Tuesday 13th November 2018



It had rained heavily through the night and so, this morning, the paintwork on the hull side was still wet so could not be blackened until it had dried. So Harvey was clipped. He didn’t enjoy it much but, with a few sweeties, he put up with it. The result is perhaps not as good as Posh Paws did, but Brenda did OK.

We went shopping to top up with bits and pieces, including more alcohol. You cannot, after all, live on love alone. Also visited the Braunston butcher again. Apparently a lot of people off hire and shared ownership boats visit him before they head home.

Back at the boat, the hull side had dried off and so was blackened, although this time, it is just a touch up. This was left to dry while we had a cup of tea and then we set off.

We have to be back in Braunston for 26th November, to have a cover made to fit over the side door. So we have almost two weeks until then, so have decided to go down the Oxford and Grand Union Canals as far as the winter stoppages will allow, which is not too far.

We winded in the marina entrance and moved slowly passed the moored boats to the water and elsan point only to find a boat moored across the service point and totally blocking it. A boat called Rufford, a shared ownership boat. We called to them but evidently, there was nobody aboard, it turned out they had gone for a walk. We managed to move the boat just clear of the service point and duly did our business. The occupants of Rufford returned when we were half way through and, although they were full of apologies, they didn’t attempt to move on for some time. When they did, they passed us, and the other moored boats at speed.

We continued on to Midland Chandlers on the outskirts of Braunston, just beyond the turn for the South Oxford Canal, which meant having to reverse after our visit. While mooring up, Rufford, who had obviously only gone so far as to wind, passed, heading for the turn onto the South Oxford. He was going so fast, he shot straight across the canal and twatted the bank so hard his boat came to a dead stop, sending waves down the canal. Class.

After buying our bits and pieces, we reversed to the turning point and headed down the South Oxford. It was nice to be moving again and heading for the countryside on a lovely day.

We had intended to go as far as the stoppage at Napton, but the sun was so strong and low and directly in our faces, we couldn’t see where we were going. So we moored up in the middle of nowhere. How lucky we feel, just to able to say, enough, and stop and enjoy our surroundings.




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