A nightout at Hopwas.

On Monday morning Marlene had the tooth removed at Atherstone Dental Surgery. That done we were on our way again, we did seven of the eleven Atherstone locks before mooring for the night. We woke to a sunny morning on Tuesday so we took advantage of the good weather. Completing the remaining four locks we carried on to Polesworth where we did some shopping and had lunch. After a shower as we had lunch we set of for our night mooring at Alvercote. Just before we moored the rain came again but quite heavy this time. A heavy frost greeted us next morning, so before leaving we stocked up on coal at the near by marina. It proved to be a nice day once the sun got some strength. Topping up water at Fazley Junction, we then carried on to Hopwas, mooring at lunch time. In the evening we went to the Tame Otter for a night out. While stood at the bar I nearly spoke to the man at the side of me as I thought it was my old mate Lewis. Just as I was about to say hello he turn toward me and I realised it wasn't him, could have been embarrassing but the resemblance was uncanny.

Yesterday we did the last section of the Coventry Canal and stayed the night at Fradley. We are now moored at Barton turns where Marlene checked with the marina that they were expecting us on the 1st December for our three month winter mooring, they were. The picture is the entrance to the Tame Otter.

Nighttime Movemennt.

Another week since my last posting,Pamela and Marlene didn't return to the boat on the Monday. The scan was put off until Tuesday so I went to Pamela's and stayed till Friday. In the event everything was OK, all she needed was a course of antibiotics.

We returned in the morning of Friday after shopping on the way. After lunch Pamela and Nathan took Archie to see In the Night Garden Live in Birmingham, Marlene and I took the boat through Bedworth, past the junction with the Ashby Canal and moored for the night at bridge 16 just before Nuneaton. Yesterday we cruised through Nuneaton until we arrived at the Anchor Inn near Hartshill Quarry, bridge 29. Lunch time we had a couple of pints and a sandwich in the pub. Around 9-o clock in the evening a number of boats past with lights blazing, then again at 5-o clock this morning more boats past. It is not usual to travel in the dark so it got us wondering if they new of an unscheduled stoppage at Atherstone. With that in mind we moved on to Atherstone this morning, on arrival I checked the noticeboard but nothing to say about stoppages so we will stay over night then Marlene can see if she can see a Dentist again as her tooth is giving her pain again. Sorry no photo's today, will try to get back to normal now we are moving again.

A week ashore.

Since my last blog we moved from Fenny Conpton to Napton bottom lock, where we moored for a week while we went to Pamela's. This is the first time we have left the boat for that long without putting it in a marina. At the end of the week we returned and Pamela and Archie came to stay. This was so Pamela could rest after a minor op to remove a lump from her tummy. On Monday the 3rd October we left Napton and moved down to Braunston, topping up with diesel on the way.

Tuesday morning we headed for the locks at Hillmorton but in the end we moored at the top of the locks, leaving the decent until Wednesday. We were just coming into the third and last lock when the heavens opened. It was short lived but we still got very wet. Mooring that night just outside Rugby at Newbold Quarry Park, staying two nights. We were having trouble with the power and suspected the leisure batteries were not holding their charge.

Passing through Newbold Tunnel on Friday morning(this is lit with Purple and green lights see picture) we called at Rose Narrow Boats at Stretton Stop and bought new batrrieds, then moved on to Ansty where I connected the new batteries, this seems to have done the trick. In the evening Nathan came to pick up Pamela Archie and Marlene as Pamela was having alot of discomfort around the op site. They went off to Peterborough hospital to have it checked out. I spent the night alone on the boat. This morning I moved down to Hawksbury Junction and moored on the seven day moorings. It seems i will be here by myself till Monday because Pamela has to have a scan, hopefully every thing will be ok and they will return to the boat.

So that brings you up to date, this is the first day I've been able to get on the Internet since Fenny Compton. Her's hoping things will get better from here.