Cropredy

Well, what has happened to the weather? definitely a nip in the air today in fact I was blooming freezing on the back of the boat this morning. We left Phil and Sylvia around 8.30 so we could get to Morrisons early. I did a shop then Paul nipped over to get beers and tobacco. While Paul was gone Phil and Sylvia went past heading for the sanitary station which was a bit of a bummer as we needed to be there as well. Paul came back and once at the sanitary point we breasted up with our new found friends and did the necessary. By this time there was a queue for the lock going our way. It didn't take too long for us to get up the lock and through the lift bridge. We needed to stop at Sovereign Wharf for diesel and gas but just as we approached it the boat in front pulled in for fuel so we had to tie up tow path side and wait. We finally got our fuel and gas and managed to go on our way. We  got to Cropredy at 2.30 passing the new garden centre going up.

Wont look to bad when its finished.

Seems the workers are living in tents.

First job on mooring up was to light the fire, we are now settled for the night and may go to the pub for a bite to eat as a treat.

Yesterday as we still had the sun shine Paul set to dismantling the cargo net we made in 2008 which went round the back of the boat to keep the dogs in. Now they are old canal dogs we don't need the net so Paul is going to use the rope to cover a tyre which is on the nose of the boat, only problem is the net has 37 splices on each side and 4 knots across 37 times (148 knots)  and all this lot has to be un done.

 

The whipping was cut with the faithful Bowie knife and then we managed to unknot 4 rows, that is all we could manage before the fingers got a bit worn. Rope is now in the front locker ready for the next time when a few more rows will be attempted.

Saffie was given a bath much to her disgust she didn't take to kindly to having buckets of water thrown over her on the tow path. At least she smells a bit sweeter and her coat is shiny again.