreated quick but soon again moved forward towards mum who was between her babes and the boys. The wings flapped and the hissing started and as the boys parents did nothing i got off the boat and got them back from the swan, the problem was there were 2 elderly people next the boys and if the swan had attacked the boys would have moved quick but that would have left the elderly couple right in the line of attack.

After a rest we cruised for 2/3 hours and stopped the night in the middle of nowhere, hot sunny peace. After the wet days spent at the crick show it would appear summer is here as i sit under the sun umbrella typing this. As we are re tracing our previouse route from crick i am sitting back at crick where just 2 weeks ago boats were breasted up for the show, not so now moorings for all. Will stay the w`end as Tina/Andy watching motor racing on tv sunday, John has visitor sunday and i am just re-laxing and enjoying this wonderful life.

CRICK TO Mkt HARBOROUGH

TINA, ANDY & JOHN

FOXTON STAIRCASE FLIGHT OF LOCKS

MUM & DAD OUT WITH THE KIDS
Mkt. HARBOROUGH BASIN

John & i left crick at 8am on wednesday after using the water point, rubbish & elsan facilities ahead of us 16 lock free miles to foxton locks. Our final destination being Mkt. Harborough as i have arranged for a lady,BECCY, to signwrite the boat. I met Beccy at the crick show and saw some of her work and felt confident she will do a nice job on the boat. Andy & Tina who i have been moored with at crick had left the day before as they are booked in at Debdale wharf to have their boat blacked and were worried about getting through foxton flight as after crick show there can be very long delays. We came across them some 5 miles out of crick and it was a good excuse to stop for a cuppa and a chat. As there boat was not due out for blacking till monday we teamed up to foxton and stopped a couple more times taking it in turn to play host for tea and cake. So three boats en route to foxton, got ourselves a convoy. On route i stopped at North Kilworth to re-fuel and took on 132 litres at54p(how does that compare with road prices) . On we go through Husbands Bosworth tunel(1166yds long) arriving at Foxton locks at about 3pm. We contacted the lockeeper as you cannot enter the flight unless he says so and he said we would have a couple of hours to wait, we had 2 boats in front of us and he had 2 waiting to come up. So a stroll around the locks and more tea soon passed the time. Also gave me time to look at my central heating boiler that refused to start at 6am this morning so i could shower it was to early to run the engine for hot water. Had a prod about and it seems to have been sooted up and now works fine but as i have a tank of really hot water from all day cruising it won`t be needed at the moment. Last entry into the locks was 6.15 but the lockie assured us we would be in before this and true to his word in we went one by one at about 5.15. I was last of our convoy and the others were waiting at the bottom and we all moored in the Mkt. Harborough arm for the night and retired to the pub. Thursday morning and setting off at about 11am we cruised for a couple of hours into the basin at M. Har. and tied up on the 48 hr moorings. We walked down to the Brit. Waterways office and i booked a basin mooring for friday morning after speaking to beccy about the signwriting. As Andy & Tina are walking towards me i now am going to the pub.

AT THE SHOW

The show has gone ahead despite problems of rain and fire. Saturday was a very wet day and coupled with the heavy rainfall in the week before the show the problem visitors had was leaving the show car park that had become a mud bath in places. Many had to be towed out despite several lorry loads of aggregate being laid at variouse points around the ground. But this was not the problem facing visitors on sunday, most of them could not even get to the car park owing to a large fire that started late saturday night in a very large food processing plant on crick industrial site near to jct. 18 of the M1 the main entry point to the show. The fire brigade started pumping water from the canal in the early hours of sunday and as i type this 11.45 am monday water is still being pumped to the site of the fire. Hoses laid from crick bridge down the road have prevented acces to the show site from the M1 leaving only access from the east by way of the small lanes that rapidly became grid-locked. The result was crick village became a car park as did any piece of grass verge in the surrounding area. At the height of the fire 100 firefighters were at the scene. In spite of all this there was a noticeable increase of visitors to the show on sunday and after a very quiet wet thursday a nice sunny day made everyone forget the problems of getting to the show. The entertainment at the end of the day was very good but by far the best was a rock band sunday night called " The Platforms", my head is just recovering but it was a good night spent with some of the boaters i had met during the last few days here.
I last came to the show a year ago looking for a boat and spent a lot of tme talking to builders and was surprised to be recognised by a builder from last year who even remembered my name. It has been very pleasent here in the run up to the show watching the site change from an empty field to a boat show. Water and electricity laid on then marqees being put up, and boats arriving by road and being craned in. Some boats going straight on to site as land based displays.
Next port of call will be Mkt. Harborough and a trip home for a few days to see family and my latest G`child who arrived a week ago, baby girl Kiera weighed in at just over 9lbs.
Well it is just about to rain again and as i am on the front deck blogging to get a good signal i must now stop as my laptop is not waterproof.

Part of the 2 miles of hose from crick bridge to fire site.
The smokey sky 12 hrs after the fire started.
Fireman pumping water from canal at crick bridge.

A view of the marina and some of the many new boats on display.
Sunday night the entertainment provided by a rock band "The Platforms"

CRICK- PRE-SHOW

Now every boat show has to have some form of organisation and this year British Waterways have enlisted two undercover mooring wardens.

These two are among many being craned in over the last 2 days.

Above two of the more unusual crick visitors.

Well have been here at Crick for 10 days. It has been very quiet and wet apart from today the sun has been out all day. While i have been lazing about have at least managed to do a few boaty things (not to much you understand----narrowboaters do it s l o w ) At least the boat has had a good clean and the engine oil changed. Also had a bus ride into Rugby and looked in on the museum of rugger. A good day out dodging the showers. Lots of boats on the reserved moorings that they have paid a lot of money for are getting into the party spirit with bunting hanging from bow to stern and of course the barbie is set up, all they need is the weather to stay dry. Had a few walks via the show site and i can warn any car drivers arriving for the show you could be in for a hard time on the car park as the field it`s on is very muddy. If the weather stays wet as forcast then it could be a big problem by sunday/monday as i am sure cars will get bogged down.

Will try and get more pics if our two mooring wardens let me near the show site.

Crick marina have put in a planning application for 83 more berths, these to be on the site of the adjacent now closed down garden centre.

LAZY DAYS AT CRICK

John and i left Braunston making our way to Crick i think on saturday, yes that`s right i remember i missed the cup final moored just in last minutes of extra time. Anyway we backtracked through the Braunston flight of 6 locks and through the 2042yds long tunell to the Leicester Arm where we stopped off for a cuppa and and to empty the toilet cassettes and then as usual got chatting to other boaters so it turned into a 2 hour tea break but no worries not going anyplace by any particular time, what a life. Set off up the arm and pass by watford gap services on the M1 in fact you can walk through the gap in the hedge into the services but who wants to pay extortianate prices for everything they sell. Passing along the arm brings the Watford lock flight. This is a flight of 6 and 4 of them a staircase all single. This being another 1st in my boating life i found it very exciting. The duty lockie was a lovely lady name of CARLY thats her in the pic. She was so laid back about everything it was a pleasure going up the flight. On arrival boaters have to report to the lockie and you are then deemed to be in the queue, no reporting means you are not there as far as CARLY was concerned. She gave her instructions as to how many go up or down and in what order but made it clear it was subject to change and not to start till she gave you the signal from halfway up the flight, anyway she took a fancy to me i think because she said as soon as i entered the staircase to stay on board and she would do the locks, or was it because i was solo boating, i`ll leave you to decide but i know what i think because she waved me out the top lock and said have a good trip LES. Ahhhhhhhhhh! lovely lady. So on we go through some nice rural countryside and into Crick tunnel 1528yds, had it all to myself as John had gone on ahead from Watford locks so i just eased the throttle open and let the boat have a good run. On exiting the tunnell have moored just before bridge 11 the first bridge after tunnell exit as there are so many mooring restrictions along the show site. Will be here for 2 weeks to visit the show and will change the oil top up batteries and give the boat a good clean on the outside. Also some nice walks to do infact i am sitting on front of boat now having just had a 3 hour walk. Will try and get some pics of boats arriving for show and being craned in to the marina, should get busy soon.

Someone left a comment on an earlier blog wanting a pic of the sun brolly. I do love the sunny days but can`t sit in direct sunshine so the shade the brolly gives is ideal.

TO BRAUNSTON BEFORE CRICK

My floating home floating in the cool of the evening after a day of hot sun. The umbrella still up. Behind is John`s boat. We will float together at least untill after the Crick show.
Playing skittles in the village pub
The Dis-abled mooring bollards just in front of our mooring looking through the bridge you can just see the white walls of the entrance to Braunston marina.Braunston marina from the bridge entrance.
Well Braunston tunnel was great, i really love tunnells maybe it`s because i also like steam railways. It must be the fumey dark atmosphere. Anyway all my adult life i`ve loved going in tunnels.................
After the tunnel came the 6 lock flight into Braunston. As soon as we exited the bottom lock it was clear this is a very busy canalside location. Hire boats breasted up on the left(port) as far as i could see and a large chandlery and boatbuilders to the right(starboard). Slowly we edged forward in places just room for one boat at a time as we approached the very large Braunston marina we saw just a short empty bankside so as we could see ahead under the bridge that no space was available as far as the eye could see we moored up. We just squeezed in before the bollards that were for dis-abled boat users although untill you stepped a shore you would not have known they were for the dis- abled. All there was to indicate them was a small dis-abled sign on top of the bollards, no signs on fence, posts or the very nice concrete edging. No wonder the two days we were there so many boats pulled in then off again. Nice though that so many boaters respected the restriction and sought other moorings, doesn`t seem to happen in car parks but thats in the other world i left on the cut a more caring person lives.
A lovely few days here hot and sunny, even had my sun brolly up so glad i didn`t leave it behind when i sold the house. It fits neatly in the hole i drilled in the seat i made up in the bow well deck.
The village sits up on the hill above the canal. Just a typical canalside village but has all the boater needs to feed himself and crew. There is a small supermarket with post office and a superb butchers that sells other produce including some lovely meat pies, three now living in my freezer. Also a grade one chippy, cooked while you wait. Two pubs , Wheatsheaf and the old Plough. Both had skittles game in the bar.
Anyway will leave you with a few pics.

LONG DAY // SHORT BLOG

NOT A REGULAR SITE, MANDARIN DUCK NEAR WEEDON

A GLIMPSE OF THE WORLD I LEFT BEHIND

ENTERING BLISWORTH TUNNELL.............FANTASTIC

Teamed up with a guy name of john who like me is heading to the Crick show and we decided to share the locks and a few pints we left cosgrove and stopped overnight at Stoke Breune. Had a nice meal and a couple of pints in the boat inn and got chatting to some retired coppers who were stationed where i was born and dragged up in paddington. They were we discovered from the barman were all masons and hold meetings in the upstairs function room. After a late night in the pub which ended by chatting to the father of the two sons now running the pub who had popped in for a glass or two it turns out his g`mother originally bought the whole site for £4,000 and the business had been family owned since the mid 1800`s. So off we go a bit late after a needed lie in into Blisworth tunnel. This after my fears of meeting boats coming the other way turned into a great trip. Three boats came towards us loads of room to pass, well not that much but no problem.

We are now moored at Buckby so a couple of miles down the cut Braunston tunnell, can`t wait.

Oh well it wasn`t to short a blog but tired now so be safe fellow boaters and have a good day at work tomorrow all you other readers.

STILL GOING NORTH

DRIED CANAL BED OF STRATFORD ARM

PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL UNDER CANAL
Have passed through Stoke Hammond, Fenny Stratford, Milton Keynes, Wolverton and Cosgrove. Stopped on the way at all these places and had some very pleasent walks, caldecote lake springs to mind with the river Ouzel passing by it. Strolled round the lake in lovely sunshine and finished up at the pub by the lake with a pint.
Wolverton, once a very large railway oriented town now just full of empty carriage and freight buildings. A lot of work is going on in some of these buildings but i could see no info boards to say what so hopefully once again it will be as busy as in the past.


Cosgrove at first seems just a small quiet canal side village. But down below the canal through a wooded area can be found Cosgrove Park with a thousand plus holiday caravans complete with lakes, shops, cafe, takeaway and even an amusement arcade. A very busy scene as i walked through to use the shop with cars coming and going..................and the only way in is through the tiny streets of the village. Bet the residents love that.
Passing across the canal via a pedestrian tunnell just wide enough for one person and about 6 feet headroom i walked along the now dis-used Stratford arm. Only the first few hundred yards are in water and used for permanent moorings. Passing over the embankment that marks the end of the moorings i walked along the still there although dry and overgrown canal bed. Only now and then had it been filled just enough for a farmer to pass from one field to another with his tractor or to move cattle. Although i didn`t walk the whole length i saw no signs of bridges and wondered how the farmers got across in days gone by. Something to look into perhaps when i reach Stoke Breune, might find some reference to it in the museum, old maps maybe.
Also there is the Aqueduct crossing the River Great Ouse in an iron trough on stone pillars. Some nice riverside walks here so perhaps cosgrove is worth a stop on your travels, also as you leave cosgrove after the lock by the stratford arm junction you will pass under a very nice stone bridge decorated in a gothic style so all in all worth a few hours stop over is Cosgrove.

COW ROAST ONTO MARSWORTH

CARP BY THE WHITE LION


Arrived at Marsworth on wednesday evening and took a pic of some of the nice things that life on the boat brings. The boat is moored just below the reservoir but the sunset was viewed out of the galley window although i took the pic up on the bank of the reservoir. The carp are always outside the White Lion pub where they are fed on a regular basis by the public visiting this very popular spot. With 7 locks, 2 reservoirs, 2 large pubs, 2 arms (wendover and aylesbury) and plenty of boats all within a mile, Marsworth is a popular spot for walkers, twitchers, anglers and the usual lock watchers. ( can`t remember how you spell that goongosler word)

SUNSET STARTOPS RESERVOIR

Had a very plesant few days here but moved on before the place became to crowded with it being a B/Holiday w`end. Had a nice ride into Tring via the Wendover arm and as it was market day and sunny it was quite busy. The local auction rooms were open for pre- auction viewing so i had a nose around. Seemed to be full of all the sort of junk i had when trapped inside a house. If you want a good way to clear your junk just buy a boat. The end result is no clutter and FREEDOM.

Put some new tyres on the bike and decided to ride along the Aylesbury arm to the village of Wilstone with the intention of getting a paper but the only shop was shut at noon on a saturday, oh well the exercise was good. So back at the boat i decided to move up to the B/waterways yard at the jct of the Aylesbury arm and fill my water tank, empty the loo and dump the rubbish. That done it was onwards towards Leighton Buzzard to escape the crowds that for sure would be at Marsworth come sun/mon. Had the company of a hire boat from Gayton all the way up and he was keen to do the locks so out of the goodness of my heart i let him. He was on holiday and i can do them anytime so mustn`t be greedy. L Buzz is where iam now doing this blog, well not in the main part but a little further on amongst open fields in complete peace and quite except for the rain i can hear hammering down on the roof at 1am. Yes i know its 1am but i`m not going anywhere tomorrow unless i want to. F R E E D O M

THAT MY 58` FRIEND IS WHERE YOU WERE BORN

Passing through Hemel Hempstead i decided to stop the night at Winkwell where the boat was fitted out. After a good nights sleep, needed after solo locking all day i popped into the boat yard and had a chat with Phil who had done the fit out on my boat. He is at present fitting out a boat for a New Zealand couple who intend cruising summers here and returning home to avoid our winter. Phil is working to a very tight schedule as the couple fly in 14 days from now but he says all will be well. I wished him good luck and drifted off to Berkhampstead for a lunch stop and a browse in the bookshops for some more reading matter. A night stop at Cow Roast and a walk in the morning produced my Swan picture. She had decided to nest right in front of the entrance to the offside permanent moorings. The result was the fence of the lockeepers cottage was removed so that a new entrance could be made to the moorings.

The seat was fitted somewhere along the way between croxley grn and cow roast, can`t remember exact location but hey who cares, this wonderful carefree life is to enjoy not worry about time and place.

Have moved on but more next time.

SUNNY SATURDAY

I left Bulls Brdg about lunchtime thursday intending to stop at uxbridge but was so relaxed standing at the tiller chatting at the locks that i filled the tank at Uxbridge boat centre (52p litre,70litres filled it up) and just kept going. Upon reaching Rickmansworth it was getting near dusk but i decided to carry on to croxley green as i had made some friends on the winter and permanent moorings. I ended up mooring at 9.10 pm. Spent Friday visiting 2 of my grandchildren and ended up helping my son with some DIY, still i did enjoy it.
Awakening saturday to such a sunny warm day i decided to get the paint i had bought at uxbridge and personalise the boat. It was a bit plain all green apart from the cream coachline on the sides. Spent time between coats making up a seat for the f`ward deck but this is not ready for fitting yet so you will have to wait for a pic.

FIRST TIME EXPRIENCES

1st time i have seen BW in a patrol boat. The picture was taken at Bulls Bridge after my return from a trip down the Paddington arm. He took a good long look at all the boats moored on the Tesco moorings then reversed up past me and 2 others moored just along the wall past the old dry dock and then off he went down the Paddington arm.

1st time today i spotted a turtle climbing out of the canal via an old tree stump.

1st time today a parakeet landed in a tree at Greenford just as i passed by.

1st time i have ended up in the cut, yes ha! ha! ok after i had showered and got the washing machine going and sat with a cuppa i did laugh. Settle down i want to tell you a story. Once upon a new life on my boat i travelled from Bulls Bridge down the paddington arm to visit some workmates and upon arriving at Acton a bit wet from the rain i picked my mooring and came to a stop now as it had been raining i was wearing a long coat that was almost knee length and as i turned to pick up the rope that naughty boat decided to drift out just a bit, no problem just a small jump could normaly jump twice the gap...........BUT i had forgotten the coat my legs just would not part enough and so had no choice but to step into the water up to my waist. I was out quicker than i went in.

Anyway the visit was a success lots of people came to visit and i am now back at Bulls Bridge and will be heading north tomorrow. Have been watching the fuel guage because after my van driving days i can`t believe it still shows so much fuel left. Very economical these boat engines but then again i never go above 70 on the straights.

RICKMANSWORTH TO BULLS BRDIDGE

Left Rickmansworth lunchtime on Good Friday and arrived at Uxbridge early evening after a very lesurly cruise inc a wait at a water point of one hour but as it was next to a lock(coppermill) it gave me the opportunity to talk to so many of the people passing through taking advantage of the long w`end mostly but a couple were like me liveaboards. It was such a nice sunny afternoon i actually took off my jumper and had a very nice half hour on the front deck eating lunch.
Spent Saturday topping up the batteries and checking oil levels and made a roof rack to go on the roof to hold my bags of coal and logs and also the bike, it does make the top more tidy. Also on sat. i walked into Uxbridge town and bought myself a new duvet then popped into Uxbridge Boat centre to get a new fuel filter but was out of luck. Anyway while looking around this truly remarkable chandlery --how they fit so much into a small space beats me-- i spotted some paint that gave me the idea to personalise my floating home, more on this when i get around to doing it.
Caste off sunday afternoon shared my second lock and arrived at Bulls Bridge the junction where the paddington arm branches off. Must remember to turn sharpe left under that white arched bridge t`morrow. Oh and the TV reception here is CRYSTAL clear even channel 5.

HELLO RICKMANSWORTH

The view in the picture is Batchworth Lock Rickmansworth. The grand union is via the right hand lock, and to the left just under the footbridge is a set of padlocked lock gates beyond which flows the River Chess. The moorings are very good here with plenty of newly installed rings and a decent towpath surface. Just 50 yds beyond the moorings lies the aquadrome consisting of to large lakes that is in the process of a very big facelift. A quick look through the gate off the towpath shows lots of tree cutting and a bridge under construction, will walk around tomorrow.
Just before mooring i used the BW services emptying my toilet cassettes and clearing the front deck of my rubbish. Someone had decided to bin a folding bike-gold dust to a boater- so out it came and half hour of TLC the tyres inflated and gear change adjusted, a bit of oil here and there and i now have a 3 speed folding bike. Now as i already have one on board it will have to be found a new home!!
Sitting looking at the Nicholsons map i think i will have my work cut out to stick to my plan as previously mentioned, the problem being i forgot all about the easter break (thats what it`s like this life -no concept of time) so this means after visiting ex workmates i will not be turning back till wednesday after easter. Just have to see how it goes.
Feeling shattered after not moving so long and then 4 locks so early to bed and up early ish ish to walk round the lake. Must keep exercising must keep as fit as i am after 20 yrs of jumping in and out of a van 60-70 times a day. To think i could still be doing it now if i didn`t make this "change your life Les its the only one you get" decision. Early days yet but i am convinced it was a good move.

PICK YOURSELF UP DUST YOURSELF DOWN & START ALL---------------------

Well it`s been a while since the last blog and since arriving at croxley near Watford the boat has not moved an inch. There have been several reasons for a continuose cruiser not to cruise, the main one being that Sue and i have parted company. Several times i intended to move on, not to far as i helped my son move, but just could not find the motivation. Anyway today i decided was the day and a move on to Rickmansworth was planned but the heavens opened and i do not do rain cruising. Tomorrow will do, after all this is a lifetime cruise not a 2 week holiday.
Plan is to go down to Wembley area and visit some workmates and show them the boat then turn back heading towards Gayton and meet up with friends. This might mean some long cruising days being single handed but i am now in the frame of mind to get on with life.
While i have been here have had a good walk around the nearby cassiobury park that skirts the canal and was amazed to see a number of pathways have been created through the woods at the edge of the park. I say amazed because i lived in watford some 25 years ago and it certainly was not so pleasent to walk along the canal and the gade with new footbridges created. Well done Watford council. If you come this way stop off between cassio bridge lock 78 and bridge 168. Walk over 168 follow 1st path on left and if you see the fox i have bumped into twice mid-afternoon just say sorry LES sent us.
Right now i have started blogging again will try to keep upto date.