Lived on-board Hadar

Daisypath Vacation tickers

Monday, May 27, 2013

Laughton Hills to Union Wharf

8.4 miles, 10 locks, 3hrs 45mins.

Map picture

Union Wharf (2)

With the weather forecast for today being good, but with wind and rain coming in for tomorrow, we thought we would travel to Harborough today, rather than in the wet.

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Foxton locks.

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This new house has appeared in the village of Foxton.

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We moored up on the towpath at Union Wharf to await a free spot for us to moor in the basin, when the hire boats had left, and whilst on the towpath we were visited by our old friends the resident pair of swans with their 4 offspring this year. Once our allocated mooring in the basin was vacated we moved in and moored up outside the Waterfront restaurant. We have already caught up with many old friends here, with yet more to see over the next few days.

Keith.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Spitfire in the Sky

Today as we were sitting on the towpath enjoying the sunshine we had a Spitfire circle over us, but unfortunately it was too far away for a photo, but great to hear that Merlin engine whining away in the blue skies. We did see it dive down behind some low hills to the west of us, and we also heard jet engines from about the same place later on. Having checked on the internet this was all coming from Bruntingthorpe aerodrome, which was having one of it’s two annual open days of cold war jet aircraft, where any aircraft that are serviceable will carry out full power taxi runs along their main runway. Hence a visit and presumably a flying display by the Spitfire. Thinking about it he was probably circling over us as he had arrived too early and had to kill some time.

Spitfire

Keith.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Welford to Laughton Hills

5.9 miles, 1 lock, 2hrs

Map picture

Laughton Hills

What a difference from yesterday, slight breeze and lots of lovely sunshine. A short journey to Laughton Hills between Bridge No.50 and No.51 where will spend the Bank Holiday weekend, hopefully in the sunshine. Smile

Keith.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Yelvertoft to Welford Lock

8.8 miles, 1 lock, 3hrs.

Welford Lock (2)

Again no 3G signal, so no map again today. A dull start which did not improve, in fact we had persistent but very light rain, with ever increasing winds which were forecasted last night. Having moored up above Welford lock the wind has increased and we are glad to be moored up and not still travelling today.

Keith

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Bridge No.101 to Haddon Road Bridge No.22, Yelvertoft.

16.3 miles, 13 locks, 8hrs.

Haddon Road Br22 Yelvertoft

Again no 3G service so no map again. A cold morning, and sunny to start with.

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Approaching Braunston and the junction.

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Waiting at Braunston bottom lock, we had Steve Hudson in front of us with 2 boats he is taking to the Crick Boat Show.

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Approaching Norton junction.

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Queuing at Watford locks. We had snow as we were going up through the staircase locks! It was raining as we passed by the boats mooring for the Crick Boat Show.

Keith.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Long Itchington to Nethercote Bridge No.101

6.9 miles, 13 locks, 4hrs 5mins

Map picture

Nethercote Bridge No101

We took a quick walk into Long Itchington to discover we have been there before, oh well good exercise anyway! We walked back and set off up Stockton locks. In the bottom lock I went down into the weed hatch to discover this little lot wrapped around the prop.

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No wonder I was having trouble stopping, probably picked it up crossing the drained pound yesterday.

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Stockton locks.

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Approaching Napton junction.

Keith.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Fosse Locks to Long Itchington

2.8 miles, 8 locks, 2hrs 15mins.

A short report today with no map as internet connection is poor.

Long Itchington (2)

The intention today was to head for Long Itchington until we arrived at Fosse top lock at 9:20am to be confronted with this:-

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Fortunately Kev from C&RT was already at the lock when we arrived, and he headed up the canal to see if there was a breach. There wasn’t so he drove off to Napton to send some water down from the reservoir.

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There was only these 2 boats in the pound, which is about 1 mile long, and fortunately both had settled down on the canal bottom.

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Jo and I walked all the way to the next lock Wood lock.

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By the time we returned to Fosse top lock two further engineers arrived to turn the back pump on to speed the process of filling the pound up.

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Because the pound we were in below the lock may have dropped in level we moved Hadar into the lock so that if the level did drop she would be able to sit on more level ground. It was 2:30pm before we were able to make a bid to get through the pound which we did without any great problem. We think the problem was caused by a boater who had travelled past us late last night and had left one top gate open, and the bottom gates were leaking that much to empty the pound over night. Even Kev felt the leaking from the bottom gates was excessive and was going to get a repair pushed through ASAP. We got to Long Itchington, our intended destination, but had no time to explore, which we will now do tomorrow.

Keith.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Warwick to Fosse Locks.

7.5 miles, 4 locks, 3hrs 5mins.

Fosse bottom lock

An almost warm day despite the layer of cloud.

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We stopped at Tescos (behind the bushes) at Emscott for food shopping.

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We moored up at Leamington Spa briefly to pop up to the shops. We then carried on and moored up above Fosse bottom lock.

Keith.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Saltisford Arm

We are enjoying a nice relaxing stay here at the Saltisford Arm.

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View down the arm from the bridge over the entrance to the arm.

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Marmite keeping a very close eye on the local birdlife.

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Paddy couldn’t care less about the birds!

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We had a visit today from our friend Tony who we last saw over 10 years ago, he is doing a sponsored walk for Cancer Research UK of the entire Grand Union Canal from London to Birmingham.

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The coffee and biscuits were very much appreciated. You can sponsor him online, just click <here>. You can follow his journey on facebook. It was great to see him, and he loved seeing Hadar which he has been looking forward to seeing since we set off. We wish him a safe journey to Birmingham.

Keith.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Calcutt Marina to Saltisford Arm, Warwick

13.65 miles, 22 locks, 7hrs 20mins.

Map picture

Saltisford

A decent day weather-wise, hence we pressed on, but also most of the locks were with us, which makes a huge difference.

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Stockton top lock.

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Working down Stockton locks.

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The Blue Lias is looking very smart.

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Warwickshire Fly Boat Co.

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The Two Boats has been spruced up since our last trip along here.

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Buscott staircase locks.

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The Fusilier has reopened.

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Crossing the River Avon, the dividing line between Leamington Spa and Warwick.

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Cape of Good Hope at Cape locks.

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Approaching Saltisford arm.

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Nearly there.

Keith.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Braunston to Calcutt

7.08 miles, 3 locks, 2hrs 50mins.

Map picture

Tomlow Bridge No18

With it still raining when we awoke, and we were not in a rush anymore, it was a latish start by the time the rain had stopped.

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Approaching Napton junction.

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Taking the turn towards Warwick. As we approached Calcutt locks “nb Draw Breath” had just finished filling up with water and we shared the locks with them. We moored up early today, it is nice to be back on short days travelling again. After lunch we changed the oil in the engine which has now done 2800 hours since we first set off in 2008. Jo is now having a sort out in the hold. No rest for the wicked then!

Keith.