| This Month's Totals and Average | |||
| 47.30 miles | 0 locks | 19.58 hrs | 2.42 lmph |
A cloudy start (although the cloud was thin and high) cleared quickly to a sunny day. Let go around 09:45 and continued southwards intending to go either out onto the Coventry Canal at Marsden or stop short at Burton Hastings. We left Sutton Cheney and passed Dadlington and Stoke Golding. Approaching Hinckley, we had to slow up for a day-boat, and another boat managed to slip out in front. The three of us were brought to a near stop at the entrance to Trinity Marina with a hireboat coming the other way. The day-boat pulled in and let the hireboat and the other boat pass, then allowed us to pass him and the hireboat. By this time, it was nearing lunchtime. Decisions! Did we continue and have a late lunch, did we have lunch on the move, or did we have a short stop for lunch then continue? The Admiral decided we should just stop (and stay there). We moored at Nutts Bridge 16 and had a leisuely lunch. Adjusted plans for tomorrow and had a quiet afternoon.
Memo to self: The end of the mooring closest to the bridge does not have satTV due to the tree! (it does have terrestrial)
| 5.60 miles | 0 locks | 2.50 hrs | 2.24 lmph |
 pizza.soda.beams |
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FINALLY! Out for the summer! Up fairly promptly and topped up water and cleared the loo. Prepped for departure and were off the berth for 09:40. Noted the red kite soaring above the marina. Turned southwards (right) from the marina and headed down the weel-kent route past Shenton and the Battlefield moorings to Sutton Cheney visitor pontoon - an easy start for the summer trip.
On arrival, I had time to write up the diary and process the stats before lunch. We were hailed by Derek & Ann aboard "Ursinity" as they passed heading north. A quiet afternoon reading/puzzles, but no sign of the water vole sighted last time. After a bright start to the day, the evening turned cloudy.
| 3.68 miles | 0 locks | 1.63 hrs | 2.25 lmph |
| camcorder.astounded.mankind |
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Having finally obtained our meds, we had final shopping to do before departure. Drove to ASDA to correct one of the meds, then to Ventura for Sainsbury's (including fuel for my car), returning via the Four Shires farm shop for perishables (having lunch there at their café). On return, we drove round to the office to hand in car keys, dump rubbish, and get a new bottle of gas. I then cleared into my car the final stuff we were not taking, and parked up for the summer. I met Steve & Gez in the carpark - they have just bought a boat and were looking for advise on a few things, so got a tour of "Paws". Quiet evening ready for the 'off' tomorrow. Mostly sunny, with the occasional shower.
The heavy showers continued overnight and into the day. Pat woke with one of her vertigo attacks but was up to getting up mid-morning. Fhi called with an update about the situation with her Roman Catholic Church paperwork (no access to Protestant churches in rural Italy). Nothing heard from ASDA by after lunch so drove to Hinckley in the hopes of collecting - all ready. Took a walk around the charity shops in the hope of getting a suit-jacket for October - no luck. Quiet remainder to the afternoon.
Showers, becoming more prolonged, throughout the day, although the wind had eased. ASDA had said they would give us a ring when the meds arrived, but nothing was heard up to closing time. Generally pottered the whole day.
More heavy rain overnight had once again cleared by morning. We drove into Hinckley for shopping before returning for lunch. After lunch Pat pottered whilst I processed around 30 books for e-reader at a bargain price of around 70p each. The rain was on/off for most of the day, still on at bedtime, with a fairly brisk wind.
The rain arrived in the early hours of the morning, but had again cleared by breakfast, giving another morning similar to yesterday. After a lazy start, we drove into town for the farmers' market in the square - purchased a few items which sounded interesting. The wind had risen to strong, and we tucked in for a quiet afternoon.
Very heavy rain overnight but it had cleared by breakfast. With the prescriptions expected at the post office by lunch time, we made ready to go straight after breakfast. Reversed out of the extension and through the stop-gate, winded at the official head-of-navigation and returned southwards on a dull, damp and breezy morning. Returned southwards past Gopsall, Shackerstone, Congerstone and Carlton, noting the red kite still in the area. Arrived back at base just before 13:00. The sun had broken through and the breeze eased.
Late lunch, then out by car to the post office at Barwell to collect our scripts and take them to ASDA for processing. Unfortunately, one item was out of stock and, due to the Bank Holiday, would not be available until possibly Tuesday. Collected a couple of items at Morrison's before returning to "Paws".
The wait for the meds will probably mean that we will be unable to get to Foxton without a rush - Plan B is to forego the festival and probably go to Stoke Bruerne first (we had been intending to go there after the festival). We may then go up to Foxton after the festival weekend and have a quiet (private) run down the locks and into town, with Garth whom we had intended should join us for the Festival Cavalcade. We'll see when the meds arrive and have a discussion with Garth, then decide a course of action.
It had clouded over again by bedtime and was threatening rain.
| 8.02 miles | 0 locks | 3.13 hrs | 2.56 lmph |
| custom.footpath.walks |
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Another quiet night, with only the birdsong at sunrise to break the silence. Had a catch-up call with Fhi during the morning. Kenney contacted to say our prescriptions were in the post. After lunch, took another walk down to the shop for ice cream. Had a long chat with one of the 'resident' boater staff there before returning to "Paws" for dinner. Cloud started to build during the evening.
After a very quiet night (and a lie-in), we woke to a dull day. Pat spent the morning on food prep for dinner (I generally pottered and kept out of the way!). After lunch, and clearing up, we took a walk down to the shop for ice cream. Unfortunately, those who run it were at an ACA meeting so the shop was closed. Had a long chat with a couple of a moored boat, before returning to "Paws" for dinner and another quiet night. The sun finally got through late afternoon giving a lovely evening.
Received phonecall from son that he was late in handing in our prescriptions at the surgery. They will not arrive with us until Saturday (or maybe even Tuesday next week due Bank Holiday here). Collection of mail and access to a pharmacy could be a problem if we start heading for Harborough so we have elected to stay in the base area until they have been processed. Decided on another run northwards until more information received.
Pat topped up the water and cleared a few bits away, while I prepped the remainder of the boat. Had lunch before departing.
Set off at 12:45, turning left again and heading past Carlton, Congerstone, Shackerstone and Gopsall. Saw a red kite circling high above Congerstone, and several groups of swallows along the route - nice to see our summer visitors back again. Noted that the water level was 2"-3" down on its normal level - doesn't bode well for later in the season. Arrived at the ACA shop and got assistance to go through the stop-gate - the team said they want more boats to go through into the extension to help keep the weed at bay. We noticed that it had been growing prolifically since we were up at the beginning of the month. Moored at Bridge 62 (where we were last time) - nobody else up that end, although the CRT visitor moorings outside the stop-gate were full and the ACA visitor moorings were busy. Quiet end to the day.
| 8.02 miles | 0 locks | 3.00 hrs | 2.67 lmph |
| survived.providing.blinks |
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Drove round to the three supermarkets in Hinckley for departure stores, two of them not having items wanted. After lunch, I then had a trip to Tamworth for the remaining items. The sunny weather continues, with more closures announced due to lack of water. The Harborough Festival is currently still on (having received the latest bulletin and mooring arrangements).
Another windy day on Thursday, and dull as well (therefore cooler). Pat wanted some more 'fresh' produce so we drove over to Seckington to the farm-shop again, then down to Upton to the Sparkenhoe Cheese farm - had lunch at their café while there. Returned to "Paws" for a quiet afternoon. An email from the Moira Festival volunteer co-ordinator arrived which showed that we had not been allocated a job at any time over the weekend, so we will go, and pay to support it (probably Saturday), then leave once we're finished (leaving Sunday for church again). Interest late afternoon consisted of the police helicopter circling the marina and new estates area, with two cars under lights going past - they were here for about 30 mins but we couldn't see anything else.
A quiet day on Friday, doing not a lot. Sunny for most of the day. Took a quick drive out for fuel for my car to cover the weekend's driving (Moira Festival, and church).
On Saturday, Drove up to the Moira Furnace Museum & Park to support the Moira Canal Festival. We had volunteered to assist, but our names never reached the rota. Had a great day out - most of the usual stalls and attractions (although there seemed to be slightly fewer), with special guests the "D-Day Darlings" returning to celebrate VE Day. The planned flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight had to be cancelled due to technical difficulties. Lunch in the "Hub" café before returning to "Paws" mid-afternoon.
With the unexpected 'free' day, we drove to Atherstone for the service on Sunday (Communion with Pam). Returned to "Paws" for lunch. Walked round to the office in the afternoon for a top-up on the electricity meter, and cleared the loo.
A dull start to the week. Pat decided over breakfast that the planned shopping trip for today would be postponed till tomorrow - she would have a day on 'housework' today, shopping tomorrow, then depart Wednesday.
The beautiful weather continues on Saturday, although there are already threats of closures due to lack of water. Took a drive to the Four Shires Farm Shop for fresh produce, then had a quiet afternoon aboard.
A heavy downpour of rain overnight into Sunday will only have made a small dent in the water problem. Drove to Alrewas for the service, then joined Sarah for a protracted lunch and catch-up at The Tame Otter in Hopwas - excellent meal and great company. Finally got back to "Paws" for a very light tea around 17:30. Had a phone catch-up with Ann and made a tentative agreement for her to visit on Wednesday.
More heavy rain battering on the roof overnight into Monday. Pat woke not feeling great, so I got sent out for some emergency stores and a couple of personal items. Pat up by the time I got back, and a quiet afternoon ensued.
A drive to Tamworth was Tuesday morning's job - Morrison's to get rid of "Podback" bags and major stores, then Sainsbury's for fuel for Pat's car (with voucher). Back to "Paws" for lunch. In the afternoon, Pat wanted a drive to Lakeland and the garden centre - coffee and nice walk round. Ann confirmed coming tomorrow.
Wednesday was another sunny day, but the wind was still there. Ann arrived late-morning and stayed until nearly dinnertime. Unfortunately, the wind prevented a day-trip out, but we had a great afternoon chatting and catching-up.
A very quiet night led to a lovely sunny morning. Generally took our time getting going, but finally on the way at 10:20, returning northward. Found the dredging team still between bridges 40 and 41, and looking as though they were knocking off for the weekend. Arrived back at base at 12:40 for lunch.
After lunch, cleared away from the trip and emptied the loo cassette. A quiet afternoon, then out to join other moorers for a VE80 celeration barbeque with live music from the era.
| 5.63 miles | 0 locks | 2.42 hrs | 2.33 lmph |
| custom.footpath.walks |
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A dull and cloudy day with a light (but cold) breeze. No sign of our vole this morning. Time up again on our mooring so we got on the move after breakfast, continuing south via Dadlington and Stoke Golding to the winding hole at Basin Bridge 22, where we turned round and returned north to Stoke Golding for the night, stopping at the visitor moorings at the north side of the town.
Sat up late watching the VE Day 80th celebration on TV - disappointede that the church at Stoke Golding (who have a good set of bell ringers) didn't ring the national celebration.
| 4.65 miles | 0 locks | 2.08 hrs | 2.23 lmph |
| games.amplified.excellent |
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Long lie this morning, but when we did finally emerge, the water vole was back. Had a quiet morning watching the vole, then went out for lunch at the Sutton Wharf Café . Had a chat with the CRT Volunteer manning a "Friends" stand on the way out. On the way back, another couple was chatting so we offered a look round "Paws". Plans made for tomorrow. A hot sunny day, although it clouded over late afternoon.
The wind had died by morning so we decided to go out for another short break. After breakfast we cleared the rubbish and loo, then drove into Hinckley again for the fresh provisions to last to the weekend. A quick lunch once we got back, then prepped for departure. I moved "Paws" to the services berth for fuel.
We set off, southwards this time, meeting the dredging team between bridges 41 and 40. Tailed the pusher-tug to bridge 38 where they were dumping the spoil, then got up to normal speed down past Shenton to Sutton Cheney. There was actually space on the pontoon so got moored up. Shortly afterwards, the two other boats there moved off, leaving us on our own. Although we had a generally quiet remainder to the evening, we did have a bit of excitement - we spent nearly 0 mins watching a water vole on the reeds along the towpath opposite (tried to get a photo but not possible.
| 3.68 miles | 0 locks | 1.78 hrs | 2.06 lmph |
| triangle.query.crew |
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A very windy night led to a sunny but cold and windy morning. Pat decided to do routine chores in the morning, and sent me out shopping into Hinckley centre. On return, we had lunch while watching the BBC coverage of the VE80 parade. Pat spent the afternoon putting the shopping away.
Drive to Alrewas again for the morning service - we were both doing readings today (they say they like to make use of us while we're there ).
After lunch, I went to Hinckley for a parcel, then we all had another quiet afternoon.
Rain showers arrived after dinnertime, and the wind started picking up.
Woke to a cooler day, with more wind. Took our time getting going, then reversed back from the bridge to the stop-gate. Assistance was again provided by one of the workparty at the shop in swinging the gate, then I reversed to the winding hole and turned "Paws". Returned south to base, through the well-known surroundings, getting back for a late lunch just before 13:30.
Once lunch was over and we had cleared away from the trip, we had a quiet afternoon.
| 8.02 miles | 0 locks | 3.03 hrs | 2.64 lmph |
| custom.footpath.walks |
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The rain had cleared by morning, although it was still cloudy. Cleared the partially blocked bathroom basin outlet pipe. Decided I couldn't be bothered doing any more jobs so did some research on cordless power-washers before having a quiet remainder to the day. The cloud lifted by lunch and it was a fresh sunny afternoon.
Pat had a very long lie-in (until 09:15!), then we both decided it was too hot to start washing down the outside of the boat, so had a very lazy day on puzzles and books, and listening to the almost non-stop twitter of the birds. The clouds rapidly built during the evening, and the rain started just before bedtime (with the occasional rumble of thunder).
