From Braunston to Braunston - 28.1.14 to 6.3.14

Braunston to Marston Doles and back to Braunston again!

It’s  Tuesday 28th January 2014 and it's still bloomin' raining .... in fact it seems like it hasn't stop raining for ever!

One very soggy doggy!

But Jack doesn’t seem to mind! He has the most amazing time running through swollen streams and ditches, sniffing out mice as they have to come out of their holes in the ground as the water table rises. He scampers about through the flooded fields and loves every minute of it! Every where is boggy and soggy, muddy and wet. Many of the towpaths are now one big long puddle and you cant go out now with out wellies.

Veiw up the canal....grey dark skies dominate the landscape

... and the view down the canal towards the junction with the South Oxford

This week the weather has taken charge of what we've done. Which isn't a lot really! Weve walked Jack twice a day taking it in turns so we're not both getting wet all the time.

We've had storms, gale force winds, sleet, snow and hail, and lots and lots of rain. The boat's been bashing up against the side, the wind's been howling all around us. Pauls been chopping up the wood we've been bringing back from the old railway line and we've been burning it like a goodun. We've been shopping in Rugby, been to visit his mums and hes changed the leaky water pump for a sparkling new one! We moved to the water point and filled up with water, dumped rubbish and reversed back into the same place!

Jack mingin' but happy!

We've got wet and muddy on our walks but the boat’s in a nice sheltered spot behind a big hill and bushy hedge. So were not getting bashed about as much as we could be!

Going for a walk along the canal, the blue skies are a rarity!

We had a rest from the terrible weather on Sunday, the sun came out and it made such a lovely change. It was dry and bright but cold, thats more like it!

But by the time Monday 3rd February came the bad weather was back. the wind was mental! We drove into Daventry as we had an appointment with Daventry Council in preparation of our big day in April. 

The Boathouse Pub on the canal, view from one of the many dog walks over the fields

On Monday evening we walked over to the Boathouse Pub and had a very nice dinner there, two meals for the price of one! Cant be bad!

On Tuesday 4th February the winds again were crazy. It was so blowy today I got earache on my Jack walk from the constant winds. But weve been here for two weeks now, weve got to move today or well get one of those ticket things! The winds are gale force again this afternoon so we get up as early as possible, walk Jack and get ready to leave as soon as we can.

The water drenched water point, we had to wade through this to dump our rubbish and fill up with water

We set of and get to the water point to top up with water and dump rubbish. Next I reverse the boat back to the turning by the junction and swing it round and under the bridge we go, were on our way to the Oxford Canal!

Stormy clouds rumble and bumble in the distance....

... But right here and now the sun is out, but its so cold! This bridge looks like it should have fallen down years ago!

We cruise the 5 miles to Wigrams turn, the junction with the Grand Union and the South Oxford Canal with the cold wind in our faces and the sun behind us, wrapped up totally from the cold bitter winter weather. 

Wigrams Turn Marina in the distance, we head towards Oxford

The Oxford Canal is to the left and the Grand Union is to our right, we head to our left and continue our journey on the Oxford Canal to some winter 14 day (48hrs in the summer) moorings about a mile further from the junction. 

New Managers, Linzi and Paul, but they're not here any more....

... all closed down now but a few years ago did great food!

Its by a pub called the Bridge Inn, owned by a couple called Linzi and Paul! Or it was, its now closed down! The towpath is still not too bad here, theres a road nearby but you cant hear traffic noise at all.

Weve only done 6 miles today but I feel battered about in the winds, its enough. 

All safe and sound, moored up for a few days

We've only met two other moving boats today, all around us the countryside is bare and boggy. Fields are sodden with lakes forming in any low lying dips, the paths and fields are just a mushy, messy, muddy bog!

We go indoors for a warm up and a cuppa soup, stoke the fire up only to discover Jack has taken all his toys outside! He wants to play in the sunshine as its not actually raining today, I think he misses the fresh air in the winter. But its mighty cold! Too cold to sit out with him!

Here's Jack, trying to steal a lump of wood to chew on!

Paul warms up and he's soon outside again chopping up wood, Jack bringing him his toys to play with!

There's three other boats here, looks like they've been here a while!

A couple of random Alpacas enjoying the view over the hills...

When its time for Jacks walk we go up the very steep but very picturesque Napton Hill. Its a lovely walk, great views across 4 counties. We walk past alpacas and emus, sheep and highland cattle in a field, up to the windmill at the top of the hill. 

The windmill at the top of Napton Hill

Looking across the countryside, what a view!

Jack racing up one of the steep hills towards the windmill

And the disused brickworks as we come down the other side

The walk down takes you through the really interesting disused brickworks (closed down in 1973) and back along the towpath. Jack had a great time and got absolutely filthy!

We head back to the boat, its getting a bit late and by now the wind is really picking up, rain is on its way, again!  After a good clean up were in for the night and the rain comes down banging on the roof like a man possessed!

On Wednesday we stayed put. The rain and wind hammered down, horizontal rain bought on by gusts of wind reaching up to 50 mph banging on the roof and windows of the boat. By Thursday it was a bit quieter. The winds had died down a bit and the rain was forecast for later on in the day so we decided to set off for the short 20 minute cruise to the bottom of Napton locks by The Folly Inn on the corner. We came to the 14 day moorings and just managed to get in the very end! 

This sign was smack bang in the middle of the boat... ummm 

... but it was the only available space so we risked it anyway!

There wasn't enough room for a 55' boat there, but we got in anyway, half of the boat on the 14 day moorings and half on the 48 hr moorings!

We decided to stay there, not really sure which sign was relavent to us! We'll wait and see if the enforcement officer says anything!

But for now its fine .... except for the dead sheep we've just spotted behind the hedge in the field opposite the boat.

We warmed up with more soup and Paul went off to catch a bus from Napton to Daventry and from Daventry to Braunston to pick up the car. I started to clean and tidy outside the boat but was soon rained off when the heavens opened once again!

The road's blocked off to the pub....

.... and the horses have all had to be moved out of their stables

We stay put for the next few days. We had so much rain the fields are getting flooded, streams and ditches are full and overflowing and the road where we park the car is flooded too! Poor horses in the fields are totally waterlogged, livestock have been put away in barns which are slowly going under water too. 

The towpath is blocked to anyone not wearing wellies

The canal is up by about a foot, its draining into the already soaked grassy fields acting like a sponge. You step on the grass and you sink and slide about into the slushy mud! Jack is getting absolutely clogged up with mud and slop every time he steps foot out of the boat, theres no way to keep him clean and dry.

We've been trying to keep the boat clean inside, near impossible task when you have to step outside! And Jack doesn't help either! He's minging!

Wading through the towpath on the Napton flight

We're pretty sheltered here in our little spot and the towpath isnt too bad, although every time you step out the boat it gets more and more minced up!

No-one has been to check the boats, only a couple of boats have cruised past us, slowly does it in this treterious weather. 

Te water is coming over the lock gates and flowing over the sides of the lock pounds

The locks have overflowed in some places, but overall the water level has been monitored carefully.

On Monday 10th February it was a much better day. The weather was the calmest it's been for ages, there was very little wind and the sun was out! So after Jack's walk we decided we would leave the mooring here and head on up Napton flight, or at least some of it!

We went just around the corner to where the pub is and stopped to fill up with water and dump our rubbish. While we were waiting for the water to finish I made tea/coffee for us.

Here's the tramp going through the bins, poor man, but he was very grateful for a cuppa tea!

From a distance I spotted a tramp going through the bins in the pubs car park and a little kind fairy in me popped its head up and I decided my good deed for the day was to make the tramp a cup of tea! So that's what I did, and he was so grateful! He was French, all he kept repeating over and over again was "merci, merci, merci!" I had made someone very happy, I think!

Napton Bottom Lock, you can just see the windmill in the distance

On our way once again and into the first lock. There's a boat called Medos. Backwards reading lessons needed here! They've just pulled up behind us and will be following us up the flight of locks, so as I'm on a good deed mission today I decide that once I've gone up through the lock (this leaves the lock full for those that don't know) I open the top gates, get the boat out, shut the gates behind me (this bit is law!) but also I run to the bottom gates and let out the water by opening one of the bottom paddles. This empties the lock ready for the boat following to open the gates and go straight in. 

Paul and Jack wait as I make my way into the second lock of the flight

It's only about a mile so Paul and Jack walk up and set the next lock ready for me to go straight in.

We pull over just below Adkins Lock, Holt Farm mooring

We got into a good rhythm and we were soon up the 6 locks, followed by Medos, and we both pulled over on a mooring spot that we used last year, just below Adkins lock, or Holt Farm mooring we called it. Seemed fine here, open fields all around, the water buffalo have gone and been replaced by sheep. The towpath is good, it's quiet and we've got great views all around. We all enjoyed a hot cuppa before the heavens opened and tipped buckets of the frozen wet stuff (hail this time) over us again!

The rain and hail still up there, waiting to come down on us....

... and Jack doesn't know what's hit him when he gets pelted with hail stones!

We walked down the locks with Jack getting caught in yet another storm, collected the car and with permission from Neil Adkins the farmer we parked the car nice and close to the boat. 

We stayed in then, enjoying the slow cooked beef stew for tea that had been cooking all day.

On Tuesday we drove into Southam and went to Tescos where we stocked up with veggie stuff for our visitors later that day. Lyndz and Anna were due to come and see us, and they didn't let us down! I cooked quorn with pasta for us, just a little reminder not to EVER buy that shite again! It was horrid! Pudding made up for it tho, we had exotic tropical fruit sorbet, fresh pineapple and chocolate puddings! Yummie!

We did have a lovely time with our great buddies, they even stayed over.

We were in a right wind tunnel here, the wind and rain bashing us about all the time

Wednesday was another storm filled day. The whole country is taking a bashing with the rivers Severn and Thames flooded and up by about 5 metres (that's about 15') theres so much water laying around, thousands of houses have been flooded and have no electricity. Apparently England is now one fifth under water! The worst storms came today tho, hail and strong winds, heavy rain and sleet... It's really open where we are right now and were getting bashed about against the side, the wind is coming right across the open sheep fields straight at us!

It's more like the open river here, or even the open sea... except you can see land!

Thursday morning we did some much needed washing at the Daventry launderette, not the nicest one we've been to! Cost quite a bit too as the washers didn't spin the clothes properly and we had to put extra money in the dryers.

Yikes! I've got to somehow get that clean!

When we got home we decided we couldn't stand another day of being bashed about by the strong winds so we moved up just one lock and just one mile to just below the Marston Doles locks. 

Paul walks up the mile long pound, Jack's in front and Ian and his little Jack's follow on just for fun!

But when we tied the boat up we discovered the towpath was about a foot deep in slush and mud in places! But we stayed anyway, it was 4.30pm and we were sheltered from the winds, very quiet.

Leaving the soggy towpath early in the morning to catch the 'not so windy' part of the day

Friday was Valentines Day, February 14th. We set off early as the wind hadn't got too strong then, that was later! We went up the two Marston Doles locks and at the 50' turning point we managed to turn our 55' boat round so we were facing back down the locks. 

Safe and snuggled in our spot at the top of Marson Doles locks

Then a quick reverse and we were at the water point where we filled up our water tank. Another reverse manoeuvre another 50 yds and we had slotted in the last of the 14 day mooring spots behind the two boats that were already there. 

We tied up the boat, had a quick cuppa and we all walked down to Holt farm where we had left the car and drove back up to the boat. Then the wind and rain came down, lashings of the stuff! We were pretty sheltered here. Later on we went to Southam and shopped for our lovely meal of best steak with all the trimmings that we had planned for tonight. The wind and rain is horrendous now, beating down on the roof of the boat like thunder! Paul and Jack both got soaked walking the fields in the afternoon.

The wind and rain were horrendous now, channeling down the canal

Our valentines dinner was lovely, we followed the steak with a yummy chocolate pudding! All night it rained, and all night the wind (which gusted up to 60mph) bashed the boat about, we hardly got any sleep! It was probably the worst night's sleep we've ever had! We seem to be in a wind tunnel here, the wind has changed direction and is hammering down the canal.

There's 4 boats in a row now, another one sneaked in behind us!

On Saturday 15th February the wind still hadn't let up, it was still banging us about despite Paul adjusting the ropes and fenders.

A beautiful sunset behind us, looking towards Oxford

During the following week we discovered some amazing walks, we walked for miles and miles! Jack just loved it, running like he'd never run before!

We went shopping in Southam in preparation for my sister Milly and little Jacks visit on the Tuesday and Wednesday. 

All dressed up and ready to go on our 'Jack' walk

We had a lovely time, he's absolutely adorable!

The two 'Jacks' together, cheeky, the pair of them!

We talked to our neighbours, Scott and Dawn on nb One Day! And Ian from the pair of work boats, Truro and Ditton came and drunk tea with us on more than one occasion! Paul went to help a damsel in distress, Teresa Tree, she was having electric charging problems. We walked miles over fields and woodlands and meadows with Jack, we collected wood and was able to wash Jack down with the hose after every walk as we were moored so close to the water point!

Jack caught us some dinner, but with mixy eyes, we thought it best not to eat rabbit stew!

We gave Jack a hair cut for the first time this year, he seemed to really appreciate it and was like a puppy once again! We ate buffalo burgers bought from the little local shop at the bottom of the locks, they were delicious!

Filling up with water at the top of the locks before we set off 

The rain has finally stopped now, the wind is still very strong and we seem to be catching it bad here so on Saturday 22nd February we decided we would fill up with water and move down a few locks to where it might be a bit more sheltered. We were soon through the two Marston Doles locks and Paul and Jack walked the mile long pound till they reached Adkins lock, by Holt farm. 

We had finally found a sheltered spot out of the raging winds

We got through that one and through the bridge, round the corner and here's where we stopped for a few days. We were just past Ian and Alison's boats, just before the next lock, but more importantly we were in a sheltered spot where we would be out of the forecasted wind.

Ian and Alison's boats, Truro and Ditton

After a cuppa we set off on foot down the flight of locks. We were dumping rubbish and needed a few bits from the local stores in Napton, also we went to check out the pub at the bottom, the Folly Inn, for Sunday dinner tomorrow! After walking back up the locks to the boat we had lunch and walked back up the three locks we had just come down to get the car!

We had done enough walking, we settled in for the evening with a lovely plate of steak and chips!

Yum yum!

There be wind and heavy rain on the horizon.... and it was heading our way!

Well the wind and rain came the next day, as predicted. We were ok in our little sheltered spot on the boat but we really felt it when we took Jack around the now empty sheep fields (they've all gone in sheds for lambing). 

At lunch time we all (including Jack) walked down the flight of locks again to the Folly Inn for our Sunday roast dinner! 

We ate till we nearly burst at the Folly Inn, fantastic Sunday roast, followed by pudding too!

We had roast beef with all the trimmings and the biggest Yorkshire pudding you ever did see! And we had pudding too! Jack was really well behaved, didn't really know we'd got him! The pub supplied a good stock of dog biscuits for 'good' dogs, so he was happy!

We waddled back up the locks and fell into the boat, we stayed there till we could move again, which was quite a long time!

We were warm and cosy, the fire chuffin away, we were sheltered from the dreadful weather around us

The sun set was stunning, once again

We stayed here for a week, during which time we went into Northampton shopping, to Banbury to a C&RT 'meet the boaters meeting', went food shopping in Rugby, Paul fished in the mini fishing lake at Holt Farm and on Friday my lovely friend Lyndsey came to visit us and we had a great day shopping in Birmingham for a dress for my wedding!

The weather has been good all week and the grounds not quite as soggy as it was a few days ago as we haven't had too much rain.

All ready for the off, Jack says 'hurry up'

On Saturday 1st March it was really bright and sunny, but very cold! We walked Jack and then set off down the remaining 6 locks, everyone was smiling, the sun was out and it was a beautiful day!

Back we went down the Napton flight...

We saw just three boats moving, all hire boats! The last one was at the very bottom of the locks, moored up on the water point! We told them they couldn't leave the boat there while they went to the shop in Napton half a mile away and they seemed genuinely shocked! No one had told them not to moor on water points! They soon moved and we got our water!

We carried on past the 14 day moorings at Napton, it was such a lovely day we decided to keep going and enjoy the sunshine. 

It was such a lovely day we didn't really want to stop

At the 14 day moorings at The Bridge Inn (Linzi and Paul's old closed down pub) we pulled in and tied the boat up. After lunch with the sun still out, we walked back to Holt Farm bridge to collect the car and bring it to The Bridge car park, empty of cars! We chatted to some fellow boaters along the way, all making the most of the best day of the year so far! 

We moored up near the Bridge Inn again, but C&RT had been along and left blackthorn brambles everywhere....

... and poor old Jack found lots in his feet

The mooring here is a bit noisy as the bridge by The Bridge is a main road and traffic noise can be heard. C&RT contractors have been cutting back the hedgerows here and have left sharp prickly bits of spikey hedge everywhere, they've not picked up any of the mess and it's getting in Jacks paws and even in our wellies right through to our feet!

Paul went to see Greg, it's a long drive there and back, he wasn't home till late!

On Sunday the weather completely changed. It was now windy cold and wet! 

We went off for a brilliant walk, discovering so many more fields with public access! 

The view behind, narrow boat Joss struggling with their electrics

When we came back our neighbours, who had a beautiful black and white springer called Buttons, explained they had lost all power from their batteries, couldn't even get water as 12v was needed for the pump! So we filled up every container we could for them, Paul had a quick look but it turns out it was a bodge job done in Braunston that they were going to have to go back and get sorted! They soon left for Braunston disappointed having to cut their cruise short.

There's a few hire boats out again today, battling with the heavy rain and strong winds. We didn't go anywhere!

Looking down towards the boat, you can just see the purple of the boat in the distance!

On Monday 3rd March it wasn't too bad, there was a few heavy showers but the sun came out too! We walked to the top of Napton hill again, just loving the view from the top! We went into Rugby to get our wedding rings and do a bit of shopping. Back at home after another walk with Jack up the hill we struggled back with our arms full of collected wood. Paul chopped and chainsawed and filled up our wood box once again.

Plenty of wood here to keep us cosy and warm for the evening!

Tuesday was another beautiful day, the sun was shining and there was even some warmth in the air! We got the car from The Bridge car park and drove to bridge 102, about 3 and a half miles up the canal. 

We didn't even put on our wellies for the walk back, but I think we needed them here!

After having a lovely long walk back along the still very boggy towpath to the boat we set off for our cruise in the beautiful sunshine, we couldn't resist on such a beautiful day! We went slowly along the canal enjoying every minute, spring was really on its way now. Buds were appearing in the hedges, on weeping willows and blossom was showing on the blackthorn trees. Lambs were skipping in the fields the canal was as still as a millpond and the sky was a brilliant blue. Perfect!

Hire boats line up waiting for the spring for the punters to get em out! 

The beautiful open countryside, we enjoyed every minute of our cruise 

We found a lovely spot just near to Bridge 103

After about an hour we got just past bridge 103 where we had spotted a great place to stop for the night. It's really quiet, open fields all around us and not a lot else! There's no spikey branches laying all over the towpath, in fact the towpath is grassy and firm! So that's even more perfect! Jack plays outside with his toys while Paul chops up the wood we've collected over the last few days. Our wood box is empty and that's not a good sign!

Our little spot by bridge 103, not a boat in sight, we had it all to ourselves

I made some yummy pancakes for lunch, it's pancake day today! We went walking around the local fields in the beautiful sunshine, not the best walks, but Jack was happy! It was a lovely quiet mooring spot we'd found and it was a cold and frosty morning and we woke to a beautiful sunrise on Wednesday 6th March 2014. 

This was beautiful, the sky was on fire!

That soon disappeared though, leaving us with a cloudy morning. We walked to bridge 102, collected the car and drove to Braunston. We then walked the 3.5 miles back to the boat and ate our well deserved breakfast.

Soon we had undone the ropes and were on our way to Braunston, our last stop of the winter before we head off north towards Birmingham.

Its a mad sky as we pass a 'maybe in the future' mooring spot

We sipped cuppa soup while we enjoyed our short cruise up to Braunston, the landscape opening up to massive fields, all sown for crops, all starting to show greenery popping through the surface. It's a lovely part of the canal, it's the last bit of the Southern Oxford before we get to the junction with the Grand Union once again.

Here we turn right and head into Braunston....

Looking back at the junction of the South Oxford Canal, we're now on the Grand Union once again

We soon arrived at the junction, turned right and headed for the water point and the rubbish dump. After all that was sorted I turned the boat round and headed back the way we came to a familiar mooring spot opposite the Boathouse Pub, and moored up behind our lovely new friend Linda. She's on nb Kanbedun Again. Poor lady has just lost her very old (16 yrs) dog, Ebony. She lives on her own, isn't young, and is a continuous cruiser!

The once empty sheep fields of Braunston are now full of mums and babies...  yumm, lamb chops!

... and a toad comes to say hello and welcome to Braunston!

So were here now for a week or so while I travel to Norfolk for a few days for my daughters 30th birthday! I'm looking after the grandsons while the young 'uns party! I'll be back on the 10th March, we'll go shopping, get the car back to Milton Keynes and then set sail for our forthcoming wedding in Birmingham, in traditional narrow boat style, very slowly of course

And then our travels begin for 2014 ......