We finally have Television.

We finally made the decision to move at 4 o clock on Saturday. It was rather late in the day to start a journey which included ten locks. The first two of these were a staircase. We arrived at our destination at 7-30 in the evening. I'd put tea in the oven so all we had to do was eat it. After showering we felt a lot better and by nine were in the White Lion at Radford Semele,just out side Leamington Spa. Sunday morning we promised our selves a quiet rest day,however by the afternoon we were ready to go for a stroll. Heading down the A425 toward Leamington when we spotted a footpath off to our right it turned out to lead to Newbold Country Park,with a river side walk and woodland tracks. We were out for an hour and a half and enjoyed every minute. It was Tuesday before we moved on stopping to have a look round Leamington Spa. The Jephson gardens were just being planted with this years bedding plants so will be better later in the season. While there we also went to the Royal Pumphouse and Baths which houses a nice museum and art gallery and a very welcome coffee shop. Back to the boat we carried on up the two locks at the Cape,then moored for the night. I then set up the set top box I had bought in Leamington Spa. We finally had television,however,we had some interference so later in the evening we moved further up the canal and moored outside the Saltisford Arm(a short section of canal with moorings on the edge of Warwick)here we had great reception. Today we are walking into Warwick for a look round,hopefully the sun will stick around for the day.

Lazily following the contours.

From Fenny Compton we traveled the summit on it's twists and turns as it follows the contours of the land. Until finally arriving at Napton Top Lock. We moored before the locks so I could paint some more of the roof. Next morning we watered up then approached the top lock of the flight of nine that will take us down to Napton on the hill. The drop from top to bottom is 49ft 1in. At the bottom we decided to move on to Napton Junction before mooring for the night. At the Junction we turned left on to the Grand Union canal,there were no good moorings before we arrived at the first of three wide locks at Calcutt,so we dropped down these lowering another 16ft 2ins. In the end we moored about a mile from the top of the Stockton flight of locks. Staying here for two nights I finished the roof painting. Yesterday we dropped the 54ft 7ins in nine locks then one at Itchington another 6ft7ins. We moored for the night and walked into the village of Long Ichington for some shopping. This morning we are relaxing and speaking to family on the phone. We will move on this afternoon if we feel life moving, if not? No worries we will move tomorrow. Still enjoying this good weather,don't say too much.

Grapes,Cabbage and Duck Eggs.

First thing Friday morning we called at the farm shop across the canal from where we had moored. It was an interesting place with an old MG sports car and an A35 van. That took me back to when I was fitting Carpets,as I drove one then. As well as the farm shop it was also a camp site and had a lovely view of the country side over the canal, only slightly spoiled by the M40. We didn't stay long but bought grapes,cabbage and some lovely large Duck Eggs. Our mooring Friday night was in Banbury which as a large water front next to the Castle Quay shopping centre. Staying till lunch time on Saturday we had a look at the Banbury Cross, which is not really a cross but more of a monument. The original Cross was pulled down in 1602 and today's is a 19th century replica. It was only a short trip to Cropredy where we stayed Saturday night and had a night out in the Brazenose Arms. It was a good night with good beer(Adnams Broadside)and a blues group The Dave Rapheal Band. Cropredy is only a small village but it's claim to fame is the annual Folk Festival in August, the largest in Europe apparently. This has been going on since 1979 when Fairport Convention held their farewell concert there. Sunday was spent painting the boat roof and taking a couple of walks round the local footpaths. Moving on this morning we did eleven locks lifting the canal 55ft 1ins to it's summit. We are moored tonight at Fenny Compton. This is our fifth day off warm sunny weather, could summer be here at last.

Rain and yet more rain.

After lunch on Tuesday we decided to brave the rain and move the short distance to Thrupp to use the service point. By the time we arrived there we were absolutely soaking. After mooring up and using the service point we had a nice hot shower and settled down for the evening. Leaving Thrupp on Wednesday morning it was soon on with the waterproofs and settle down for another wet journey. All went well the rain was heavy at times but not all the time. Just north of Pigeon lock the boat hit a submerged object causing it to rise up out of the water(not a nice feeling)and some awful noises. We finally called it a day at bridge 207 at Lower Heyford. This turned out for the best as the rain became heavy and continuos well in to the night. It was overcast this morning but no rain. As a precaution we put on the waterproofs anyway,however the rain was only light and showery. Most of the morning we were along side the River Churwell which looked rather fast flowing. On Wednesday we had done a short stretch on the Churwell and it had not been too bad. This morning we had Aynho weir lock, where the river crosses the canal,as we left the lock the currant hit us and pushed us into the barrier protecting the weir,again not a nice experience. Coming off that section at Neil Bridge Lock we moored just passed the lift bridge. Marlene had done some washing which is now drying at the back of the boat on the rotary dryer. I am pleased to say it is looking much brighter.

Bank Holiday with the boys.

Stephen and the two boys(Harry and Max) arrived on the five o clock train,I met them at the station and showed them the way to where we were moored. We had traveled into Banbury that morning and moored near Morrisons to do some shopping. After we had eaten dinner we took an evening cruised down to Twyford Bridge before mooring for the night. The weather was good on Saturday morning and we carried on past Kings Sutton to Aynho Bridge where we topped up the diesel and some smokeless fuel as Friday night had been chilly. Moving on we picked up Dominic at Allen's bridge lock,he had caught the train to Lower Heyford and walked up the canal to meet us. Mooring near to the village of Lower Heyford we chopped some wood we had been collecting on the way down then went to the Bell for a couple of drinks. Oxford being our destination we Carried on down to Dukes Cut, at the lock was a sign saying boats over 52ft should turn here or they wood have to go on to the Thames to turn. We turned the reversed into the 48hr mooring. Stephen took a walk Sunday evening to see where we could get a bus into Oxford Monday morning. As luck would have it a short walk down the canal then over the bridge and past the Plough Inn up to the main road found us on a bus route into the city. So yesterday morning we all went into Oxford. Marlene and I took Harry and Max to the museum for a couple of hours while Stephen went to a cafe so he could do some work on the Internet,Dominic caught the train home. We met up with Stephen at lunch time and had lunch before him and the two boys caught their train home, Marlene and I caught the bus back to the boat. Leaving Dukes Cut we traveled to Kidlington Green lock before mooring for the night. We had had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend and even the weather had been good and hadn't needed a fire on the evenings since we got the smokeless fuel and wood. Today we are still at Kidlington lock and it is raining,I suppose we were lucky to get a fine weekend.

Repairs at Napton.

After our night out we went through Sutton Stop lock and on toward Rugby. We called in at Rose Narrowboats to buy an oil filter,then carried on into Rugby where we stopped to buy oil from Halfords. Mooring outside rugby at bridge 66 so Marlene could dry some washing. While it was drying I did a long overdue oil change on the engine. The weather was good all day and I even managed to wear shorts and a T-shirt all day. Moving on Monday morning we climbed the three locks at Hillmorton by 9-30. Cruising down to Braunston Junction we turned right toward Napton. As usual Braunston was busy at the junction with moored boats on one side of the canal and boats moored at the service point on the other side, leaving hardly enough room to get through. We had trouble with the engine again loosing power on and off through the day,so we moored for the night just under the bridge from Napton Marina. Tuesday turned out to be a rest day,we set off at 8-30 but we lost power every time I typed to accelerate. We couldn't carry on like this so we turned just before Napton locks and went back to our over night mooring. I then walked round to Napton Marina and explained the problem to them,however they could't have a look at it till Wednesday morning. At 8-30 Wednesday morning we took the boat into the Marina as we needed a pump out by then. The problem turned out to be a dirty fuel filter which they changed and by 10-15 and we were on our way. From Napton we climbed the nine locks in the flight then a steady cruise to Fenny Compton where we moored for the night. Today we have done eight locks in sun and heavy showers to finally moor at Cropredy for the night. Tomorrow we have a short trip into Banbury where we will shop and meet Stephen and the boys.

Eleven locks

Carrying on down the Coventry canal we cruised through some lovely countryside down to Fazeley Junction then up the Glascote locks, just the two. We spent the night at Alvercote we could still not get a signal on the satellite. Friday found us approaching the Atherstone flight of locks. Eleven locks climbing about 80ft. We were following at single handed boat(Cheese and Crackers)he was heading to Crick boat Show. At the top we moored for lunch and did some shopping. Saturday morning we cruised down to Hawkshead Junction. We moored for the night. To our surprise we managed to get a signal on the satellite.at least that is not going to cost me a new satellite dish. Tonight is Eurovision night, so we went to the Greyhound pub for a night out. Now I'm writing this and waiting for the voting to start, sad but what can you do.