Day 1 - Warings Green to Rowington Embankment

Wednesday 3rd August

5 miles, 19 locks

Leaving our mooring at Warings Green

A good day for weather - dry, sun/cloud but quite breezy

Set off on our 2016 adventure! A bit of a nuisance having to go the wrong way for 20 minutes to turn round.

Crane at Swallow Cruisers

Trip down to the Grand Union was uneventful, just a pleasant cruise with 19 locks and 2 draw bridges listening to the third test vs Pakistan.

Day 2 - Rowington Embankment to Radford Semele

Wednesday 4th August

11 miles, 23 locks

A beautiful morning on the embankment

A bright, sunny morning. Me and my fitbit did a quick 1000 steps along the towpath before breakfast.

Working the Hatton flight

After a big slimming world cooked breakfast we set off just after 9 am arriving at the top lock of Hatton at 10.00. A narrowboat waved us straight into the lock. What a joy to go down with a crew of 6 experienced boaters. We flew down the flight in less than 3 hours, the hirers making me a cup of tea and offering Pims at lunchtime.

Stopped for lunch and as we set off down the final two locks of the day the hirers were enjoying a drink in the Cape of Good Hope as were the occupants of two further hire boats dressed as pirates.

Sheltering from the shower

A dark cloud appeared above us as we cruised along and just as Paul said we were on the edge of it the heavens opened. Paul got soaked. We pulled up to take cover under a bridge and secure the cratch cover sitting it out nicely until a boat appeared round the bend and we were forced to move on only to find it was our friendly hirers. We let them pass as we were just sauntering.

Radford Semele church

Moored opposite the church at Radford Semele - nice rural mooring. Walked up into the village, the church of St Nicholas having recently been rebuilt following a fire. Enjoying a quiet drink in the White Lion when who should walk in but the hirers with their three boisterous retrievers who were all shattered by their earlier activities.

Able to sit out to eat on return to the boat watching aeroplanes approaching Birmingham airport.

Day 3 - Radford Semele and Leamington

Thursday 5th August

Another warm day just a very short light shower around tea time.

Taking the waters

Walked the two miles back into Leamington Spa. Had coffee in the pump house and assembly rooms before going into the museum and art gallery. The museum was interesting as the baths were used as a NHS hydro/physiotherapy unit until the 1990's. Reminded me of some of the old treatments I had used/seen used in the past - wax baths, neck traction etc.

The art exhibition, camoufleurs, a unit in the army in WW2 who designed and made camouflage to protect buildings etc from bombers. Most of the paintings on show were of scenes relating to the camouflage painted by the camoufleurs. I particularly enjoyed the paintings of Colin Moss.

Jephson gardens

After a stroll around town - all the usual shops and quite a few expensive independents, we deliberated over lunch. The healthy option prevailed and we bought jacket potatoes from a street vendor and took them to the Jephson gardens to eat where we enjoyed them whilst watching the fountains in the lake.

Pink Powder Puff flower

Strolled around the gardens - beautiful bedding, a sensory garden and a hothouse where we saw the pink powder puff flower.













Decided to walk back so that my steps would be complete calling in at the co-op to top up on milk and veg.

Quiet evening. Paul cleaned the windows and swept the boat while I made a curry for tomorrow.

Strolled along to next lock only to meet Louise of NB Surunam and NB Maverick Water Gypsy. They had set up camp and were barbecuing on the towpath.

Smashed fitbit target - 18000 steps.

Day 4 - Radford Semele to Long Itchington

Saturday 6th August

5 miles, 10 locks

Welsh Road lock for lunch

A beautiful and very warm and sunny day. Set off on a five mile cruise with ten locks - very hot. Stopped at Welsh Road lock for lunch eaten inside to take a break from the sun. Finally moored in Long Itchington in the shade of an Ash tree,

Bascote staircase

Pub 1

Wandered the three quarters of a mile to the village and saw the millenium way sign commenting that next time we were in Long Itchington we would be walking that way.

Had a look at the church - no bells.

Had a drink in the walled garden of the Harvester pub. Lots of exotic palms in pots around the tables made from barrels and pallets, most unusual. Also had a pizza oven/shed in the garden - we resisted!

The Duck on the Pond

Walked around the pond before visiting the Duck on the Pond - recently refurbished, very nice, then on to the Two Boats where we were able to sit outside and listen to the cover band whilst watching them through the window.

Sunset over Long Itchington

Day 5 - Long Itchington to Flecknoe

Sunday 7th August

6.5 miles, 13 locks

Sheep at Long Itchington

Another blue sky day not quite as warm. I was preparing the first lock when Nb Rosery waved and said they were coming up too. Well, it was an interesting ten locks!

The Stockton flight

Stopped for lunch above the top lock, cleaned boat thoroughly and prepared dinner.

Cricket very exciting 5th day of third test England beat Pakistan in the final session of the day.

Our mooring

After three more locks and turning towards Braunston at Wigrams Turn we found a rural mooring opposite cornfields.

Sunset

Went for a stroll after dinner so I could complete my 10000 steps. Went up onto a bridge and caught  beautiful sunset.

Day 6 - Flecknoe to Norton Junction

Monday 8th August

8 miles, 6 locks

Approaching Braunston Turn

Still dry but cloudier and cooler than the past two days. Set off for Braunston a pleasant enough cruise lots of boats leaving Braunston after the weekend music festival.

Turned right at Braunston Turn only to witness a narrow boat to the left hit a moored boat - my thoughts on Braunston were reaffirmed it is very busy and not a place to moor for too long.








Moored opposite the pub and walked back to Midland Chandlers where we chose a new cooker and fridge which we will collect in the autumn. Also bought a new kettle, hat for chimney (ours got knocked off and fell into the canal a couple of days ago) and a chain to replace the one we lost at Kingswood Junction on our last trip.

Braunston Church

Back to boat for coffee before walking to the village for supplies.

After a leisurely lunch we set off for Norton Junction. Got in a queue at second lock, couple in cruiser only second day in boat and had no idea how to do locksso the lady from Water Impulse and I did the first three locks twice giving them instructions as we went. Made very slow progrees and didn't moor until 5.45pm.

Braunston Pump House

Visitors at Norton Junction mooring

Showered and went for a wander to find Long Buckby Wharf - surprise surprise not much to see. We walked past it. Eventually realised it was where we had remarked on the terrace of cottages.

Back to the New Inn with its beautiful floral displays for a beer before dinner. They had a strange skittles game where the skittles were on a table surrounded by a net and you threw the balls.

The New Inn

Long Buckby Wharf

The end of a busy day

Day 7 - Norton Junction to Crick

Tuesday 9th August

5 miles, 7 locks (Watford)

An hour cruise to Watford locks. Paul got excited as we passed Watford Gap services reminiscing about the time we hired a boat with Linda and Mark and climbed the fence to have a coffee there on his 53rd birthday.

Watford staircase

Got to Watford locks to find that there was over an hour wait to go up as they were bringing three boats down first. While we were waiting using the time to fill up with water a family who we had seen a couple of times before cruised up to the lock gate before reading the sign about booking your passage up with the lock keeper. They pulled in in front of us with no engine running as it kept cutting out. They were not happy with how the lock keepers were working the locks and could not see why they had to wait never mind jumping in front of us.

Side ponds on the staircase

Eventually started the ascent two single locks a staircase of four and a single lock. All very well kept and very enjoyable particularly using the side ponds.











After the locks and another hour or so cruising we hit Crick tunnel only to catch up with the same family who's engine had cut out in the tunnel. We passed them and towed them out.

Moored in Crick wandered into the village for supplies and visited the church which was huge but not very decorative.

Wandered to village again later. Had a drink in the Wheatsheaf and Red Lion finishing at The Moorings before heading back to boat for dinner.

Day 8 - Crick to Welford Junction

Wednesday 10th August

10 miles, 0 locks

Rugby School

Alarm set, up to get the bus to Rugby. Slimming world day. Wandered around Rugy, quite interesting dominated by the school.

Back to boat for lunch before cruising to Welford junction. Lovely rural canal and an uneventful trip other than it being quite shallow in places.

Stayed dry but quite cool. Didn't moor until after 6.00pm - late for us. Short stroll before watching olympics.

Leaving Crick

Day 9 - Welford

Thursday 11th August

2.5 miles, 2 locks

Welford Basin

A duller day rainy when we got up so we sat it out until it stopped. Left mooring to go down the Welford arm late morning. Turned in winding hole and moored. Paul went for a wander and said we should have gone on to the basin.

Went for a walk into the village after lunch - not much to see busy main road running through with heavy lorries.

Decided to cruise back to last night's mooring. I walked to get some steps in. Another night of jigsaw and olympics!

Day 10 - Welford Junction to Foxton top lock

Friday 12th August

7.5 miles

Got up to a blue sky which continued all day.

Our mooring above the top lock

Cruised to the top of Foxton locks, a very pleasant cruise. Filled up with water before the flight and decided that Rachael and Ross would like the trip down tomorrow so reversed back to moorings and settled in.

Foxton locks

After lunch we walked down to the junction which was very busy lots of gongoozlers and pokeman hunters. Apparently Foxton locks is a hot spot for them.













Walked into the village of Foxton eventually finding the village store which, unusually for a small shop, had an amazing range of fruit and veg. It turned out that they run a veg box scheme.

Walked down to Bridge 61 and had a couple of beers in the garden before crossing the bridge to Foxton Locks Inn for a shiraz or two.

Day 11 - Foxton Locks

Saturday 13th August

0.5 miles, 10 locks

Waiting at the top lock

Sunny start to the day but drizzled a bit as time came for our visitors to arrive, Rachael, Ross and Anna.

Top lock

Queued for Foxton locks Anna charging around and getting very annoyed when we wouldn't let he walk on water or explore a lock. She caused a lot of comments when she had her lif jacket, reins and first mates badge on!

Anna

Descending

Went down the ten locks in fifty minutes, Rach and Ross working locks. Anna and I sat on the front saying down, down, down and cheering when the gates opened. Anna shouting more and more each time we left a lock. Cruised round on to the Market Harborough arm.


























Walked back to the car park with the Whittakers stopping at Bridge 51 for a coke and to watch the world go round.

Duck food!

Bottom lock

Every pub should do this

Day 12 - Foxton to Market Harborough

Sunday 14th August

5.5 miles

Entering Market Harborough basin

A quiet, pleasant cruise into Market Harborough meeting our first fishing match of the trip.

Turned in the basin and moored on the towpath rather than pay £10 for a pontoon in the basin.

Church and Old Grammar School

Walked into town, very nice especially the Old Grammar School a small building on stilts by the church.














After stocking up with food in Sainsburys we had an hour to relax before the arrival of our next visitors Clive and Helen. Spent a pleasant hour and a half with them, they brought courgettes and apples from their garden.

Sculpture in the basin

Walked along to the waterfront where a jazz band were playing. Warm enough to sit outside - we treated ourselves to a curry - our first meal/takeaway of the trip.

Our evening spot

Day 13 - Market Harborough to Foxton

Monday 15th August

5.5 miles

A beautiful day. Paul went into MH basin for a pump out while I went to find a chemist - coldsore. Paul met me and we had a coffee in the square.

Back to boat to cruise in the sunshine back to Foxton. Sam from the boatyard unable to repack the stern gland as he has injured his elbow. Paul bought some packing and did it himself. It took a long time as one engine mount had come loose putting the shaft out of alignment. Phone call to Ian to find out what to do and a very awkward tightening of a barely accessible nut. All well in the end except that Paul has and aching chest and tummy from lying on the hard floor and engine and stretching over to reach the dreaded nut!

Sunset

Bottom lock

Day 14 - Foxton to Newton Harcourt

Tuesday 16th August

7 miles, 5 locks

Another beautiful day very warm and blue skies. Cruised from Foxton to Newton Harcourt. Stunning mooring looking over fields to Wistow church and maize maze which was dotted with sunflowers.

Wistow model village

Moored up at lunch time and walked across fields to Wistow rural centre, a few shops, cafe, deli and model village. Bought some citronella candles sharpener for the shears and a stash of greetings cards.

Moored at Newton Harcourt

Quiet evening on mooring. Enjoyed a lovely roast dinner and cycling at the olympics.

A beautiful evening