Crick Show: Day 4

The final day of the show. We went over to the show site first thing, and I managed to get a good few interviews done for my next podcast. When the show was open, Adrian was once again helping on the Briadbar stand. 

This afternoon the winner of the vote for the Favourite Boat in show was announced, and it was the spectacular Vampirate by Norton Canes. It’s a boat with a vampire and pirate theme, and they have really gone for it. 

Daisy by Braidbar was second (how many seconds have they had over the years?) and Breaking Bad by Ovation Was third.

In the evening, we went out to dinner at The Wheatshef with Andy and Helen. 

Crick Show: Day 3

A bit of writing first thing, then we headed over to the show site and looked at toilets, to help us make a decision for the new boat. During the morning, I did quite a few interviews for the podcast, and in the afternoon went to a seminar with the outgoing CRT chief exec, Richard Parry. 

We had a G&T with Helen and Andy, then went to watch some of the exhibitors’ kayak racing. 

In the evening we went over to the beer tent, and bumped into Del and Al among other people. 

Crick Show: Day 2

Adrian went off first thing to start work on the Braidbar stand, while I cracked on with writing mini boat reviews of the boats we looked at yesterday. I also ended up walking up to the village a couple of times to go to the shops, as we had Helen and Andy coming for dinner. I hardly visited the show site at all. Then we had a great evening with our guests. 

Crick Show: Day 1

The first day of the show and it was a busy one. Andy the photographer and I looked at 20 boats on show. It’s the trade day, so it’s easier for us to get on board and get decent photos without too many people in them. Adrian was working on the Braidbar stand.

In the evening, I went to the awards show put on by Crick to mark the 25th anniversary of the show. 

To Crick: Day 19

With the Tidys stuck below Watford Locks last night, we ended up walking back to see them, just a mile away. Helen cooked a lovely dinner, and we had plenty of stuff to talk about. 

A lazy start to the day, and we had scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast for breakfast.  We didn’t set off until around 10am, and we soon approaching Crick Tunnel.

At the far side of the tunnel the moorings for the show start, and a moorings manager pointed us to our space. The mobile signal is dire.  We walked up the towpath and found the Tidys, and wandered up to the village, and then over to the show site where set up was in full swing.  Lunch was a nice toasted sandwich at the Magnolia Cafe.

Back at the boat our neighbours had arrived, and we spent some time helping them tie up so they didn’t swing back and forth as boats went past.

2 miles, 0 locks. (111 miles, 132 locks)

Crick Show: Day 3

There was rain in the night but it cleared up by the time the show opened. Adrian worked in the Braidbar tent again, while I pottered around the show. In the afternoon I went to a presentation by Richard Parry, the chief exec of CRT. 

While that was going on, there was a massive rain storm. It was hard to hear at times because of the rain on the roof of the seminar tent. It also made the whole site very muddy. In the evening we got pizzas from the van in the food court and ate them in the snug, where there were tables and shelter. The headline act in the beer tent was Fleetwood Bac. 

Crick Show: Day 2

Adrian was again working with Braidbar. I got on with writing up the short boat reviews, in a few spells across the day, so I didn’t have to do them all at once. I also walked into the village to get some things from the Co-op. 

One special event on the Braidbar stand was a presentation to Sheila Napier, who’s leaving the waterways and moving back to land, after 50 years of boating, 20 of them on three Braidbar boats. She and her late husband Bruce set up the Braidbar Owners’ Group. She was given a lovely bread board with pictures of the three boats on it. 

In the evening, we went for pie and mash in the Snug, and shared a table with a man from Canada and a couple from the US. In the evening, we came back for the Elton John tribute act.

Crick Show: Day 1

Friday is trade and preview day, so things are a bit quieter. It’s a good day for looking at boats. Andy the photographer had a job in the morning, so arrived about 12.30, by which time I’d looked over a few boats. By the end of the day, we’d looked at 20. Adrian meanwhile worked on the Braidbar stand. 

Pre-Crick: Day 8

The noise from the motorway and the trains didn’t keep us awake, but we were up quite early and set off at 7.15.  It was dull and a bit chilly, but at least it wasn’t raining.  I walked up to the bottom lock, which needed emptying.  As Adrian brought Briar Rose towards it, a chap on a boat moored outside the marina asked if he could come up with us.  He was moving the boat to Gloucester for friends, but was single-handing, so it meant quite a bit of extra work for me, opening gates etc.

It wasn’t until the penultimate lock that we met a boat coming down, then at the top lock a huge widebeam had just come down.  By the time we were up, there were four boats waiting to come down.  We moved onto the water point, got a wash load going, and topped up the tank.  It’s a nice fast tap here, and I suspected the water points at the top of Watford and at Crick would be in demand.  Once we were full, we set off again, and turned right at Norton Junction.

The moorings round the corner were surprisingly empty — often there’s not a single space.  The section between the junction and Watford Locks is always longer than I remember, even though I’m aware I always think that!  At the locks, boats were going up in front of us, with one waiting.  The lock keeper said we could follow.  The boat immediately ahead was Renfrew, which was the boat used in the film, Wonka.

We did the two single locks, then the pound before the staircase was really low, meaning the water from the lock set up some strong currents, making getting into the staircase even more tricky than usual.

We made good progress and were soon at the top, where a couple of boats were about to come down.  We carried on a little way, then moored up for lunch, and because we didn’t really need to get to Crick yet.  When we set off again, we had just a couple of bridges to pass through before the tunnel.

We passed one boat in the tunnel, then out the other side a mooring manager was able to tell us which berth number we had been assigned.  We’re again on a single mooring rather than a breasted up one, which is nice; it’s a couple of spaces further from the road bridge than last year.  We went along to the marina entrance to turn around, and retraced our steps to our spot.  When the next boat arrived, there wasn’t enough room for them, so a boat which had moored when no-one else was here had to be moved along a bit.  We wandered over to the show site to see what was going on, and bumped into a few people we knew.  There was lots of last minute prep going on.

7 miles, 14 locks.  (45 miles, 35 locks)

Crick Show: Sunday

As it was Sunday, we had scrambled eggs on toast with mushrooms for breakfast.  Then I carried on writing up the mini reviews of show boats, while Adrian made another visit to the Co-op.  I can’t really do much more work on the boat reports until I know who’s come where in the public vote for Favourite boats.  Later we walked up to the show site, over the temporary bridge.

I needed to check a few things out that I’d either not noted down or had forgotten.  We had interesting chats with the guys on the Water Freedom stand, about their canal water filtration system, and various other people, before we had lunch and returned to the boat.  A little later there was a knock on the boat and it was Lesley and Joe, formerly of Caxton, Yarwood, and Steadfast — now of Toulouse.  We gave them tea and caught up on the news.  It was really great to see them, after quite a big gap.  I ducked out just before 3 because I needed to go to one of the seminar tents, to watch a discussion with Richard Parry of CRT about future funding of the waterways.  The government grant runs out in 2027, and news of the replacement settlement has been ‘imminent’ for months.  I got a couple of news lines out of the session, which was good.

This evening we went to The Wheatsheaf in the village for dinner.  The food was good, and I was particularly pleased with my choice of lamb chops from the specials menu.  We’ve been amused all weekend by the antics of a family of swans who live on the grassy knoll by the water point.  They were absent all day yesterday but arrived back this evening with all four cygnets clambering out of the water via the slightly collapsed concrete edging.

Later we’ll probably go back over and see the Queen tribute band, Mercury, who are playing tonight.

Crick Show: Saturday

Another sunny and warm day. I did some writing in the morning, then we headed over to the show site, seeing a few people we knew and having lunch. More writing in the afternoon, then back over to the site when it was a bit quieter. We had dinner there and went for a walk along the towpath, then I headed back later as Dr Feelgood were playing the beer tent. 

Crick Show: Friday

Friday is press, trade, and preview day — so it’s much easier to get on board to look at the boats.  Andy the photographer arrived just before the gates officially opened at 10, and we were quickly under way looking at boats, him taking photos and me taking notes.

In the past few years, wide beams appeared to be taking over the show but this year they seem to be in retreat — with only six fully fitted wide beams plus two sailaways. There also seem to be more narrowboats this year.  In all, we looked at 27 boats, giving us options for which ones to feature.

Adrian meanwhile went for a walk, did some shopping in the village, and went for a drink at the pub in order to get Wi-Fi.  The signal here is as dreadful as usual.

Pre-Crick: Day 7

Last night’s mooring was very quiet and felt very remote.  There were more bats flying around at dusk.  This morning was another sunny start.  First thing, I put a coat of primer on the Houdini surround, which has had rust treatment in the past couple of days.  Then as we were on our own, we got the washing machine going before we set off.  We got going at about 8.30, and were shortly at Husbands Bosworth tunnel, which has an old BWB blue and yellow sign at this end.

It was a lovely sunny day that made for very enjoyable boating.  The landscape is rolling hills, with crops and occasional livestock.

At about 12.30 we reached Yelvertoft where we stopped on the water point and filled the tank.  We had lunch while we waited.

From there it was just a short hop to Crick, and into our mooring.  We are three boats down from the road bridge, which is much closer than in previous years and also has the advantage of not being breasted up.

A hawthorn bush was overhanging and touching the solar panel, so needed cutting back.  We thought one of the Braidbar crew might have some secateurs, but in fact Austin and Liz came up trumps with a little Japanese saw; once I’d started cutting branches off, it was a job to stop.  We then wandered over to the show site and saw a few people we knew, including Del and Al, and Mark.

14 miles, 0 locks.  (69 miles, 23 locks)

Crick Show: Day 3

We set off from our mooring at about 8.30, and stopped shortly afterwards at the water point at Yelvertoft to get another wash load under way, as Adrian needed work shirts for next week. We got back to our mooring at Crick before 10, with the boat now facing the right way for our escape tomorrow.

We went up to the show ground a couple of times and wandered round — spending time mostly chatting to people we bumped into, including the Momentous crew, and Del and Al. By mid afternoon the crowds had really thinned out.

My cousin Catherine and family are coming for dinner this evening, so it will be great to catch up with them. No photos on the blog today, partly because I haven’t really taken any, and partly because I’ve had to come up the path to the top of the embankment just to get enough signal to post this!

4 miles, 0 locks. (35 miles, 21 locks)

Crick Show: Day 1

It seemed the show’s preview day wasn’t due to open until 12, but Andy the photographer arrived at 9.30 and we got in ok.  During the day we managed to look at 19 new boats.  We also saw a lot of people we knew and had plenty of good chats.  What’s more, it was sunny and warm.

Adrian arrived mid afternoon from work, and later we wandered up to the towpath and got him into the show ground at about 5.30 (his weekend only really valid from 6pm).  We tagged along with the Braidbar crew to get a free drink in the evening in the VIP marquee, and then moved on to the food court, where options were rather limited.  Later we walked along the towpath to Crack’s Hill where the beacon was being lit for the Jubilee.  It was rather underwhelming.

0 miles, 0 locks.  (27 miles, 21 locks)

To Crick: Day 3

I was up early again this morning, and left my mooring just after 7, immediately making the turn onto the Leicester Line.  It’s lush and green everywhere at the moment, and it was a real pleasure to be on the water.  I arrived at the bottom of Watford Locks at almost exactly 8am, when they open — just beating Liz and Austin on Just Siviting, whom I passed as they were about to set off from a mooring very close to the locks.  We both expected there to be a queue already, but there wasn’t, and the lock keeper said we should head straight up.  I emptied the bottom lock while she went to change the signs to say lock keepers were on duty, and then I could go in.

There’s a very awkward turn from the second lock to the staircase, but I’m pleased to say I did it without touching the sides.

The lock keepers stayed with me all the way up as I was single handing, and they were both excellent.  I was at the top in a little over 45 minutes.  I didn’t want to get to Crick too early, partly because I’ll be there long enough, and partly to try ensure that the boat I’m due to be breasted up to was already there.  So I moored up between Bridges 9 and 10, having passed Jubilee on the way.  I went for a walk, taking the lane from Bridge 8 into the little village of Watford, which is very up-market and has a sizeable church.

I then took a path across the fields, which had an unusual stile and bridge over a stream, and then a tunnel under the M1.

The path comes out at the locks, so I chatted to the lock keeper who’d helped me earlier, and spent some time opening gates to repay the favour.  Then I walked back along the towpath to the boat.  I didn’t set off again until gone 2pm, and soon reached the tunnel (which as usual is dry for the first four-fifths of its length and then very wet) and the show moorings.  I knew I was in number 6, where there was no other boat — in fact it turns out there won’t be another boat because they’ve gone into the marina, which will make things a lot easier.  I wandered up the towpath chatting to various people including Chris and Steve from Amy Jo, and then over to the show ground, where there was plenty of last minute activity.

Tomorrow, the show begins.

5 miles, 7 locks.  (27 miles, 21 locks)

Crick Show: Sunday

Dull and rainy on and off today.  We went over to the show and did some shopping, including buying a new chimney.  While there we bumped into Lesley and Joe, and Amanda and David, whom we’d made plans to meet.  They had brought a picnic lunch with them, so arrangements were made for them to come to Briar Rose and eat it with us.  A few hours were spent catching up on news of boat purchases, and of course talking toilets.

In the afternoon it brightened up considerably.  We met Debs and Mark, friends of Andy and Helen Tidy, as they are thinking of buying a boat share and wanted some advice.  We then stayed over at the show site and watched the exhibitors canoe race, which is always fun.

We had dinner on site chatting to Debs and Mark, and were also joined by my cousin Jon and Carolyn.  We went to the entertainment tent for the Dolly Parton tribute act, finding somewhere to sit by taking a picnic bench in from outside,

Crick Show: Saturday

Saturday was another hot and sunny day.  Andy and I looked at more boats before he headed off at lunchtime.  The Canal Boat stand, which was a trailer and gazebo this year rather than the usual tent, looked rather good.

Chris, the editor of Canal Boat, came to Briar Rose for a cup of tea with his wife, Clare.  I wrote quite a lot of mini reviews in the afternoon.  In the evening we went over to the entertainment tent to see Paul Young and his band Los Pacaminos.  En route, we passed the Braidbar boat, Freedom, moored up by the bridge, and Jerry and Linda invited us for gin and tonics on the well deck.  Malcolm who owned Santiago, the show boat from a few years ago, was also visiting them for a boating fix.  We also met up with my cousin Jon who was there camping with his partner, Carolyn.

Crick Show: Preview Day

Friday at the Crick Show is a new thing this year.  It was a trade and preview show, with a limited number of tickets sold, so it made it easier for Andy the photographer and I to get lots of boats looked at.  It was also a lovely sunny and warm day.

In the evening, Adrian and I went into the village and ate at The Wheatsheaf.  We were the last people who hadn’t booked to get a table.

To Crick: Day 2

With only a short distance to go this morning, we didn’t hurry to set off, finally letting go at about 9.  Crick Tunnel was as usual dry at the southern end and a bit drippy at the northern end.  We found our booked mooring, quite close to the first bridge; we were one of the first to arrive along this stretch.  Our neighbouring boat arrived an hour or so later, and moored on the inside of us as they have a dog.

In mid morning we walked up into the village so Adrian could get a bus into Rugby and then a train to London, as he’s going to a black tie awards dinner this evening.  I walked back along the towpath and bumped into some of the Braidbar bunch, and then went over to the show site.  This afternoon I’ve been helping Pete set up the Canal Boat stand.  This evening, I’m going to The Moorings for dinner with the Braidbar crew.

2 miles, 0 locks.  13 miles, 14 locks.