Author: Steve Carter

The gales of Sunday now seem a distant memory. We plan a trip to St Davids and then a walk from its small port, Porth Clais around the coastal path to Porth Lysgi. A gloriously sunny day. Cold but warmish in the sun.

A small compilation of videos from today’s walk

Whilst not quite as exotic as the trip to Mojacar, as we did last year, we do need a break from the confines of the boat, the marina and the winter! We’ve had a few days of sub zero temperatures plus some snow . . .

A sprinkling of snow then a freeze

Toby loves it!

Yes, the marina did freeze over but only for one night.

So, we booked a week away in Hafan – a coastal cottage in Trefin, Pembrokeshire – our 8th visit. It is such a good property – big rooms, cafe opposite and pub across the road plus a short walk to the coastal path and the sea. It did take most of the day to get there, as we are no longer in North Somerset. So a 0906 start saw as driving down the M1, M6, M42, M5, M50, M4 . . . three stops and then arriving Trefin at 1602. Some rain but worse was to come – with the Met office forecasting gales of 60+ mph overnight and 50+ winds the next day.

This is the small bay just yards down the road, site of the old mill.

And here’s a compilation of short videos to give you some idea of the strength of the wind . .

It did knock the breath out of you and even caused Toby to wobble sideways

Never seen it this bad before.

Feeling slightly fortified as the Mill Cafe does wonderful food – especially the Welsh breakfast (like an English but with 2 added items – cockles in butter plus a laver bread & oat pattie! Yum). Viv had bacon and a pancake stack with maple syrup!!

The circular walk back to the house . . .

Viv – ensconced

 

We may be sliding towards the end of October and the “fun” of living on a boat in winter but the sun is still out and even though our friend couldn’t make this weekend, we planned to go out & lo, it came to pass.

The Open Road ! Very quiet this time of the year.

Steve’s lacquered bear is keen to be out!

Ah, these guys are back. Doing their bit for mooring nicely – not doubled up or moored near a bridge, oh, they are doing both! As usual.

Viv drives – wearing her new knitted poppy – thanks to Jude Calver on nb Black Bart, see RoxyChicKnits to get yours!

I call this the lightning tree – as it dregs up that awful song!! Architectural though, isn’t it?

These guys are cute and were hiding at the bottom of the field. Might be me but I couldn’t help but think of what food to get for Christmas . . . .

It is almost Hallowe’en –  Or is that a spooky reflection causing Steve to look ghostly?

Another Victor Meldrew moment for Steve (and others it seems) as they do insist on mooring tooooo close to the winding hole (over on the right). Long boats have to turn early but that would mean smashing your stern into this ickle boat . . . steel v. fibre glass?

Meanwhile, whilst the temperatures head south (1 degree tomorrow), we have the stove glowing nicely . . .

And Viv makes her sherry trifle – using two jellies (strawberry & then lime) to create a kind of Tequila Sunrise effect! All part of our calorie controlled diet, honest. We can share . . . if you come out this way? But be quick . . .

Our favourite spot! Betwixt bridges 27 & 28.

I know a song: “There’s Something wrong with the Weather!” – this warmth continues with temperatures exceeding 17 degrees here. A walk up the Hemplow Hills & the marina Kingfisher seems to have returned!

Toby seems to have a new lease of life – very bouncy & active!

Can the same be said about Viv? Well, we are trying – with longer walks.

A brief flash of blue – and a small bird sits opposite our kitchen window. Yes, the local kingfisher has returned.

Didn’t hang around for long but nice to see him back. Oh, he’s moved to Mr Crabtree . . .

And a very short video . . . they do bob you know!

After the trip to Whitstable, we were then off again, this time to Viv’s folks in Barry, Wales. Just for a few days. Staying in the local Travelodge – which wasn’t bad at all.

Then back on the boat – Viv paints the design on the cratch table – which needed redoing.

The weather remains amazingly warm & sunny, so off to the Jubilee Park in Crick to walk Toby

Lots and lots of berries about

 

Autumn colours

Can you spot the Boggle?

He does love a ball game

The mornings are getting colder and the leaves are dropping

Still amazed at the abundance of berries – here’s a bush with just sloes

These are spindleberries – they were used in the hand spinning of wool.

And after the walk – the pub! And another Church End brew on today:

Starting to get brilliant sunsets but also misty, foggy mornings

 

Well October has come around so quickly. It was only July when we visited Mum and made the bold decision to go for a new boiler (old one was 38 yrs old!!) plus a new big radiator for the big lounge. The “stuff” was to be delivered on the Monday morning, with the men arriving around 12 to begin to take the old out & put the new one in . . . sort of went to plan. The radiator didn’t turn up. Not until Wednesday in fact! Still Mum was glad to have us around and to leave Steve to chat with Paul the installer, all about the new smart pumps, modulating boilers, 3-port valves and the posh Internet ready thermostat – yes, Steve can access it and control it from his computer!  Time for more shopping and the odd pub visit . . .

View from  . . . the bedroom and yes, you can see the sea.

Back to the Tankerton Arms for a beer or two . .

Nice selection – inc a dark beer – Sleep Delays?

Yes, a lot more pipes and bits on show!! A smart condensing boiler but so many pipes, pumps and controllers!!

We wanted to find a country pub, that did good food, gave us a nice ride out and let dogs in . . . We found the Duck Inn, Pett Bottom! Only 12 miles away but middle of nowhere! Wonderful food – a real gastro-pub. See the Duck Inn

Good real ale, a big gin menu and the food was really excellent.

I’ve been expecting you . . . .

Quite hidden away but quite a gem . . the hot October weather was a bonus! In fact, too hot to cause the new central heating to come on!!

 

 

A bit of a wet day, Monday. So we stayed put until it cleared after lunch and then set off. Bit unusual for us. An afternoon cruise. It was still a bit drizzly but we chugged on into Braunston, took on water and optimistically waited for another boat to turn up, to partner us through the 6 big locks. But alas, none came. It was a lovely quiet day, so very unusual for Braunston – this national hub of the waterways. So, we did the locks ourselves, nice and slow. A few boats came down and so all the locks were set in our favour. Met a hire boat with a Toby lookalike who was also a name-a-like – Toby! Yes, Toby3 as we had to call him. We ventured into the tunnel – again all on our own, which was nice. On past the Norton junction and up to Welton Hythe to stop for the night.

A misty, murky Braunston

Nice new armco at the Norton Junction

Up through the Watford locks – luckily the first boat and so up we went and on to the marina at Yelvertoft – quick pump out, well it has been 6 weeks! And on to bridge 27 for some remedial painting.

It is a lovely spot – it ticks all the boxes – the right orientation for the solar energy, good phone signal, 4G signal & TV reception plus a pocket wood for the dog and just quiet.

Steve dons his coveralls to do the bitumen painting – what a gay figure in his green crocs, red vest and bandana hat!

Time for some Tai Chi?

This boat, Dane, was sort of afloat when we arrived but it was leaking badly and slowly sank. A shame the owners have left it this way.

We were joined by Gail & Jess on Sleepy Otter, chance to do some catching up over a cuppa. Simon steamed along too – so more cuppas required! Cosy.

Hmm, that mouse from some years ago, ate lots of our stuff, including Steve’s coveralls – hence the odd air conditioning he now has!

Gail gave us some high temperature silicone sealant for the chimney – did the job. Cheers!

Nice, shiny and re-blacked boat – all the “lock rash” covered over.

Recoated blacking

Steve volunteers to go into the gas locker and paint it with more bitumen

Gloomy but worth doing

Here’s the before picture . . .

And here’s the after picture.

We introduced Gail to Paellero – a Spanish spice mix for making paella and she adapted it for her veggie dish. Looks good & tasted good too.

Saturday and back “home”. Breezy but we got in, backwards with no hassle. Time to plug things in, put ropes away, change gas bottles and go down the Wheatsheaf for lunch.

 

 

On from Springwood Haven and down to Hawkesbury junction or Sutton Stop as it’s known. A day or two here – visit the Greyhound. Meet up with simon again, then on to Rugby to restock.

Busy, noisy but plenty of space at Hawkesbury junction

Steve cycled down the canal to bridge 6 – miles – to visit Tesco’s – a barn of a place. Had to wait (10 mins) for the staff to fetch the bottle of Laphroaig, as the case was empty. Checked there was a bottle in there but I didn’t’ check it was the right one! Got the cheaper and not-so-nice bottle of Select rather than the 10yr old! Doh.

One reason we stayed, apart from eating & drinking at the Greyhound, was to see the Coventry Morris men perform. And very good they were too.

A good “side” as they call them – stick dances and even a sword dance plus some clog dancing from two ladies.

And, how to find your boat in the dark – leave some lights on!

Next day we’re off. Simon has his first go at the junction – a complete U-turn required here!

Not quite round in one but it is his first time. Won’t mentions Steve’s last attempt!

Down the North Oxford Canal now – quite a pretty route.

Tried to moor up  at the familiar All Oaks Wood visitor moorings but it was full – and quite a few of these “continuous moorers” were there. CRT did clear these away last year but it seems a few are back. Starting to rain. We tried 2 spots, trying to squeeze inbetween boats but no go, then the prop got fouled by a polo shirt. Luckily we managed to fit in at the end after one boat left. Not a good day. Simon also couldn’t get in and pushed off – in the rain!

Next day we went off to the Rugby moorings – no pix here, well not very scenic but lots of opportunities to go shopping – M&S (twice), Tesco, FatFace (10% military discount!), TKMax etc – such fun. At least the boat is stocked up. Thanks to Viv’s Sparks card, she had lots of 10% off this and 20% off that, so our fridge is now bursting. Plus some more gin (Jensen’s – a new one and very nice) and another whisky for Steve, some compensation for the Laphroiag! A bottle of Kilchoman (only in M&S and on clearance so 20% off, hurrah!).

Simon had tried Rugby but got stuck on the water point. Forcing him to shop at 0500 the next day in the 24hr Tesco (real fun?) and move off to near Barby.

We passed him and moored at one of our all time favourites – bridge 87, Willoughby – just outside Braunston.

Viv does the very fiddly job of preparing fresh thyme for tonight’s meal (Wok’ed lambs liver with thyme & lime juice – Ken Hom recipe)

Our mooring – alone now – there were 6 boats around us this morning.

Very rural spot

And an abundance of these chaps! Viv made a pot of jam earlier this year and she makes two more pots today! Plus a few spare to go with the M&S ice cream, cream and meringues!

Just seen a boat “A Frayed Knot” go by, shouting, another RNSA member? And I said yes! The first I’ve seen, he said! His blue ensign flying from the back of his boat. Must get a burgee . . .

 

 

 

Here’s our quiet mooring for a few days – but what has Toby seen?

 

There’s the sound of a Rushton Hornsby 2-stroke engine coming our way. It can’t be? It can be. It is . . . Simon & Toby2 on Empress.

Simon’s done about 3/4 of the Leicester ring and decided to moor up behind us.

Time for a celebration – Cava, vino & Thai green curry plus ice cream! And a screening of Dr Strange, in 3D no less. Well, you have to push the boat out sometimes!

Sunday – time for a long circular walk with Viv & the dog. Down to the river Anker (swim, swim?) and round up to Tuttle Hill and close to the spoil heap from the quarry, quaintly named Mount Judd. Nice views back to our boats.

There’s Simon’s  Empress with Adagio round the corner. Lots of solar today – with the new fuse, it seems we are getting much much power now and the voltage seems to go a lot higher, meaning both gauges now increment and reached 100% in the afternoon – brilliant.  Might move on tomorrow or not.

Here’s a view looking back over the marina from bridge 27.