| This Month's Totals and Average | |||
| 37.19 miles | 0 locks | 17.03 hrs | 2.18 lmph |
Shopping in the morning, and pottering again in the afternoon.
Church as usual in the morning, then a quiet afternoon. Kenney records a time of 1 hr 51 mins for the local park ½-marathon - again well chuffed!
Generally pottered, dealing with things needing my input after being away. Aria records joint 6th at her 1st gymnastics "big girls" competition - well proud!
Up early for early getaway. Dry start to the day, fortunately. Breakfast then remaining jobs done, and car packed. Finally away at 07:30, later than hoped, and headed north. Traffic was busy but free-flowing. Usual stops for loo, fuel, and leg-stretch, and lunch at Burton-in-Kendal. A couple of short heavy rain showers, but nothing to cause problems. Reaching Edinburgh, the queues started (probably the start of 'rush hour', then delays as I got into Fife with roadworks. Got to the house just on 16:00. Bags emptied, then dinner and a quiet evening.
Rain set in overnight, rising to a large thunderstorm with lightning and torrential rain just before breakfast. With occasional fine spells in the morning, the day improved during the afternoon.
Stripped and remade my bed, then got stuck into packing for tomorrow morning. Did a quick drive out for a couple of things Pat had asked to be brought north (failed miserably), and managed to get most of the car-loading done.
The day ended as it started, with another large thunderstorm as I was going to bed.
Overnight rain cleared slowly during the morning to a sunny afternoon. Fhi flew out from Nottingham at 08:00 getting to her house by 14:30. Stripped Fhi's bed, and spent the morning resetting things to "my" normal. In the afternoon, I took "Paws" across to the service berth for fuel to last over the winter, then topped up the water and did some clearing ready for going to the house.
Last day of Fhi's holiday, and last day of cruising for this year. A better day than was forcast although the wind was stronger than expected. Up promptly and on the move by 09:00. Moved to the winding hole and turned "Paws", then returned southwards towards the marina. Arrived back just before midday and were granted a lull in the wind to get alongside our berth. Moored up and had lunch.
After lunch, cleared the loo while Fhi completed her packing. Drove Fhi to Tamworth station for her train at 15:00. She got into her hotel in Nottingham around 17:00.
I returned to "Paws", then went shopping for something for dinner. Had a quiet evening with the TV.
| 6.85 miles | 0 locks | 2.97 hrs | 2.31 lmph |
 custom.footpath.walks |
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Another sunny day. Up promptly and set off for our final trip out this year. Headed north again past Calton, Congerstone and Shackerstone to the head of navigation at Snarestone, mooring this time on the visitor section before the stop-gate. Wind picking up over lunch (hope it's down again (as per forecast) by tomorrow morning). Quiet afternoon, with Fhi starting her packing.
| 6.85 miles | 0 locks | 2.97 hrs | 2.31 lmph |
| downs.waxing.embers |
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A sunny start to the day. Fhi worked on more baking in the morning. Drove out to Amington to visit Sarah in the afternoon - great to catch up again. Back to "Paws" for a late dinner and an evening of TV. It remained sunny for the whole day.
Up early (07:00) for a full day. Fhi had decided that we could get back to base quickly, then head for coffee and shopping in Hinckley before lunch, leaving the afternoon for baking. Although we needed a good push to get us off, we were on the move by 08:15, returning southwards past Calton, arriving at the marina at 09:30. Immediately headed off in the car to Hinckley where we got a last coffee together at Costa then got supplies to last us over until Fhi goes back to Italy. Back aboard for lunch.
Topped up the water, removed the rubbish and cleared the loo. Fhi then got stuck into a pile of baking - some for us, the rest to take to Sarah when we visit tomorrow. I drove Fhi up to the Chapel again for Mass, then got dinner ready while she walked back down. A quiet evening with the TV.
| 2.41 miles | 0 locks | 1.30 hrs | 1.85 lmph |
| custom.footpath.walks |
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Took our time getting up, then, after breakfast, Fhi decided she wanted to move again. A lovely sunny morning. Prepared, and got under way just before 10:00, returning southwards through the tunnel to the village then on, past Gopsal Wharf to Congerstone where she suggested we stop for the night (between Bridges 50 and 49). The cloud gathered again during the afternoon. Again we watched bats before heading to bed.
| 5.60 miles | 0 locks | 2.47 hrs | 2.27 lmph |
| yawned.driveways.successor |
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More heavy rain overnight, and a forecast for rain (on and off) for most of the day, so no plans for movement. Fhi decided to do some baking so got started to that mid-morning, producing a chocolate brownie cake by lunchtime. The rain arrived at lunchtime, along with attendant thunder. Quiet afternoon with books and crochet, accompanied by rain showers. A final fling on the rain (with attendant lightning) just before dinner. Noted bats flitting round the boat as we prepared for bed.
With only a short day planned, we had a brief lie-in before making ready on a lovely sunny morning. On the move by 09:30, continuing northwards towards the head of navigation. Sailed round the long curve which borders the village of Shackerstone, and on through the wooded avenue, past Gopsal Wharf, and on to Snarestone. Passed through the tunnel to the "official" head of navigation with its services, winding hole and ACA Wharf and tourist information.
Serviced "Paws" (loo and rubbish), then had a look round the shop, Fhi buying some second-hand books. Fhi then worked the stop-gate, allowing me to take "Paws" onto ACA waters. With Fhi back aboard after closing the gate, we continued to the head of navigation and moored next to Bridge 62 for lunch. Spent the afternoon on personal hobbies.
Had a catch-up with Mum on the phone, we were advised that the work upgrading our Sky system (free of charge) had been satisfactorily completed. Plans updated and confirmed.
| 4.71 miles | 0 locks | 1.95 hrs | 2.42 lmph |
| dinosaur.fortress.snuck |
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Very heavy rain overnight, heard it bouncing off the roof! Dull start to the day. Decided to return north and go to the head of navigation for a couple of days. Topped up the water over breakfast. On the move once breakfasted, and went as far as the winding hole outside the café to turn. Returned northwards past Shenton and Bosworth - very quiet today. The sun poked it's head out for a few short periods. Continued northwards through increasing traffic, past Carlton and Congerstone, arriving at Shackerstone at lunchtime so moored for a break.
Decided that we couldn't be bothered going any further today so stayed put for the afternoon. Washing machine called into action. A quiet end to the day, with no satTV signal and poor phone.
| 7.00 miles | 0 locks | 3.42 hrs | 2.05 lmph |
| stuffy.unhappily.putts |
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Decision made to give it a go outside and see how bad the water levels are. Up promptly and ready to leave by 09:00. Off the berth and headed out, turning right for Sutton Cheney. The level was obviously low, but not impossible, with the suspicion that it may even have come up a couple of inches over the last few days. Slowly wended our way south past Shenton to Sutton Cheney, stopping at the 1-day visitor mooring at the wharf (the pontoon being full).
Gave a very nice couple a tour of "Paws", before walking over to the Wharf Café for lunch. Quiet afternoon with diary, book and crochet. A generally cloudy day, with some bright spells and sun.
| 3.68 miles | 0 locks | 2.08 hrs | 1.77 lmph |
| bowls.takeovers.crown |
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Drive to Four Shires Farm Shop for fresh fruit/veg in the morning, then another drive to Hinckley for items we thought the farm shop would have but didn't. Plans laid for next few days.
Final prep for Fhi in the morning, then drive down to Atherstone to meet her. Lunch at Costa, then last-minute shopping for stuff she needs to see before buying (special dietary requirements). Once finished, we got her aboard and settling in, followed by me running her up to the local Chapel for Saturday Mass. Dinner and a quiet evening.
Shopping in the morning, storing up for Fhi coming. In the afternoon, continued with the pressure-washing - completed from the bow to the engine-room frame, across as far as I could reach (including the solar panels and satTV antenna). That leaves a strip all along the offside, and the whole of the section aft of the engine-room frame. The wind started to pick up during the evening, and there is a suggestion of rain overnight.
Stripped the double bed, which I realised hadn't been changed since Fhi was here last summer (bits & pieces had been thrown on top after she left and never cleared!). Whole lot put through the washer. Engine run up for ½-hour - all OK and ready for next week. Central heating fired up and tested - all OK (I know its hot, but it needs the occasional run). Cratch washed down with the pressure-washer, and gear re-stowed (tidily).
Started clearing out the "rubbish" in the cratch - sorted into stuff to keep and stuff to dump. The stuff to keep was put away properly, the stuff to dump was sorted into recyclable or not - the recyclable was taken to the bins at the office along with other similar. After lunch, I took a drive to Snarestone to get a lie of the land (or water) for ease of coming north while Fhi is down here - the general feeling is that it is navigable, so hopefully we'll get there. There is also a general skip so got rid of the other rubbish.
Another hot day, with even less of a breeze.
Generally spent the day pottering, getting routine chores done - loo emptied, water topped up, rubbish dumped etc. Quick trip out for perishables. Another hot day, with hotter forecast over the weekend.
Had a quiet day with my book today (back to the cleaning tomorrow). Pat rang to say she now has a hospital appointment on 7th Sept and could I be home for it. Confirmed I would close up "Paws" and travel north again once Fhi was away back to Italy.
Continuing the "spring clean" (the large cleaning normally done around April, but delayed at the time by repair works and other events, then for a protracted period by medical issues). Having finally got back aboard, it is a top priority. All inside decks given a double cleaning (the first to loosen dirt, the second to lift the remainder) - quite a Tetris operation shifting furniture and lifting other items off the deck. Another trip out (while the deck was drying) to get more floor cleaner!
The heatwave continues. Over the course of the day - vacuumed the whole boat top to bottom inside, washed all the porthole glasses inside and outside except for the offside front, and took a trip to the Four Shires Farm Shop.
Usual first day back, spent the morning shopping for supplies, then the afternoon clearing and tidying. After rumours yesterday, I checked with the office that they did not intend to put in their stop-planks across the entrance - the rumours appear unfounded.
Up early for the drive south. On the road by 07:00, taking my usual route - via Straiton (Edinburgh) for fuel, then across the A702 to Abington and south on the M74/M6, fuelling again at Stoke before A50/M1/A42. Quite a pleasant journey, with no holdups for traffic or roadworks, except the usual Edinburgh Bypass and between the turnoffs for Liverpool and Manchester. The dull start cleared around Manchester to a sunny afternoon.
Arrived at "Paws" just before 15:00, reinstated services and checked the boat over, topping up the water. Unpacked the car and had a chat with Nick ("Mystic Rhythm"). Set about getting dinner then a quiet, early night
The new garage door was fitted at the house, apparently works well.
I went on a 'mini-pilgrimage' on the 4th - a short guided walk from Dalgety Bay Church (meet over coffee), via the ruined medieval church of St Bridget (dating back to at least 1178), where we celebrated Communion, to St Fillan's Church Aberdour - parts of which date to 1123 - (for soup lunch). Thoroughly enjoyed the walk and fellowship, but there wasn't as much information on the buildings or the Saints as I would have expected.
Fhi arrived on the 4th for her holiday over here. She will stay at the house for 10 days then come south to join me.
