Sprucing Up

Back in the Marina now, we got down to sprucing Quo up ready for another big family cruise later in the month, as Liz's sister Geraldine and brother-in-law Mac are over visiting from South Africa.
We hooked-up to the Marina electrics and vacuumed from stem to stern, including the engine room!

The decks got  a wash and a million spider's webs met their end. 

All very gratifying, followed by lunch aboard ... we would have gone for a cruise this afternoon, but I fear it was just too windy for Quo, so back home.

Unfortunately we couldn't get a TV signal when we were there, I suspect a cable fault ... something to look at on Tuesday, whilst I'm over getting the loo tank pumped-out (first time).

Rounding out July

As planned, we were able to cruise up and down between the winding hole above Foxton Locks, and that at Bridge 57, incorporating that lovely wooded bit around the Laughton Hills. We did this both alone, and then on Sat 23rd, with friends, ending up moored near bridge 60, but despite being next to Armco, the water was only about a foot deep, and we struggled to get Quo into the side.

On Sunday 24th, with Jody along for the ride, we "did" Foxton Locks ....

Waiting to go down the locks - we allowed another boat to breast-up, then go down in front of us, as all the other moorings were full of boats that didn't look like they were going anywhere soon.

This splendid little plant, growing in the side of one of the lock chambers hides a Wren's nest, which was visited a couple of times as I passed through ....truly wonderful!

 .... followed by a very pleasant cruise all the way up to the Union Wharf in Harborough.

Just ..... fantastic!

Between Bowden Hall and the A6 bridge

The footbridge near The Woodlands in Harborough

ditto

Liz at the tiller heading for Union Wharf.

The lovely open space in there led us to try something new, we turned without using the engine, by holding the bow against the wharf side and letting the wind take the boat round, an all together more sophisticated affair than my normal "revving and splashing :o)
The day ended with Quo securely chained to the Armco just outside the Wharf on the 48 hour visitors moorings.

Jody carrying a bucket and texting simultaneously, with Quo secured behind ... a very pleasant place to be.

 I was a bit concerned that we may not be able to move Quo within the 48 hour limit, so I phoned the Wharf Office on Monday, and a nice lady said we could probably sneak a couple of extra days if need-be.
I had no need to worry as it happened, because I was able to get Tuesday afternoon off (in lieu of working Saturday), and, using two cars, Liz and I had a very pleasant afternoon taking Quo back to Foxton, then moored-up on the 14 day visitors moorings beyond Rainbow Bridge.
Saturday 30th, Jody, Liz and I drove to Debdale Marina, then walked along the towpath to Foxton to fetch Quo. The weather was splendid, so we dallied there until the evening, "feasting" at Bridge 61 on dried-up baguettes and microwaved pies, it was like a flashback to 70's pub grub. But our displeasure was soon gone though, as we cast off and took Quo slowly back to Debdale Marina, reversing back onto our mooring without a hitch .... this narrowboating lark just gets better and better :o)

Cruising and July

You may have noticed that my Blog stopped abruptly on day 3 of our holiday cruise, this is because I was so chilled-out that I just couldn't be bothered :o)
Anyway .. Wednesday 29th June found us moored on the towpath south of bridge 37, and I awoke to see a mist hanging over the water ... magical. We took a really leisurely attitude to breakfast etc. and eventually cast off, intending to lunch at Yelvertoft pub.

"Up the Orinoco"

                                            This section of canal is beautiful, full of blind bends and reed beds, giving it a very river-like feel and we chugged as slow as the boat would go to take full advantage.
Finally we made it to Yelvertoft, and set off on foot into the village to check out the shop and pub. The shop was OK, but the pub had closed because of "hygiene" issues, so it was back to Quo for self-catering .... Ho Hum.

Socks?? Well the deck was RED HOT

 After lunch, we lazed, and lazed and lazed....., finally setting off late afternoon, but only down as far as Yelvertoft Marina, where we turned, and chugged slowly back past the village, finding a towpath mooring in the middle of nowhere for the night.

A "well-chilled" Liz

Moored out in the wilds ... lovely

On Thursday morning, after yet another good night aboard, we slowly cruised back through the "river-like" section, described by a passing boater as being "up the Orinoco", then on up the Welford arm to top up the water tank.

Lizzie entering Welford Lock

Welford Wharf

Amazingly, there was a free mooring right at the end of the arm, so we snuck in for the night.

Food for the evening was inspired, I had a Chinese meal delivered to the boat from The Elizabethan up the road, and it was superb, followed by a visit from the in-laws, Geoff, Liz, Sairs and her super dog Alfie. A lovely evening, followed by a good nights sleep :o)

Breasted-up & taking on fuel at North Kilworth
My extra tunnel light can be seen "at the ready"

Friday was a bit work-a-day, as we knew it was time to head back to Debdale.

After a leisurely chug back out of the Welford Arm,  we "breasted up" for the very first time at Kilworth to refill with Diesel ... Quo holds a bit more than my car, namely 140 litres !! But that is the first refill since we bought her in December.

An incident-free passage of Bosworth tunnel, and we were on the home stretch, still cruising as slow as Quo could go, back to bridge 60, just above Foxton Locks.

We had decided to leave her there, then we could spend a couple of weeks cruising up and down the top section with friends. Bravely (I thought) I volunteered to walk back to Debdale to get the car, which went well, with no complaints from my dodgy knee.

Final act was to secure Quo to the Armco and head for home ....Ahhh Well .... we'll soon be back.

A Grade A grey day

We were up with the lark this morning (Tuesday ... I think ..... but I'm now on "canal time"), showered and breakfasted, we reported to the Foxton lockie at 8.30, and we were first up the flight. My healing knee actually allowed me to do the legwork on the top two locks, with Lizzie on the tiller.

 

We rewarded ourselves with a full English breakfast in the little cafe by the top lock, then off we set!


It is my intention to set a record for the slowest narrowboat in Britain, and so we cruised at barely more than 1300 revs taking in the glorious views below Laughton Hills, with it's resident Buzzard putting in a brief appearance.

Can't get over how different this section of canal looks now, compared to when I last saw it in March ... even more beautiful!

Bosworth Tunnel (I don't like tunnels!) was tamed by my extra tunnel light, which, when shone sideways on the tunnel wall gave just enough reflected light to see the deck of the boat etc, so I could see what I was doing.

We just chugged slowly along, finally mooring for the night in a beautiful spot south of the Welford Arm, with the sounds of a peacock just audible from a nearby farm

We're Off!

Having seen Jody off for Prague on the school Jazz band tour, we started to think about loading Quo for our first cruise.

Now it was HOT yesterday, wasn't it? Bit of an understatement that .... and we were loading our gear aboard during the hottest part of the day. It took three car trips to get it all aboard .. OK the last one was because I forgot to take the fresh food out of our fridge at home, but hey I'm on holiday, and so, apparently, is my brain.

Barometer set "FAIR"

We had much juggling to do to get everything in, as we have taken the attitude that everything that was on the boat when we bought it must have some vital purpose, and as such have been loath to throw anything away, indeed we have added considerably to "things that might come in useful" inventory.

There was no rush to get away from the marina, so we watched the European GP and chilled.

Still in the marina at 6pm, we decided to eat ... one of my very own chilli concoctions ...  with rice, then sat back to digest.

By 7.30, the temperature was just right, so we ran up the engine and cast-off ... hurray!

The slow cruise down to Foxton was lovely, not another boat on the move, and the water almost motionless.

We found a mooring straight away on the nice concreted section with mooring rings just by the water points ... luxury.

A short stroll up to a bustling Bridge 61 for a drinkie then back to Quo, watching the bats skimming the water.
And so to bed.

We have never slept on Quo before, or even used the lights for any length of time, but I'm pleased to say it is brilliant, so cosy, and the bed is really comfortable ..... I could get used to this!

   

I awoke at about 7am (not sure as I have left my watch at home) to this view from the side hatch.

As it is soooo nice here, we are in no hurry to move on. Liz is just reading and unwinding, and I'm strumming my guitar. We are behaving just like tourists, mooching around the little shop, gongoozling the locks and eating at the Inn, and all this just 5 miles from home :o)

Saw one truly amazing thing today though, in a day and a half, we have covered a massive 2 miles, others however are in more of a hurry apparently. A lady was gently cruising her narrowboat past us and other  moored boats, heading for Debdale, whilst a grey-haired man in another, smaller narrowboat was trying to force his way past her on the left side ... I bet he's good in a car!!!

No Time for Narrowboats

Today was about anything but boats. Now that my knee is on the mend, I actually mowed the lawn, for only the third time this year! Neither of us has put in any time in the garden this year, but luckily it doesn't look too bad.
Our gardening philosophy is Darwinian, if it survives without much attention, it's still in the garden, if it can't take neglect and it dies, it isn't ... harsh but practical.

Main task of the day was collecting Liz's replacement car from Wellingborough. Doesn't have the panache of the Alfa, but it is a very nippy, practical little beastie.
We paid exactly what we got for the Alfa, and I'm sure the fuel consumption and reliability will be much more realistic.
We intend to use the two cars to hop the boat around the canal system as soon as is practical.

Operation "Watertank"

Let battle commence!

This is my emergency pumping kit, tonight used for pumping out the water tank, after washing and flushing. My cunning "hose on a pole", featuring a "pop sock" filter will drain almost every drop via the old water pump which just plugs into a 12v socket.

After the wash and flush, we part filled with sterilizer and flushed the entire water system, leaving it to "cook" for an hour or so whilst Liz watched the tennis and I attacked the mushroom vents with the Brasso.
After one last drain and flush with clean water, we started to fill the tank properly. In the time available we only managed to 3/4 fill the tank, but it certainly looked and smelled good. Hopefully tomorrow night will see it topped out and ready for cruising!!!

 We had to use 60m of hosepipe, 2 and a bit hose-reels, to reach the tap!

 

 Cool clear water filling the tank at last

A good job well done I'd say Lizzie!

Our Mute friends don't seem to have had any success in the signet department this year :o(
Even though we gave them titbits, they maintained their usual grumpy disdain. Because I'm sure everyone else tells them how beautiful they are, I always insist on insulting them so that they don't get too upperty. Who do they think they are ... they are just overgrown ducks after all.

Once more the sunset, seen as we left the marina was stunning, but I failed to capture it photographically.