12th Week (w/e 27/6/2016)

Well this week hasn’t been a typical ‘continuous cruise’ experience, mainly due to the fact that we have been moored up at Debdale Wharf Marina for most of the time. This is the marina we will be using as a permanent base from October this year, until the new marina at North Kilworth is completed, then we will move our boat there. We will still continue to cruise, there isn’t a chance that Sandra and I could cope week in and week out restricted to a berth in a marina, we might as well return home if we had to do this. What we will be doing is mooring through the winter and then going off for three to four week cruises and then returning to base. We want to do this, rather than continually cruise, for two reasons, firstly we like the idea of having a ‘home’ for the boat to return to and secondly our daughter Emily is having our first grandchild and no way do we not want to see the grandchild on a regular basis. Already we are booked up babysitting for Christmas and New Years Eve!

So how did this week go…….?

On the Tuesday we awoke to glorious sunny weather and the sound of bird song around 6.30 am. It was great to switch on the electric toaster and electric kettle without a worry in the world about running the batteries low by doing so. A clear advantage for a marina mooring! We decided to make use of our car – which was already at the marina and we went off visiting family. It was weird driving the car and Sandra had to remind me to increase speed a little as I was only going 20 miles per hour on the main road! We arrived back on the boat at tea time and had a chill out evening with of course a nice glass of red wine!

On the Wednesday we packed our overnight bags and headed for our daughters place all of 20 minutes away. Today we would be staying with her and Elliott (husband) overnight catching up with the gossip. We both had a great time and also caught up with some rubbish TV and ended the night watching a great film ‘Dead Pool’ which was funny – if nothing else.

Thursday we hung around the house, and then did a little shopping before returning to the boat. It’s funny we both look forward to being back on ‘dry land’ and catching up with our daughter, family and friends but still look forward to getting back to our boat – our home! Later in the afternoon we met up with Sandra’s sister and brother in law – Rob and Elaine two recently retired people and laughed how things had changed and how all four of us were coping with no longer working, The answer to this was ‘dead easy!’. Later we visited a nice pub in Market Harborough before trying a new restaurant (for us) called Avatar – a Nepalese Indian Restaurant. We had heard mixed reviews, like you do these days with social media – but were very pleased with the service, quality of food and the price which was a good 25% cheaper than the other Indian Restaurants in the town which are clearly in a cartel as they all charge exactly the same price – give or take a penny or two. We ate reasonably late and mine was particularly hot (I like a curry that way), so I wasn’t surprised when I ended up with indigestion – I hate eating late.

Friday I awoke at 5.00am, I just couldn’t resist looking at my smart phone to see what the results were regarding the referendum of whether to leave or stay within the European Union. It was quite a surprise to find we were actually going to leave. Sandra rose around 8.00am and both of us chatted and watched the news for the next few hours. When I looked at Facebook I realised that many people were becoming quite vile amongst each other. I couldn’t really understand this, we live in a democracy and the people who voted to leave had won. Simple as that, I posted saying we should now all work together for a common strong country – but the negativity coming back was astounding. Later in the day we carried on shopping, getting stocked a little more ready for our Oxford cruise in a few weeks. Whilst on our travels we had a call from our daughter relaying her concerns that the doctor had told her to go to hospital as he couldn’t find a heart beat from the baby she was carrying. This sent Sandra and I into a total panic, so we went off to Emily’s house and waited for further instructions from her. Fortunately it was nothing to be worried about the hospital staff found a heart beat straight away and soon she was back with us along with Elliott who had left work early to support her. We all gave each other a hug and all of us commented how real life is not about referendums – it was all about family. Sandra and I left soon after and headed back to the boat relieved, relaxed and in need of a few glasses of wine!


Saturday was a cloudier and cooler day than it had been. We had to pick up a parcel from the mail offices, so we headed off around 8.30am to do this. We decided we would call at our regular haunt for a cooked breakfast. Unfortunately we ordered the wrong one (well I did – so Sandra keeps reminding me!) and ended up with a very greasy ‘sizzler’ breakfast. We still ate it all – so it couldn’t have been that bad. The parcel was a pressure cooker, small and absolutely ideal for use on the boat and only £11.99 – a bargain! When we returned back to Debdale Wharf Marina, we went to the office to pay (£45) for the week and also arranged for a pump out. Mike the owner took control of this and didn’t he do a great job, flushing the tank out, rocking the boat and so on. Well worth the £15. Soon we were heading towards Foxton Locks again, our favourite haunt around these parts. We found a mooring spot easily; the £25 fine for staying over two days really does seem to be working. My brother Tony and his new partner Rachael (we have known her for many years) came to visit for the first time. My brother couldn’t believe how luxurious the boat was and commented on the granite work surfaces, AGA and the lovely bathroom we enjoy. He could now quite clearly see why we like travelling and living on the boat for most of the year. As he left we agreed to arrange an overnight stay on the boat in the near future. As soon as they had left we got changed and headed for our favourite boater’s pub ‘Bridge 61’ at Foxton just next to the bottom locks. We were soon joined by Sandra’s sister Elaine and Robert and her Brother Jason and his wife Genda and daughter. We had a few drinks in the garden as the weather had really picked up and we laughed and laughed. Later we went into the pub and when Sandra’s family had all left we stayed longer and joined some of the regular boaters. The topic of conversation was the referendum and quite clearly they had all voted to leave. We left the pub after drinking far too much, to be honest, we were quite merry and when we got back we were soon tucked up in bed.


Sunday was a bright and breezy day and although we both had quite ‘thick heads’ (goodness know why?) we went for a short walk and laughed as one of the couples we had met the previous night was reversing his boat – made worse as he had expressed he hated gongoozlers! We shouted out at him to ensure he knew we were looking! We had a coffee and cake at the café and returned back to the boat and basically chilled out nursing our headaches! Sandra later used the pressure cooker for the first time and made a really tasty beef casserole for the evening meal. It took only 15 minutes to cook 1kg of diced beef – amazing. We decided to watch a DVD as the TV signal was rubbish – too many trees. We picked out a DVD and thoroughly enjoyed watching three episodes of Shameless. Did we laugh!


Monday was colder than it had been for ages. The day before we had noticed some boat owner had moored on the water point (idiot) and today he was still there and we needed to fill up. Fortunately a Canal and River Trust volunteer was to hand – but as I was explaining to him that the boat shouldn’t be at the water point, the guy decided to move off, smiling as he went (typical). Soon we were filled up with water and ready for our 6 day cruise to and from Kilby Bridge. We headed off and were please to be moving again. Pleased to be proper boaters again! We were soon going through Fleckney tunnel (around 800 yards) and down the double locks. We decided, especially as the weather was beautiful and the batteries were at 92% to moor up in a lovely rural spot. Just as we sat down another boat past us with the crew member shouting out ‘How’s Mr Biddle then?” and to our surprise it was Helen and Peter – Facebook friends. They moored up just past us and soon joined us on board for a few beers! As they left it was agreed to go down the next 6 locks the following day in convoy! In fact it was also to help each other as the double locks on your own can be a right pain – to say the least!.



So the week ended well, back on our boat and moving, back being boaters

11th Week (w/e 20/6/2016)

This week has been another great week where both of us have enjoyed ourselves doing what we like doing best – boating! The only down side has been my reoccurring back pain, which was caused by lifting a generator off the boat. It just goes to show you have to be mindful of lifting things. I spoke to a nurse friend of mine who said there isn’t much you can do other than keep moving and then rest – and take tablets! So that’s what I have been doing with Sandra supporting me (in her own way).

So how has this week gone……??

On Tuesday we left our lovely rural mooring spot and started our way towards Foxton. This stretch of water is 23 miles of lock free canal and it meanders through open countryside with the odd village here and there. We moored up for lunch as we were in no hurry, we were ahead of time and it was nice to relax. In fact we did contemplate whether to stay there for the night and to be honest we should have. As we set off the heavens opened, for once the weather forecast was right – heavy rain! It rained and it rained and I got absolutely soaked, fortunately Sandra had switched on the heating, so when we finally moored at one of our favourite mooring spots which we had moored at many times before (at the junction of the Welford arm) I was able to get out of the clothes and get warm, in fact I stepped out of the clothes and straight into a hot steamy shower. On Captain Hastings we have a super double sized shower with an extra powerful shower and soon I was refreshed and warm. Sandra had draped the damp clothes around ‘Big Bertha’ (Aga) and I was soon drinking a hot coffee. We settled down for the evening, Sandra is hooked on two television programmes – Emmerdale and an American TV show – CSI Miami. Unfortunately the TV signal was terrible – so we reverted to our DVD collection of CSI Miami (2800 hours worth in fact!) only to find that the JVC combined LED TV and DVD wouldn’t work, well in fact the DVD part wouldn’t. This was not good news – Sandra was well mad! Fortunately we also have a digital TV recorder so we switched this on and watched a film – sorted!


On Wednesday after a good sleep, other than that Sandra had been awakened by a noise she couldn’t really describe during the night!! We headed off on our journey. We passed through the edge of North Kilworth and reminisced of the times we used to moor our boats at the small marina there. It was here that we experienced boating for the first time some 20 years ago! We also marvelled at the new marina being developed to on the left – opposite. It is here where we have secured a permanent mooring which we will have sometime in 2017. It is owned by Mike Goole who we have known for years and who also owns and operates the Debdale Wharf Marina complex. Soon we were entering North Kilworth tunnel, and just as we entered another boat was coming out, no problem we were experts!! After the tunnel we had another few miles of meandering canal, really enjoyable with weather not too hot, but nice – ideal boating weather. We arrived at Foxton locks around lunchtime, there were lots of reserved signs for trading boats etc, in readiness for the festival scheduled for the Saturday and Sunday, Sandra commented that she thought it was not necessary to stop all mooring so early in the week. We passed a couple of old working boats and moored up ready to go down, one boat in front – or so we thought! A couple came by and told us quite directly that they were before us, to which we replied – no problem, we are not in a hurry! I think the Lockkeeper heard and soon he was chatting to us, laughing at the colour of our boat and also quizzing us about the canopy – as he had just ordered one similar for his own boat. He told us the wait would be 45 minutes – which was fine with us. Sandra cooked us a small brunch of Bacon, eggs and black pudding and just as we had finished the Lockkeeper came back to us and said we could go down, so long as we didn’t mind stopping in the pontoon half way down, he said this was quicker. We said we were happy with this, he then followed us down the locks and we chatted. He retold me a number of stories of some of the nice boaters he has met whilst working at Foxton and also some of the ‘not so nice’ people!! We were soon down the locks and to our amazement found a superb two day mooring (£25 for every day thereafter) just past the first bridge (bridge 61) on the right. There is a great boaters pub at Bridge 61 – in fact we know the father and son who opened this up when they had a row with the then British Waterways and had to leave the leased pub across from this (which is now a typical eating establishment!!!!) we were pleased they were making such a great success of this, and as we passed we could see they had now developed the outside space to cater for more customers. We decided to visit the pub, one of my dear old school friends known locally as ‘Bob the Log’ (he used to cut trees down for logs and sell them to fellow boaters) lives on a boat at Foxton and we were hoping to see him. Around teatime we left for the pub, Sandra had already prepared a salad (salad – my worse food) for when we got back. Unfortunately, Bob had already left the pub after having started his daily intake of beers at lunchtime! We sat outside and watched the last few boats come out of the bottom gates of the locks. It was so relaxing and as usual we were soon chatting to other boaters and it wasn’t long before there was a group of us. As it was getting colder we went indoors only to be joined by a group of folk singers and musicians. We had an amazing night and left for the boat around 11pm – wrecked!! We both couldn’t remember eating the salad.

On Thursday we awoke a little later than usual and thought it might be better is we head towards Debdale Wharf Marina - as this was where we were going to moor for a week, to allow us to meet up with friends and family. On route we decided to go past the marina and turn at the turning point a few miles further down, just before Saddington tunnel near to Fleckney. As we went along I saw an amazing mooring spot, really rural, probably the most rural we had ever seen, and still in walking distance to Debdale. So we turned the boat around and soon we had secured the boat. We decided to have a walk to the marina to pick up our car, which friends had dropped off a few days earlier. It was weird sitting in a car and driving at such speed – Sandra told me I would have to go faster as I was only going 20 miles an hour!! We drove to Market Harborough where we had lived for 20+ years and did some shopping in Sainsbury’s and Argos, where we purchased a small DVD player – Sandra was missing her CSI Miami!! On our return we settled down for a cosy night, I set up the DVD whilst Sandra prepared the Indian meal we had purchased – needless to say, after the night before, alcohol was off the agenda!

On Friday, we decided to return to Foxton, to give the boat a run, we passed Debdale Wharf marina which is only 15 minutes boating from Foxton. As we came into Foxton, yet again we were amazed to find excellent mooring just passed the water point, so we turned the boat around and decided to have another day at Foxton. When we were settled we went for a little walk, my back was giving me a great deal of pain, so we took it steady. We stopped at ‘Bridge 61’, not for a beer, but for an ice cream as the weather was glorious. We sat down and did what we like doing best, boat and people watching. Yet again it wasn’t long before we were chatting to the ‘Dragon Fly’ woman, a name we had christened her as she had a trading boat called the same. She was a continuous cruiser, trying to make a living from selling T shirts and knitwear. We headed back for late afternoon, and I had to, for the first time give into the back pain and had a lay down. After which the pain subsided somewhat. We decided to stay on the boat that night and not be tempted by Bridge 61, especially as we had Emily (our daughter) and Elliott (son in law) visiting us the following day for the Foxton Festival along with two of their friends. At 6.00pm Sandra’s brother Jason and his wife Glenda called in to see us as they only live a short distance from Foxton. It was great to see them both, especially Jason who was looking so well after completing his sixth session of chemotherapy. He told us the future looked good and that the prognosis was positive. We enjoyed a good night – drinking tea and coffee. No alcohol again – was this a sign of us becoming boring?

On Saturday we got prepared for family and friends, Sandra did her catering bit! And soon we were joined by Emily and all. They had a few beers (Emily did not as she is expecting our first grandchild in October) and all six of us had a really good laugh. We had already arranged to move from Foxton to Debdale Wharf Marina that day, as it was the first time Emily’s friends had experienced a narrow boat. We boated to the marina and soon we were moored, where our boat would be for the next seven days. We connected electricity, turned off the inverter and all headed for the car (fortunately a 7 seater) and off to the Festival. The festival was great, lots of old boats and trading boats and a field full of various attraction and events, dog show, singing competition and so on. There was also a fun fair and two large areas (one indoors) for live bands to perform. It was a well organised event and were pleased to be joined by other friends and family. We lasted until around 6.30pm and decided to say our goodbyes. We got in the car and both of us decided we could do with a beer! It was our first alcoholic drink for a few days. We headed for Market Harborough where not only did we have a beer, but also picked up an Indian take-away, from quite seriously our most favourite restaurant (and we have travelled a lot – including having many holidays in India). We walked in and was greeted by our first names from the owner –soon we were back on the boat eating a delicious meal – Lamb Tikka Dansak vindaloo hot for me and chicken Tikka Bhuna for Sandra. We enjoyed another drink and were both in bed for 10.00pm.


Sunday we awoke to birdsong early in the morning which was not a good thing as both of us had not had very good nights sleep – eating a heavy spicy meal late on in the evening is not a good. I had suffered from indigestion and me getting out of bed at 2.00am to find a Rennie – had disturbed Sandra and once this happens she cannot get back into her deep sleep pattern. We busied ourselves during the day, Sandra cleaning and getting the washing sorted and I arranged for us to go to a great Steak Restaurant in a place called Western by Welland. A pub we have been to before. As it was Fathers Day, Emily was also coming along – with Elliot going off to be with his father. When we got to the pub we realised that going to a popular eating place on father’s day isn’t the best of decisions. It took us a while to get a seat and then we had to wait for nearly an hour to receive our food! Fortunately we were in no hurry and we chatted and chatted. The meal was thrown together, but to be honest it was incredibly good – I had a real succulent 12oz steak – faultless.

On Monday we decided to have a day off the boat, so we went off to Market Harborough and did a little shopping and couldn’t believe how much the town had changed. We had previously lived here for nearly 20 years, and before moving north for a decade or so, Market Harborough had been our home. It now very much resembled a London suburb, lots of designer shops, coffee shops and more. We looked through the window of an estate agent and were surprised how costly houses were becoming – being 55 minutes from London by train has a distinct advantage. We were pleased that when we moved from the north last year that we had purchased a house only 4 miles away from this town, a little cheaper than Harborough – but like all places close enough to the ‘hot spot’ resulting hopefully in a house that should increase in value substantially. Mind you, living on our boat as we do and enjoying it so much, the thought of returning back to bricks and mortar – being the last thing on our minds. Later we returned back to the boat and had a lovely walk around the marina. Debdale Wharf is an unusual place, it’s a real working boat yard where they fix manufacture and stretch boats as well as maintain and repaint boats – it feels as if the moored boats are an ‘add on’, but already we had witnessed a real community amongst moorers. We nipped into the office and picked up a book and also 'The Canal Times' monthly free newspaper, which is really popular by boaters - and were really pleased to see that Sandra and I along with our boating history were in it on a two page feature, also including our Blog!! Pleased with this we treated ourselves to a lovely meal and a nice bottle of wine (wine time again - I can hear you say!) and retired early, ready for the week ahead.

Next week, how do we survive being marina based for a week?

10th Week (w/e 13/6/2016

Our tenth week of continuous cruising, although can you call us this as we have secured a permanent mooring at Debdale Wharf marina a spits distance from Foxton Locks from October onwards. We are still enjoying ourselves a great deal and the good weather is an added benefit.

So how has this week gone……?

On Tuesday we started the day a little late after recovering from too many beers and a giant feast from the night before in celebration of our wedding anniversary. Ahead of us were the double locks of Braunston so late morning we started our journey. Fortunately we were lucky enough to find a family about to enter the locks so we coupled up with these which helped a great deal. It was a very enjoyable time chatting to the various family members as we travelled up the locks. Hire boaters often get a bad reputation, but yet again these people were really nice and considerate. When we went through the last lock we said our goodbyes and they headed off, we boat quite slowly, so I was pleased they went ahead of us. I hate it when you have a boat behind pushing you to turn the revs up. When will people realise it’s not all about getting from A to B – but the journey! As we moved forward, the thought of the forthcoming tunnel was on our minds. Braunston tunnel is 2042 yards long and isn’t a straight line! It is also two way travel, so often you will pass an oncoming boat part-way through the tunnel. We switched on the cabin lights and the main light at the front and we entered the tunnel, there was no sign of the boat that had come up with us in the locks, so we were on our own. It’s seemed a very long journey travelling through the dark tunnel and being dripped on heavily as we passed through, but funnily we both enjoyed it – helped by the fact that we didn’t meet a single boat coming either way, no-one up the rear and no one coming our way. We were soon in the sunshine again which was needed as it had been very cold. We decided we would head for Norton Junction where the Grand Union (central) swerves to the left onto the Grand Union Leicester section. As we neared I could see ahead of me a super mooring spot, but it was past the turning. I decided to turn the boat around and then reverse down the canal a few hundred yards into the spot. Not as easy as you think as narrow boats have no steering in reverse. However, Captain Hastings with the help of the bow thrusters moved steadily into the place alongside the tow path with ease. We settled down for a quiet night on the boat, weather still amazing. We decided to get the COBB out – a smoker (not BBQ) which allows you to load it with food and leave it cooking for an hour with no messing. It can also sit on top of the boat as there is no heat from the sides or base on the unit. As usual with us – as soon as we had prepared the meats and vegetables and got the thing smoking, the weather changes and we had a real heavy down pour of rain. So our evening meal was under the back canopy, both of us laughing as what bad luck we had had in this regard and what total plonkers we must look like.



The next day (Wednesday) was gloriously sunny and hot, a truly wonderful day, so as our solar panels were working really well and were covering all of our energy requirements, we decided to stay another day, Sandra had some washing to do, so rather than lift the genie out (still problems with my back after last time) I switched the boat engine on and used the engine Powerpack generator instead. 40 minutes later Sandra had completed the washing and it was hung up under the canopy for drying. We went for a little walk and chatter to our neighbours - like you do! When we returned to my horror one of my favourite shirts had gone! It had probably blown into the canal – which was a worry as it could end up around someones prop – we looked up and down and could not see it! We then messed around the boat, moving the TV aerial for a better signal and as boaters do, chilled with a glass of ice cold white wine. What a life! After the second bottle of wine and a bit to eat, we retired to bed feeling accomplished and happy.


Thursday, needless to say our heads were a little thick, from too much wine the night before. I said to Sandra that we needed a rest from the wine for a while and she agreed. Today the weather wasn’t that great initially, so after filling with water and having lunch we decided to head for Watford locks. This set of locks is a staircase of locks and is renowned for a long waiting time to get through them. Fortunately, we were very lucky and we went through the whole lot within 35 minutes - helped by a great Lock Keeper. We decided to moor up shortly after the locks and we found a lovely quiet spot (again) just before the Crick tunnel. Today was now turning into one of the hottest days we experienced so far and in the evening we slept with all windows open including the two cratch doors in our bedroom.


Friday was completely different day weather wise – it was pouring down with rain! British weather at its best. Today we were aiming to get close to Yelvertoft, not too far and where the following day we were going to moor the boat for Saturday and Sunday. Before this we had to go through Blisworth tunnel, this time luck was against us, part way through this 1528 yard tunnel, we saw another boat coming our way. Fortunately we passed each other without a scrape. Soon after the tunnel we were passing our way through Crick, unfortunately there were no moorings available so we continued and were soon close to Yelvertoft. We decided to stop early as the weather had also picked up a little. Sandra decided to cook one of her amazing curries that night.


Saturday we headed off to the marina and soon we were moored up in a temporary berth, hooked up with electric (£13 for the night) and then awaited for our daughter Emily to pick us up. In the evening we attended a dinner suit and ball gown gala evening to raise funds for charity. We had a great time with our friends and family.


Sunday we were soon back on board Captain Hastings, batteries fully charges, but only showing 85%, sometimes I have heard this happens, so I re-set the control system and soon all reading were showing 100%. We headed off after having lunch and after we had filled up with water. We decided only to travel half-hour or so, we were both suffering, yet again, from thick heads! – Too much alcohol again, made worse from not getting to bed until 1.30am! We chilled and rested and had an early night – both realising that we were becoming boring old farts!

Monday we were both up early and full of life, weather was cloudy and not as warm has had been, but still good boating weather. After breakfast we decided to stay put, it was a great mooring and we had some cleaning to do and a bit of touching up of paint on the exterior of the boat. So that is exactly what we did. I painted, Sandra cleaned and then she touched up the black on the boat sides. We don’t put fenders down unless moored, so the rubbing stakes need painting every few weeks. Taking the ladders and poles off the roof was not the best thing for me and it soon became apparent that I had pulled the muscle in my back again! Damn! We stayed on board for the evening and needless to say we did not drink any alcohol! Could this be the start of a new habit?????

So another week as passed, next week we will be heading for Foxton for their annual festival.