Blacking Weekend: Day 4

Adrian left for work early this morning, and a bit later I packed up and loaded things into my car. Then at a bit before 9am Steve Furniss at Grand Union Narrowboats appeared at the yard opposite, and I reversed the boat alongside.

We had a chat about what needed to be done, then I walked round to my car and set off to Glascote for a boat test. It was a lovely warm sunny day, and we were done in a couple of hours. The drive home, though, was long and quite slow. 

Blacking Weekend: Day 3

We started off the day with a car shuffle — going to pick up the other car from the marina and putting it in Weedon. Then we drove back to the boat, and set off about 11.15. We passed Momentous and had a quick chat as we drifted past, and at the Wharf Inn at Bugbrooke saw our former share boat, Debdale, moored up. It’s now based at Gayton so we’ll probably see it quite a bit.

At times the canal was very busy — we passed four boats coming the other way just between Evans Bridge and Skew Bridge. But at other times we saw no-one. 

We got to Weedon after about three hours and moored up opposite the boat yard ready for tomorrow, then drove to Blisworth to collect the other car. By the steps down from the canal to the road there was a sign about cream teas at the churchyard this afternoon, so once we were both back we walked under the canal and the railway and through that part of the village to the church. It was very pleasant sitting outside with tea and a cream scone.

We returned by continuing along the road, back under the railway and canal and up the other steps to the towpath.

8 miles, 0 locks. (17 miles, 7 locks)

Blacking Weekend: Day 2

We had a lazy start to the day, then just before 11am we could be seen walking up the towpath in suits. We had a car at the bridge, and drove up to a place near Mansfield in Notts for a wedding. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

We got back just before 11pm

0 miles, 0 locks. (9 miles, 7 locks)

Blacking Weekend: Day 1

I came up to the boat after work and Adrian came up from home, doing shopping on the way. I arrived just after 11 and Adrian about 45 minutes later. We then went and dropped off a car at Stoke Bruerne locks. Back at the boat, we set off and headed north. It was warm when the sun was out, but also quite blustery, although fortunately not while I was turning out of the marina. It took the usual hour and a half to get to the bottom of Stoke Bruerne — where we had help in the form of Jenny and Pete from Momentous who were moored at the top. We were joined up the locks by a family on a Gayton hire boat, who’ve been hiring for thirty years and had been to London and back. There was even some synchronised boating.

The Momentous dogs, Sassie and Frisbee were great fun  Frisbee likes going back and forth across the lock gates.

We moored up at the top, along towards the tunnel, and Jenny and Pete came along for a cup of tea as a small thank you for their help. Plus we had a good chance to catch up of course. Then while I set off through the tunnel, Adrian walked back down to the car and drove to Blisworth. There was nowhere to moor in the village, but we’ve slotted into a very tight space just before Bridge 49. 

9 miles, 7 locks

Birmingham

To Birmingham today for a boat test — the first time we’ve ever done one in the city centre.

I’d stayed on Briar Rose overnight and met up with Andy the photographer at Bicester so we could travel together. The weather didn’t entirely play ball, with the sun only really coming out once the boat was heading off down the locks, where we have the owners a hand with the top couple. 

Night on board

Came up to Briar Rose after work as I need to be up this way on Tuesday. I’ll do tomorrow’s shift in London by getting the train from Milton Keynes. 

Eventide on test, and other Crick boats

The August Canal Boat is out, and includes my boat test on the Crick Show winner, Eventide by Oakums Narrowboats. Plus there are mini reviews of all the other Crick boats.