Welsh Road (Floating slippers, electricity sub-stations and a staring man)

Unexpected but reflective rainbow this morning

What a gorgeous Indian summer’s day it was on Thursday.  I was doing the regular morning task of dead heading the plants but stupidly I was still in my slippers.  They are only slip-ons and they easily slip off and slip off they did; into the water and not for the first time.  I didn’t panic because I knew they floated and got them out before going back indoors.  I left them on the roof all day to dry out in the sun.  I really must be sensible when walking the gunwales even when moored up!

Karen had gone to Peterborough for a meeting and sent a picture to our family Whatsup group from her office for the day:

The joys of working for a utility company – not quite the Canary Wharf of her last job 😊

During the morning Buddy and I walked to Long Itchington to stock up on fruit and salad stuff.  The village is two miles away and we met nobody on the way there or back which is one of the reasons we enjoy being around this area.  That’s not quite true, we passed three boats in the Bascote flight.  There were two hire boats getting ready to go up the staircase and the crews were debating how to operate the locks as they had realised that staircases were different to ordinary locks and they hadn’t come across them before.  This was despite clear instructions posted at the top and bottom.  

I don’t really like getting involved as it feels a bit condescending but they were about to open the wrong paddles so I felt I had to intervene. They were glad I explained what to do but I did point out the signs and said they should always look for those first in the future and not to worry about doing things slowly.

Bullrushes out just up from our mooring

We walked past the pumpkin fields which were now being harvested.  They were being harvested by hand as I doubt there’s specialised machinery for this crop yet.

 

On the way into the village from the canal we walked along the old railway line which is now a butterfly reserve.

I was imagining what it would look like next spring when I realised we wouldn’t be here – we would be on our way up north for the year as Karen stops work (again!) in March.  A bit further on the cutting gets a bit more overgrown but that encourages different species of butterflies to those of the open, grassy areas.

Just outside the village, the local community are establishing a nature reserve which is a good thing to see as it gets people outdoors and gives them a chance to learn about the natural world.

 

In the afternoon I was sitting outside with Buddy, eating my fruit salad, when a walker came by (the first of the day that I had seen).  He stopped to say hello and then just stood and stared at the butterfly picture on the side of the boat.  He told me he had seen the boat when we were moored on the Hatton flight a couple of months ago and he had stood there for about ten minutes just looking at the butterfly.  He asked if he could do the same this time and I said yes but felt slightly uncomfortable as he didn’t seem to want to talk.  In the end I carried on eating and said if he wanted a chat then to let me know.  He finished staring, thanked me, asked me a few questions about blue butterflies and went on his way.

Us and our neighbours at our Welsh Road lock mooring

Before I go I want to say thank you for the well wishes for my mum – she is still in hospital and cannot leave until Social Services have visited the home to see what adaptations, if any, are required.  They have already been out and fitted additional rails for my dad but suspect they will say Mum will have to stay downstairs for the foreseeable future.

Thursday evening stillness

Welsh Road (Floating slippers, electricity sub-stations and staring man)

Unexpected but reflective rainbow this morning

What a gorgeous Indian summer’s day it was on Thursday.  I was doing the regular morning task of dead heading the plants but stupidly I was still in my slippers.  They are only slip-ons and they easily slip off and slip off they did; into the water and not for the first time.  I didn’t panic because I knew they floated and got them out before going back indoors.  I left them on the roof all day to dry out in the sun.  I really must be sensible when walking the gunwales even when moored up!

Karen had gone to Peterborough for a meeting and sent a picture to our family Whatsup group from her office for the day:

The joys of working for a utility company – not quite the Canary Wharf of her last job 😊

During the morning Buddy and I walked to Long Itchington to stock up on fruit and salad stuff.  The village is two miles away and we met nobody on the way there or back which is one of the reasons we enjoy being around this area.  That’s not quite true, we passed three boats in the Bascote flight.  There were two hire boats getting ready to go up the staircase and the crews were debating how to operate the locks as they had realised that staircases were different to ordinary locks and they hadn’t come across them before.  This was despite clear instructions posted at the top and bottom.  

I don’t really like getting involved as it feels a bit condescending but they were about to open the wrong paddles so I felt I had to intervene. They were glad I explained what to do but I did point out the signs and said they should always look for those first in the future and not to worry about doing things slowly.

Bullrushes out just up from our mooring

We walked past the pumpkin fields which were now being harvested.  They were being harvested by hand as I doubt there’s specialised machinery for this crop yet.

 

On the way into the village from the canal we walked along the old railway line which is now a butterfly reserve.

I was imagining what it would look like next spring when I realised we wouldn’t be here – we would be on our way up north for the year as Karen stops work (again!) in March.  A bit further on the cutting gets a bit more overgrown but that encourages different species of butterflies to those of the open, grassy areas.

Just outside the village, the local community are establishing a nature reserve which is a good thing to see as it gets people outdoors and gives them a chance to learn about the natural world.

 

In the afternoon I was sitting outside with Buddy, eating my fruit salad, when a walker came by (the first of the day that I had seen).  He stopped to say hello and then just stood and stared at the butterfly picture on the side of the boat.  He told me he had seen the boat when we were moored on the Hatton flight a couple of months ago and he had stood there for about ten minutes just looking at the butterfly.  He asked if he could do the same this time and I said yes but felt slightly uncomfortable as he didn’t seem to want to talk.  In the end I carried on eating and said if he wanted a chat then to let me know.  He finished staring, thanked me, asked me a few questions about blue butterflies and went on his way.

Us and our neighbours at our Welsh Road lock mooring

Before I go I want to say thank you for the well wishes for my mum – she is still in hospital and cannot leave until Social Services have visited the home to see what adaptations, if any, are required.  They have already been out and fitted additional rails for my dad but suspect they will say Mum will have to stay downstairs for the foreseeable future.

Thursday evening stillness

Welsh Road (Marathons, hospitals and missing taxis)

Red Admiral on ivy flowers on Tuesday

It was up early on Sunday morning for all three of us as we were off to see Catherine running in Nottingham’s half marathon.  We planned to see her at the half-way point, at the top of a hill, to give her some encouragement.  We then had to find a way of getting to the finish line before she got there.  All went according to plan and she was full of smiles when she heard us shouting to tell her she was nearly at the top of the hill.  We had a bit of trouble getting to the finish line and had to park over a mile away but just got there with about ten minutes to spare.  We're not sure what Buddy thought of it all - he just laid down and slept whenever we were stood waiting.

Cat sprinting at the end (she’s the one with her thumbs up 😉)

There had been a good turnout with about 10,000 running the half marathon and 3,000 running the full marathon.  They follow the same course with an extra 13 miles added on for the marathon runners.  I think it must be quite dispiriting, as a full marathon runner, to get to the end of the half knowing that you haven't really finished and need to run another 13 miles.

When we got home we found we had neighbours and had a chat as we were ferrying stuff to and from the car.  We have seen their boat before but not actually met them and, as usual, I cannot remember their names.  They have lived on their boat, Izzy, for a year and as he works in Rugby and she is a school inspector for Warwickshire they tend to cruise the same area as us.  Amazingly, to me anyway, he cycles to Rugby every day.  

As usual, when we meet local continuous cruisers for the first time, we are reminded just how many people live the life we do in the same area without coming across each other.  I'm also reminded that we only have another 5 ½ months to go before we finish bridge hopping and can get back to cruising all over the country.

On Monday morning, Buddy and I dropped Karen at work at six and then drove up to Yorkshire to see my parents for a couple of days.  My mother had had an accident last week and had broken bones in both ankles.  My sister had been up there for nearly a week, ferrying my dad to visit my mum in hospital and doing all the other things you have to do when caring for parents.  Unfortunately, my dad has hurt his back and can only walk with the aid of a zimmer frame so extra care was needed.

Mum has had ski-like boots fitted and can walk with the aid of a zimmer too.  She is in good spirits and is not one for laying down in bed all day so hopefully she won’t be in hospital too long.

Mum and Dad having a zimmer race – I wish I’d borrowed one and joined in too 😉

During a break from hospital visits I took Buddy for a walk along the Leeds & Liverpool canal which runs through my parents’ village; Gargrave is on the northernmost point of the canal.  As I was walking past some moored boats I recognised one, called Martha, and realised that Nicola, a boating friend from Braunston, was cruising the canal.  We had a good catch up but decided not to socialise later in the evening as she had just got back from a holiday in Spain and I needed to do things for my dad.  It transpired that she is in the area for a while as she and her brother, who also lives locally, are taking turns looking after their father who is also not well – a small world isn’t it?

Buddy on one set of the stepping stones across the river in Gargrave

It was strange being on my own on the stepping stones as we usually visit them once a year with as many of the children as possible.  Traditionally we take a picture in height order and another in age order.  Here’s a couple from previous years:

2001: Us with seven of the children in no particular order (Karen's the tallest one!)

2010: Us with the same seven children but in height order and with our previous dog, Diesel

As I had the car, Karen got a taxi home from work on Monday evening and arranged for the same firm to pick her up early in the morning.  I was awake at six so called her to make sure she had been picked up OK but she was still waiting in the dark on Welsh Road bridge.  After ten minutes she rang the taxi cab (Leamington Taxis) but couldn’t get a reply so I got hold of a local guy we use sometimes (John’s Cars) and he was just leaving Birmingham airport and said he would get to her as quickly as he could.  

Later in the day Karen got hold of Leamington Taxis and they told her that the driver had forgotten and amazingly they didn’t even apologise!  As you can imagine we have given them an appropriate review and left good feedback for John.

On the way to hospital on Tuesday, Dad and I did some shopping at Tesco and Dad had a go on a motorised trolley for the first time as it’s something he’s wanted to do since he’s been unable to walk unaided.

Dad the learner driver at nearly 90 (years old, not speed!)

I drove back down to the Midlands on Tuesday afternoon, picking Karen up from work on the way.  Before leaving I took Buddy for a quick walk and found a privet hedge covered in ivy which was covered in flowers which had attracted 16 Red Admiral butterflies and dozens of bees.

I can count eight Red Admirals in this shot

Buddy and I took it easy on Wednesday, walking down the canal to Radford in the morning and up it to Long Itchington in the afternoon, whilst Karen drove to Manchester and back for some meetings.

Gill and her family passed us in the morning on The Teal on the way back to their mooring at Wigrams Turn.  They were the family who locked down with us on our cruise on Sunday.  Since then they have been down to visit Leam and Warwick.

Welsh Road (Finally left Calcutt and getting the winter flowers potted up)

Karen enjoying a beer on Welsh Road lock gates on Saturday evening

Buddy and I left early on Friday morning for the water point at Calcutt.  Well, it wasn’t that early really but considering we haven’t moved for nearly a fortnight it felt like it.  It was fantastic weather especially as it had been so wet and windy on Thursday.

I was under a promise to Karen to do no more than three locks so that I didn’t aggravate my back.  After taking on water, I went down the top lock at Calcutt and fortunately shared it with a hire boat so I didn’t have to do too much hard work 😉

Helpful hire boaters on the first lock of the day

I was then going to stop at the hire boat yard to get a pump out but the (helpful) hire boaters had parked right alongside the wharf where I needed to get to.  When the hirers return their boats, they are meant to moor up perpendicularly to keep the wharf free.  The guy wasn’t confident about doing that so he was told to leave the boat there and one of the yard men would move it.  I was asked to hover in the middle until the boat was moved out of the way.

For those of you who are interested in pump outs (not many I know 😊), this is how it’s done.  The large pipe sucks everything out of the holding tank.  The hose is then used to refill the tank with water to rinse the tank whilst the boat is rocked to make sure everything gets rinsed off.  The large pipe is then used to pump the waste out again.  This particular yard do this four times which is good – when we go to the self-operated pump outs there isn’t time for a rinse as they run on a timer of, usually, eight minutes.

Big green hose doing the sucking – man getting ready to put the rinsing water in

When I went into the chandlery to pay for the pump out I also bought a couple of O rings to replace the ones that had split on both the water and fuel caps.  Every time Mark has topped us up with diesel he has told me he worries that we are getting water in the fuel tank because the seal on the cap had broken - my guilt finally got the better of me.

I then went down the last two locks of the Calcutt flight and was lucky that there were boats coming out of both so I didn’t have to park up the boat and go and set them.

Two boats coming out of the bottom lock whilst I came out of the middle lock

When I got to Tomlow (yes, another one of our favourite spots) I saw a fisherman right at the spot where we moor.  I deliberately didn’t moor too close to him but he wasn’t happy; hardly responded to my cheery. “Good morning”.  I went in to prepare lunch and could hear a lot of deliberately loud noises and when I came out to eat lunch on deck, he had gone, obviously in a huff.

Fisherman moored in ‘our’ spot in front of the boat

After the fisherman had gone

Talking about the fisherman reminded me of the conversation I had had with one at the reservoir when I took Buddy out for his first walk in the morning.  Buddy, as usual, wanted to sniff around the fisherman’s gear but I called him back.  The fisherman told me not to worry and that the dog is just being nosey.  I agreed but added that many fishermen don’t take to kindly to it and he responded that a lot of fishermen are just grumpy old buggers.  He went on to ask how many walks Buddy gets a day as he said he has seen us around a lot lately and several times each day.  I did recognise him as he always fishes in a spot that doesn’t get the sun so asked him why and he told me it was his lucky spot.

Later in the afternoon Ann arrived and Karen came home from work early (not really as she’s not meant to work on Friday in the first place ☹).  We had a pleasant evening staying in and playing cards.

On Saturday morning we set out for Welsh Road and, for once, shared locks all the way.  We had 15 locks to descend and, with such brilliant weather, Karen and Ann walked the whole way with Buddy whilst doing the locks.  Gill, who was driving the other boat had her sister and niece with her too so there were plenty of people to help at the locks so we had a good old chat in each lock.

Gill on her boat in one of the locks

Gill had some fascinating stories and I was particularly interested in the vineyard that she and her husband run in Ludlow.  They bought the land many years ago and, after spending time in France learning the trade, started the vineyard from scratch eleven years ago.

We all stopped for lunch at Bascote after the first 11 locks.  Karen and I were eager to see what had been grown in three fields around there as, you may remember, we had seen the strange courgette like plants growing when we came through last time.  It was obvious this time – the fields were full of pumpkins, many of which had obviously been picked already.

Karen thought I should have gone and taken one as we think the poorer quality ones had been left behind

Gill and I had got in a good routine sharing the locks, especially as there were a lot of boats coming up and we had to negotiate round them in the short pounds.  When we reached the last lock of the day, Gill went first as we wanted to moor above the next lock and it’s always easier to moor when there are no boats passing.

Leaving Bascote bottom lock – the last of the day

We moored at Welsh Road lock and were lucky to be the only boat there.

Our mooring for the next week or so

We spent the rest of the afternoon getting rid of some of the summer plants that had gone over and repotting with some winter plants.

Karen getting ready to do some gardening and Buddy just wanting to relax

Winter plants on the front of the boat now (excuse the untidy lines)

Whilst we were gardening a Red Admiral kept bombing us:

When we finished gardening we went to have a beer or two on the lock gates that were still in the sun – see picture at the top.  Whilst chatting, Karen commented that this was the first time we had been moored on our own for quite a few weeks.  Since going to Cropredy, which was obviously busy with the festival, there have been boats everywhere so we both felt really fortunate to be on our own again.