Take it easy day

This is the view from the back of the boat, not a railway line in site and it is sooooooo peaceful.

Last night we walked to the village of Slapton to the pub, the board on the bridge said it was 800yards well we would say it was a trifle longer than that but well worth a visit. The pub is called The Carpenters Arms a 16th century thatched building. As soon as walked in the regulars were chatting to us, we ordered our food had the choice of either eating in the restaurant or the bar, we chose the bar as we had already settled ourselves near the open fire. When the food turned up it was absolutely lovely, portions were large and the food was freshly cooked. I had roasted salmon on stir fried vegetables and Paul had a steak with all the trimmings. The pub was filling up in both bar and restaurant when we left. It was a good job we had taken a torch with us as some of the walk is on the road which is unlit, it only took us a good 10 minutes to walk it.
Today I managed to get the curtains washed and they are back up smelling a darn sight sweeter,
mind you with the fire it wont take long until they hustle a bit again.
Paul has had a R & R day spending most of it fishing trying for that elusive fish which was always one step ahead of him by hiding somewhere he couldn't cast out too. A crayfish latched onto his bait but decided to let go as he reeled in.
The guy from hotel boat Tragara walked past this morning, he had driven here left his car near by and was walking back to Marsworth to get the boat. Had a thought that he has probably got stuck at the swing bridge being single handed, he would have got here by now otherwise.
Found a marker and Braunston is only 50miles from here.

Slapton

Managed 9 locks today before mooring up. We caught up with a single hander on nb Wirrall Wanderer at the swing bridge just past Grebe Canal Cruisers. He had been waiting for someone to come along to help him as it is a bit difficult to do Swing bridges on your own. He went through first going on ahead to set the next lock while I sorted out the bridge, we then shared the next 6 locks with me doing the paddles and bottom gates the men closed the top gates after them to save me running around like a headless chicken.

We decided that once we were through Horton Lock we would look for a mooring which we found just before bridge 120, we said goodbye to our companion as he wanted to get to Leighton Buzzard and Tesco today. It is nice and quiet with 3 boats in the vicinity just after the bridge is Slapton lock and a water point so I think I may get the curtains washed this weekend. No I am not going to wash the curtains at the water point what I mean is we will be able to top up the tank on the way through. Paul has said its about time we got the boat washed down so that will mean taking all the crap off the roof but it must be done. No doubt after we have done this tiresome job it will rain.

Marsworth

We got here yesterday left Cowroast around 10, when we got to the first lock by the Wendover Arm I got a bit confused (no surprise there) For so long now we have been going UP the locks that now we were going DOWN I had to think what to do. At least all the locks are close together and I was able to walk them all. In one of the locks we found that on emptying it would appear that the bottom paddles were still open so the water was filling the lock nearly as fast as it was emptying. We did see a BW guy and told him but I am sure it would have been reported before. By the time I had done 6 locks we decided to moor up, on a nice stretch of armco just before the final one, we are behind hotel boat Tragara which is heading for the K & A. Popped into the White Lion for a drink, a nice pub but there was only us in there so not a lot of atmosphere, we then walked a few step down the road to the Anglers Retreat and the difference was amazing, more welcoming, more people, some of whom were boaters and the beer was cheaper. They also do food but cant comment on that as we didnt partake. Have spent today here, Paul managed to get the last of the logs cut up, will move tomorrow and find a quiet place for the weekend.

Cowroast

Here we are at Cowroast spent a nice leisurely cruise here not all the 7 locks were in our favour and needless to say I left my BW key to unlock the padlocks on the locks on the boat, luckily at the first lock there was a single hander coming down so I used his key while helping him through the lock. Then I organised myself by keeping my key round my neck.

Rather like the look of the cottage for sale on the lock. On our way down in November it was for sale and I looked on the internet and the price was £375k which I thought was a bit steep but it was lovely inside, now it is up for auction so I wonder just how much it will go for. ( We didn't win the lottery so we can keep on dreaming ).

As you can see we were spoilt for choice for our mooring, bit different from when we came down as it was quite busy here then. I like it here as it is quiet and nice for the dogs. May only stay for tonight, but nothing is set in stone.

Loads of money

This morning we took the dogs to the vet for their booster jabs and came away £85 lighter, we then went into Waitrose and came away £75 lighter and not only that when I checked the receipt I realised that the meat that was buy 3 for £10 was at the correct price of £12 (now am I beginning to sound like Paul) so a quick trip back to the store and I got my £2 back. Paul had a in depth discussion with a male employee while he was buying his beers, there was 4x500ml cans of IPA buy 2 for £5.50 or buy 12x440 cans for £7.99 there he was with my calculator and it transpired it was 20p yes 20p cheaper pint for pint to buy the 500ml cans (even the employee agreed with Paul, oh bugger) I just walked off. I am sure we are going to be banned from all supermarkets soon. If Paul hasn't got his head in the fridges to check they are clean and maintained properly (he was in the refrigeration industry) he is arguing over the prices of so called special offers and bargains. He is used to running a tight ship!!!!!! or so he tells me, first time I've heard this and we have been together for 18 years.
So, our bank account has taken a big hit today, better send himself out to work to recoup some of it. Oh I haven't checked the lottery tickets yet, I live in hope.

No cowboy on today IT'S A WAR FILM. All this week there are films starring Richard Widmark on in the afternoons so I will be spending my time either on Facebook or writing e mails and my blog of course.

Do we all get one of these?

Looks like the kids were busy last night. Bless the little darlings!!! This bin has come from Waitrose car park quite a way from our mooring. Obviously it has floated downstream during the night and ended up in front of us. Now the bin says it is for plastic so I can get rid of my empty milk cartons. Mind boggles as to how they got it from the car park into the canal. Just hope the council come and retrieve it some time soon. A BW barge went up this morning and the guys on that noticed the bin so hopefully they have been in touch with the appropiate department to get it shifted

You dont have to ask but yes he is watching a cowboy and it's one he has never seen before (now there's a first.

Nice to see the sun.

I went to Kent Thursday afternoon, had managed to get an appointment at the docs for Friday morning. Journey from Berkhamsted to Sittingbourne took just over two hours which was fine by me. When I got back to the boat Friday Paul informed me that he was going to take me out for a meal, had a wander to the high street and found a Weatherspoons so Paul had his favourite mixed grill and I had pasta and very nice it was too, two meals two drinks for less than twenty quid. Andy (Granny Buttons) knocked the boat last evening he is moored about 10 boats up from us his next stop is Leighton Buzzard. We have to take the dogs to the vet here on Monday for their booster jabs then on Tuesday will head off again. Will probably stop at Cowroast as it is nice there then slowly get up to Braunston must make sure I read the emails from BW regarding the landslip at the tunnel in case there is a stoppage or further restrictions. That's all I need problems with the tunnel when I hate going through it.

I am taking advantage of the sun today and have done two loads of washing, airer is on the back so everyone walking the tow path can see and smell my nice clean clothes. We had a look at the market stalls here this morning, found one that does sweets and Paul spied hard liquorice so I left him there to make his purchase when he caught up with me he hadn't bought anything, when I asked him why he said "the woman wanted 15p for one stick of liquorice and I'm not paying that it used to cost 2 sticks for a penny" (old penny that is) so as you can see Paul doesn't buy liquorice sticks very often, he said he wouldn't have minded paying 5 or 10p a stick but 15p was pushing it. So we went into Tesco and bought a bag of liquorice allsorts £1.28 for 215 grms hate to think what 215 grms of sticks would have cost also bought gummy bears, crunchies and chocolate buttons oh dear should never have gone in there but I did buy milk and bread as well. Gummy bear sandwich any one!
Sunshine has bought everyone out walking the towpath nice to see all the families together.