Yet another bus ride.

Today Dot but no Derek joined us on our bus ride to the big Tesco and boy is it big. I was very good just bought what was on the list, then we had time for a coffee before catching the bus back. I think we were off the boats for all of 2 hours. In all the times we have stopped at Hawkesbury we have never caught the bus anywhere but it is so handy. If you cross the footbridge past the rubbish etc the bus stop is opposite the footpath. The number 60 goes to Coventry the 778 to the hospital goes into the big Tesco and the 778 to Nuneaton goes to well Nuneaton. The time table is on the bus stop. Wont tell you here the times as they are bound to change them. More torrential rain last night at least now were are floating again have been sat on the bottom for a few days.

Thank you anonymous for you comment but the term contact sport in narrowboating doesnt really mean the same as in a game of rugby does it. The contact side surely means the self inflicted minor damage done to boats during entry and exit to locks and whilst mooring, this does not give the given right to other boaters to accidently or otherwise smack into another boat because of their attitude or their lack of experience. After all you could say the same thing about driving a car on the road, the difference being this is policed whereas on the canals it is not. May be it is about time that Hirefleets took more responsibilty for irresponsible clients. Having said that to date we have not reported any incidents to hire companies. Without mentioning any names last week 2 hire boats travelling together came through the locks at Hillmorton leaving every gate open down the flight. When a fellow boater caught up with them to get the names of the boats he was reluctant to approach them as they were all ratarsed and shouldnt have been in control of 20 ton of boat. The guy was going to inform the hire fleet. We passed the said boats on their way back and they were still drunk and the top of the boat was covered in beer cans. Dont these people realise what the consequenses would be if a life was lost. There are of course a minority of private boaters who have no boating etiquette and show no regard to other canal users although we dont live in a perfect world one has a duty of care to fellow man END OF RANT.

Hawkesbury

Arrived here yesterday at the same time as Dot and Derek nb gypsy Rover. We were saddened to hear that they are selling the boat and returning to New Zealand. Good news is it wont be until the boat is sold.
Weather here is awful so we have only venturd out to walk the dogs. Paul had a run in with the end of the bed when he smashed his knee against the wood work which then felt the full force of his anger with a hefty kick from his right foot. I was a bit put out as the offending bit of wood is the headboard of MY bed and it isnt time to demolish it just yet. Luckily the glue and nails held out so the only damage was to Pauls knee. I did offer him frozen peas for the swelling but he chose to be a martyr and carried on (moaning every 5 minutes) must stress that this is an old war wound sustained when his 500cc Goldstar crashed into a "No Waiting" sign back in 1967, his girlfriend of the moment was pillion, she suffered 2 broken ribs and laddered her stockings, needless to say she split up with him not long after. If the weather brightens up we will move off tomorrow, can't believe how full the moorings are here.

Wet!!!!!!!!!!

There I was yesterday, meat marinating nicely BBQ at the ready spuds in the oven when we had a very loud thunderstorm with lots of rain so that put paid to that idea. Sorry everyone I must confess I had my shorts on!!!

This morning it has been considerably cooler with frequent heavy showers. Plenty of traffic passing though with I am pleased to say no contact. Around 3pm we could hear the “donk” of a Bolinder in the distance, then Kangaroo passed us, these old work boats seem so large when you are sat in the confines of a narrowboat, 5 minutes later Jaguar passed towing Australia, the helmsman of Jaguar looked as if he had been down a coal mine his face was covered in soot, both he and the female steerer of the butty  were getting very wet in yet another short sharp shower. We are here on our own and all being well we will move on tomorrow up to Hawkesbury and onto the Coventry. 

Why us!!!!!

 

WE had been here just a couple of hours, Paul had got his head down for a few hours kip I was on the tow path reading my book when all of a sudden CRASH The Lime Farm day boat had crashed into us now why had this happened I haven't a clue all I do know is Paul leapt out of bed at a speed I have never seen before. The two old guys were very apologetic but yet again the poor paint work has suffered and Saffie was a jibbering wreck in the cratch. Paul was spitting feathers and the language was unprintable.

We settled down again having a nice chat with a boater who had moored up behind us, after a while we retired to our relevant bits of tow path for a well earned drink. In the distance a Roses hire boat was coming along a bit on the fast side with a very attractive bikini clad young lady on the helm. All of a sudden she lost it big time she was screaming, Paul was shouting and then the crash happened more paint off, more apologises and more swearing. Saffie was yet again in the cratch thinking “what the hell is going on here”. She hasn't got on the boat since and as I write this she is on the tow path on her own even her tea hasn't tempted her on board.

Ever since, when we see a hire boat coming Paul is like a cat on a tin roof until they have gone past safely. What will the rest of the weekend bring I ask myself.

Peaceful but not quiet!

This is how peaceful it was travelling along this morning, although just as we got through the Newbold Tunnel we met 10 boats in a line heading towards us, one of whom was nb Muchgigglin who we keep passing in various places. When we see this boat we smile to ourselves as the lady is always reclining in her chair while hubby sits at the wheel in the centre of the boatThis is the cutting where the bank is unstable its a bit scary as you wonder what would happen if the bank gave way.

Here is our mooring for the night and maybe the weekend only problem is the train line is directly opposite and is a bit noisy but we can live with that and the golf course is just across the way.

It certainly has been warm today now do I tempt fate and get my shorts out, they are in the cupboard ready for an airing but the weather forecast is a chance of showers so perhaps I had better leave them in the cupboard.

There’s always one!

Today we left our mooring at Hillmorton with a clear canal around us, we needed to go and turn round, but before doing that we had to steer into the trees opposite to retrieve Pauls fishing line and weight that had ended up in the trees last night (just don't go there). Just as we were pulling away a boat was coming round the corner at a rate of ,Paul  put his hand up to slow him down as we were straddled across the canal, this made no difference to the other boat as he just kept coming at the same speed attempting to barge his way through alongside us on the inside bearing in mind there wasn't really room for another boat Paul quickly used the bow thruster to put a bit more distance between us and the dip stick and he had the CHEEK to turn round and say “hey you have just pushed me into the bank” well you plank if you had waited a few more minutes there would have been plenty of room for you to pass. He went off at a rate of knots probably thinking we were going up the locks and he wanted to be first. When we got to the winding hole below the locks  the dip stick was moored up waiting to go up. Paul shouted over and apologised for pushing him into the bank to which he replied “you should have thought of that earlier” and our reply was “if you had slowed down we wouldn't be having this conversation “ he mumbled “ you people are all the same “ then proceed to take a photo of the boat. This guys attitude had really pee’d Paul off so while winding we used a bit more throttle than usual to create a bit more wash  just to annoy him ( oh we are so childish). I will also add that the guy was older than us, yes that old, so should have had more sense.

At least the rest of the journey passed without any more mishaps and yet again we are at Rugby with a full cupboard and water tank. The sun is shining and we are off on a new adventure.

Back on board

Yesterday I returned to the boat after spending a very nice weekend in Kent. I was able to offer my services baby sitting while Jess and Jon went out, my payment was to be taken to the cinema to see Sex in the City2 and then had a very nice Chinese. I haven't been to the cinema for ages, and I have never watched Sex in the City on the tele but my Jess is totally addicted to the programme and while she was in New York recently went to see where “Carries apartment” was. (is that sad?). Any way I enjoyed the film and spent a very enjoyable evening with Jess.

Once back on board I caught up with all Pauls exciting news catching up with what he had done with his days while I had been away and it would appear that he has done absolutely nothing, now am I surprised, of course not but then again if he is to do things he needs me there to moan at, so he was at a loose end. Only highlight if you can call it that, was on Sunday when he was watching the Grand Prix, he saw a couple of young girls of about 10 years old by the boat and didn't think anything of it, then he saw one of them had the broom off of the roof and the other had one of the directors chairs also off of the roof, so he ran up the back of the boat to shout at them and retrieve our stuff. Needless to say being girls they ran screaming down the tow path after they had thrown the bits in the canal, a passing boat picked up the broom and Paul had to get the boat hook to get the chair. He did walk up to Badsey’s to see if they were up there but of course they weren't. When Paul mentioned this little episode to Dave he said they haven't had any problems like this at Hillmorton for years so lets hope it was a one off.

Looks like we will be on the move soon, have sorted out our accommodation for when the boat goes in, we will be in Rugby which will be handy for shops, the station and Paul getting to Hillmorton (by bike which we have to buy as we sold ours!!!). Just want a change of scenery now.