Farewell Autumn Myst!

Yesterday morning started, for all of us (Angela and John, Bob and June, James and Doug) with a round of coffee and cake on board nb ‘Autumn Myst’.  There were a few jobs to be undertaken…..

June had to scrub her button (!) on ‘Autumn Myst’……

……..and John had to continue his “labour of love” which is painting the boat roof before winter sets in.

Sadly leaving  Angela and John (it was great fun to catch up with you guys again – safe cruising!) ‘Autumn Myst’ and ‘Chance’ made their way towards Napton Junction where we joined the Oxford Canal.

On the way we had a brief chat with one of our blog followers  nb ‘Beez Neez’ near the very pretty pub “The Blue Lias”

It was a wet journey towards the Oxford Canal and nothing much to look at except a few unusual boats.  This one must be a stealth boat!

This is ‘Adamant’ – a steam powered narrow boat, quite famous on the cut.

Some big ones about!

We got to the bottom of the Napton Flight of locks and friends Stephen and Jayne on nb ‘ Dolce Far Niente’, who we had arranged to meet up with, had arrived and moored up before us.  When ‘Autumn Myst’ and ‘Chance’ were tied up and sorted we all went on “Dolce” for tea and muffins.  In the evening we all went to The Folly Inn at the bottom of the locks for a great meal.  Very sadly, we’re saying farewell to Bob and June as they are heading back home to Brinklow marina.  We’ve had a “ball” together over the last few days and we’ll miss them greatly.  We look forward to meeting up with them next year.   Doug’s going to miss Phoenix, as he has so loved having a dog he can walk and play with for a change !

Jayne, June, Doug, James, Stephen and Bob (with Phoenix under the table!) having a great time in The Folly.

Leaving Warwick

We had a very pleasant day yesterday in Warwick.  We had a good look around as we hadn’t been for quite a few years.  In the evening we were invited aboard nb ‘Autumn Myst’ where we had champagne to start the evening and Bob and June provided us with a lovely meal.  It was a really good evening and we had tremendous fun!

Just one photo of Warwick – this building is not on the tourist trail but it’s the old gas works!  The two octagonal wings at each end held the gas tanks. 

Today we left our moorings in the Saltisford Arm with nb ‘Autumn Myst’ and made our way through Warwick, stopping briefly at Tesco to buy smoked mackerel for Oscar’s dinner!  The double locks, which we’re now used to, were easy to use (June and Doug being the workers!) and we soon found ourselves at Bascote Locks.

A very rural setting as we approached the first of the Bascote Locks.

‘Chance’ and ‘Autumn Myst’ together in the double staircase at Bascote.

Just after Bascote Wharf we found nb ‘Ellen’ with Angela and John moored up (we knew they were around here somewhere!). We met them recently at the Black Country Museum where we spent a great evening with them. It was really good to see them again and so we joined them at the mooring for the evening.

‘Chance’, Autumn Myst’ and nb ‘Ellen’ moored together this evening.

The crews on all three boats enjoyed the sunshine this afternoon and worked at their chores until it was time for some relaxation.  Here are Angela, Bob, June,Doug and John at the end of their work……………..

……..and here we all are on board ‘Chance' for pre dinner drinks after which we all returned to our respective boats for dinner.

We’d just like to say a big, and final, thank you to everyone (including our overseas readers) for your messages of support and concern over the last few days.

‘Chance’ flooded again!

Don’t panic!  This time it’s a flood of good wishes and concern from so many friends -  through this blog and by email and face book.  We must say a really big thank you to everyone who has expressed concern over our recent ‘incident’ and we’ve been told of many other similar occasions involving other boaters.  However, we have now “mopped up” and the electrics are behaving well so far.  So fingers crossed!

Yesterday morning, hearing that friends Bob and June on nb ‘Autumn Myst’ were on their way towards us down the Hatton Flight of locks we walked up to help them work their way down.  They were teamed up with nb ‘Halcyon’, who we were moored next to in Stratford on Avon a few days ago, so it was nice to help both parties.    

nb ‘Halcyon’ and nb ‘Autumn Myst’.

Someone talking a tea break!

June from ‘Autumn Myst’ at lock 36 – only ten more to go!

We all got down the flight in just over 2 hours and both boats came to moor up in the Saltisford Arm – ‘Autumn Myst’ breasting up with ‘Chance’.

Afternoon chores – James doing a spot of paint touching up (not as uncomfortable as it looks!)

Nb ‘Autumn Myst’ and ‘Chance’ breasted up in the Saltisford Arm.

In the evening we enjoyed an Indian takeaway with June and Bob on board ‘Chance’.

Hotel boats “Oak” and “Ash” strike again at Hatton Flight!

Today started so well as we left our mooring at 8.30am in brilliant sunshine and had this little visitor by our boat -  not sure what type he is but he was all alone and very handsome.

Still on the Stratford Canal we thought we should take a photo of one of the “two piece” bridges designed for the rope to go through during the days of horse drawn boats.

We were soon making the transfer from the Stratford to the Grand Union Canal at Kingswood Junction – this short and very narrow link is all that needs to be tackled.

Doug, on his morning walk along the canal, took this ‘action shot’!

About half way between Kingswood Junction and the Hatton Flight of 21 locks is the Shrewley Tunnel.  At only 443 yards (you can see the end quite easily) it’s not the length but the West Portal which is interesting – it’s got a separate tunnel for the horses to go through.  The tunnel itself is bored beneath the village of Shrewley.

We were soon into the Hatton flight of locks.  We did it on our own this time and we found it very easy to operate – you only need to use one paddle and one gate and filling and emptying is easy and quick.

We had two unfortunate incidents on the way down however.  Firstly Oscar decided he couldn’t wait to go for a wee and,while James in the lock and was looking in another direction, he just walked off the edge of the boat!  We always make sure he has his collar on when he’s on deck and this time it proved very useful in pulling him out (when he eventually surfaced!) As usual he was fine and was wagging his tail as soon as he was back on board.

The other incident was far less funny!  We had the misfortune to meet the twin hotel boats ‘Oak and Ash’ – operated by the ex Rev. Martin Reed, coming up the flight as we were going down.  Cutting the details of this story to a reasonable length, he decided to come out of his lock (with his motor and butty sensibly tied together) and, instead of waiting for James to bring ‘Chance’  out of the lock, he decided to try and ram us out of the way!  James hastily reversed back into the lock while the “vicar”aggressively manoeuvred his boats to the side of the pound.  As James gingerly took ‘Chance’ past the hotel boats and asked “Why the hell didn’t you wait for me to give you priority!?” the kind reverend screamed back (with obscenities) his version of narrow boat etiquette and then promptly pointed his rudder towards ‘Chance’ and gave the engine full throttle!  The effect, which was intentional, was to shoot a huge quantity of water straight into the back door of ‘Chance’, flooding the bedroom! 

The rest of the story is not repeatable! safe to say that the lock keepers and there supervisor came to scene and took control.  We must say that they were incredibly concerned for us and very helpful.  They are now in the process of issuing a  formal complaint against Mr Reed as they are well aware, from their own experiences and that of many others, of the antics of this most dangerous and angry man.

We put what we could on the roof to dry in the sunshine but soon discovered that the water had affected the electrics, which are situated under the rear steps, and the inverter was no longer working.  The water had flooded the bedroom floor and soaking part of the mattress.

The rest of the afternoon has been spent mopping up and drying out and, very kindly, the head lock keeper phoned ahead to Ian at the Saltiford Arm in Warwick where a mooring was found for us this evening to sort out the mess.

Lock working continued as life has to go on!  No -  Doug hasn’t shrunk, but just look at the size of the paddle gear.

We are now moored with shore power in the secure and peaceful Saltisford Arm where we received a warm and concerned welcome from some of the residents as we arrived.  News travels very fast on the canal telegraph!

Stop Press:  The inverter seems to have dried out and is (fingers crossed) working again at the moment.

Sky High!

Yesterday, as James returned from his blood testing, he spied an “intruder” on the front of the boat……..

……….spotted! – a Japanese tourist climbing off the boat after having his photo taken.  In fact, during the time we were on the boat, we had to ask several times for Japanese tourists not to climb on board!  It has happened to us before (in Paddington Basin some years ago, and again Japanese).  We haven’t lost our sense of humour over it but it does seem quite unbelievable that one nationality in particular doesn’t respect other peoples’ property.

While we were in Stratford we’d intended to visit the viewing tower adjoined to the RSC theatre and it was well worth the £2:50 when we got to the top.

The River Avon showing the two bridges.

A view of Bancroft canal basin – we’re just visible with ‘Chance’s’ white windbreak showing between the trees.

After The Tower Experience we did a bit of  Tesco shopping, which entailed walking a mile in each direction (good exercise if nothing else)……….

…….Doug well laden (and James likewise) – oh, you don’t know what we have to go through, living on a boat!

In the evening we again met up with our dear friend Rose for one of her charity fund raising events, which was a quiz evening with fish and chip supper.  Something we very much enjoyed.

Rose, in her role as President of the Stratford on Avon Soroptimists  yesterday evening.  Our team of five somehow managed to come joint first out of 8 teams and won 2 bottles of wine and a box of chocolates, a great evening.

Today we left Stratford at 7.30am, as we were awake early, and began the climb back up the locks towards Kingswood Junction, where we’ll eventually transfer onto the Grand Union Canal.  Just a few pictures of today’s journey…………

……….spotted!  A much photographed sight on this canal – the car in a tree.

One of the barrel-roofed lock cottages which has been quite well extended.  The house, the lock and the canal environment around it, are beautifully cared for.

Doug sunning himself at Yarningdale Lock, with the aqueduct in the background.

Just one example of the poor state of some of the locks along the Stratford Canal – this is likely to collapse very soon!

After a long day of nine and a half hours and 30 locks! we’re now moored up and about to enjoy a home cooked dinner with a welcome glass of wine!

Stratford sojourn

Yesterday the weather was good and we spent the morning doing a bit more cleaning down of the boat – scrubbing front and rear decks, James fitted a new glow plug in the Mikuni central heating unit as it’s taking a bit too long to fire up.  He repaired the ‘war wounds’ on the blacking, after having been through 56 locks since we left Birmingham, while Doug trundled back and forth to the laundrette.

Here’s ‘Chance’ in one of the quieter moments when there weren’t too many tourists around.  Some of our foreign visitors had never seen a narrow boat before so there were a lot of questions to answer.

We haven’t done the tourist trail as such, as we’ve been to Stratford many times, but we were passing by this building so we felt obliged to take a photo of Shakespeare’s birthplace.

Further along we found this, not so famous but, even more impressive and very crooked building.

Some nice brickwork on this old bank building with very attractive terracotta tiling depicting Shakespearian characters.

At the end of the canal basin, by the river lock, is this signpost. Narrow boaters are used to these statistics but for car drivers it’s quite thought provoking!

In the afternoon we had a visit from our friends Chris and Les from nb ‘Eleventh Heaven’ which we had been looking forward to very much.  They arrived by car on this occasion(!) and we spent a lovely afternoon with them catching up with things.  In the evening we went out for a meal together to “Cafe Pasta” (the same place as the two of us had been last evening) and the meal was just as good this time.

Les, Chris and Doug enjoying the afternoon on board ‘Chance’ with pre dinner drinks etc. The evening was a great hoot – we took the camera for some photos but is was so good we forgot to take any!

Today started a bit dull weather wise, although it has brightened up.  James took advantage of being close to Stratford hospital and walked up for a Warfarin blood test early this morning.

This photo today shows how we’ve virtually cleared the basin of boats – must have been something we said! 

Stratford at Last!

At 10 0’ clock yesterday morning our very good friend Rose joined us at our mooring at Wilmcote for the last bit of our journey into Stratford on Avon.  Her husband is currently cycling from Lands End to John 0’ Groats (and back again!!) so, not to be outdone, Rose took up the offer of a chance to experience her own intrepid journey. 

We worked our way down through the final few locks and got to Stratford at about 2 o’clock.  Due to the exceptional number of locks since we left Birmingham, Doug has probably walked 95% of the entire length of the Stratford Canal!

Rose and Doug on the rear deck of ‘Chance’

Rose and James on the rear deck of ‘Chance’ ! (in yet another lock!)

Lock no 65 and we are descended upon by a coach load of German students who had obviously never seen a lock or a narrow boat.  We’ve  never seen a lock gate so quickly opened when we asked them to help! 

The very low bridge as we enter the canal basin at Stratford.  It was a good job we didn’t have the coolie hat on the chimney!

Triumphant arrival!

‘Chance’ moored up in the basin – looked down upon by William Shakespeare.

Just off out for a bite to eat in the evening – Rose and Doug outside the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre.

Rose, Doug and James enjoying a very nice meal in “La Pasta”

After the meal we said farewell to Rose as she had to get back to two lonely greyhounds and to enjoy a phone call from her husband who was last heard of somewhere near Inverness!  We really enjoyed our day and we shall be meeting up again with Rose before we leave Stratford.