Today finds us on the Grand Union canal in Long Itchington, Warwickshire on October 5th. We went back to Blue Haven for a week while Elizabeth and Pete went to Sutton Coldfield twice, then Elizabeth hopped off to Edinburgh, Chester and Liverpool. We set out again on the 2nd of October.
It was good to be in Blue Haven long enough to use the shore power and wash anything we could, including curtains, dog towels, etc, to catch up with marina friends and to talk with Blue Haven's Barry about a Cratch. For the uninitiated, this means a cover over the bow - a triangle window at the front rising from the bow, a small hard roof linking the top of the triangle window to the body of the boat over the bow doors, then a soft tent like cover with zips to open its side doors. This will be our equivalent of the garden shed, holding the coal, waste cassettes, Blossom and more. We already keep such things in the bow, but it will be more secure and dry with a cover. Hopefully he can fit it in November. Which meant we could move out now!
We set out late Thursday afternoon, the 2nd of October, and moored just an hour south, but OUT. These images are just a few things we like along the way. Elizabeth loves geese; they have such soft eyes, so unlike the bolshy swans. The morning light was clear and bright. The bicycles show you that there is trade on the canals. The basket is more foraging.
We went south to Braunston again where took the Oxford canal south at Braunston junction. Just before Wigrams Turn, where we moved off the Oxford and on to a section of the Grand, we moored up for more crab apples and blackberries from the tow path. The crab apple mush is releasing juice for jelly through the jelly bag as we write. A few clicks later (14 in total on the 3rd), we moored up near The Boat, a pub on the A426 just north of Southam. We have SO often seen this pub on our journeys to and from Oxford. It was such a hoot to be there by boat! Friends Simon and Jane (with new pup Indy) met us for dinner at the pub; great. (message - so can anyone!!)
Saturday saw us move a massive 9 clicks (!), 8 of them locks, down the Stockton Flight to the Blue Lias Pub. Blue Lias, as that is the name of the clay in the local quarry which contributed to the cement used to build the Thames Embankment, quarried from the lowest level of the Jurassic period clay. Hence the dinosaur on the pub sign :-). We still have Reg with us, so it was not too hard for Pete to walk a mile to collect him. Today we moved a huge 3 clicks (3!!) to the Two Boats pub at Long Itchington. Again, only one mile, so Pete walked back for Reg while Elizabeth cut crab apples for said jelly.
Yes, we are pub hopping our way to Warwick. We have scheduled a stop at Warwick's Saltisford Canal Centre where we expect Bella to be safe while Josie goes to kennels and Elizabeth and Pete go to a working weekend in London. We'll let you know if all goes according to plan!!
