As per usual the weather knows exactly when I’m on the tiller. After a bit of sun I get rain, then rain and hurricane force winds, and then rain, hurricane force winds and thunder. Time to moor up and sit it out… And repair the leaking prism in the bedroom again… Ansty is our next … Read More →
And that’s what we do. I manage to get an appointment with the beautician, and with my favorite hair dresser. We play golf at The Warwickshire Golf and Country Club. And won’t play that course again. Why? Well, imagine having a huge basket with all the possible hazards one can encounter on a golf course, … Read More →
Last year we arrived at Warwick on the 29th of June. Soaking wet, absolute exhausted and ready to commit murder (see On the Motorway). This year it’s warm (getting up to hot), we’re a just bit weary and sorry to say goodbye to our lock partner. Everything is different anyway. What we did in three … Read More →
It’s a beautiful day. It’s raining when I get up. It’s still raining when Lawrance gets up. So, with Lawrance on the tiller and me doing the locks, he’s in his fishermen’s gear, and I’ll try out his waterproof golf gear. I know, how come he has all the right gear and I haven’t? Well, … Read More →
I know, we all had a first day of steering a narrowboat. Some do fine from day one, some first have to run into another hire boat (after 500 yards cruising) and then do fine for the rest of their life, for some it takes a couple of years to go straight. But if this … Read More →
A first verdict OK, that’s us on the canals again. The anchor will stay where it is, life jackets are put away, binoculars are no longer needed. So what do I think of rivers, now I’ve been on three of them? Well, with the weather we had so far, they are not half as frightening … Read More →
It’s Friday morning, when the next chain of events starts to unfold. A fire brigade truck enters the recreation grounds and parks close to the river. Out come four guys. They put on life jackets, and take one hose out of the truck. The hose gets straightened up, and both ends are blocked off. One … Read More →
Remember I mentioned that we are moored just opposite the Theatre? Well, that’s not exactly true. We’re about three boat lengths further away, right in front of Avon Bowling Club. Earlier this week a lot of seriously looking men, all dressed in something white-ish, and pulling an airline stewardess-like suitcase on wheels, arrived at the … Read More →
Guess where we are? Excellent! Yes, we are in Stratford-upon-Avon. Moored right opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Coming into Stratford on the river is a complete different experience, compared to coming in on the Stratford Canal. Lush parks, posh houses, lots of swans. And then the view of the theatre. On the canal it is … Read More →
But it certainly was present! It being me, of course. Remember I mentioned Change Ringing (see Venice again?)? It turns out that the ringers at Evesham Bell Tower have their practise on a Wednesday. So there is only one thing I can do: send the contact person an email to see if I can visit their … Read More →