Gypsy Rover

Last Friday was a busy day.  After helping Sue and Vic down the Rothersthorpe flight and buying a few essentials at Braunston I had a little time to spare before heading to Birmingham and North Wales.

I knew from their blog that Derek and Dot weren’t far away so a quick phone call confirmed their position and off I went to find them.

Dot soon had the kettle on and I was made very welcome, despite the short notice of my arrival.

I was sorry to hear about the problems with their central heating - and about the leak from the pump which still needs even more attention.

You won’t be able to tell from the photos but their accent soon gives away they are from New Zealand.  Touring the country by canals seems an excellent way to see England.

They’re also heading for the Rothersthorpe flight and have probably completed it by the time you read this.  I hope they enjoy their summer.

Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 18:57
Comments (0) Category(s): Grand Union Canal

Rothersthorpe

Vic and Sue on No Problem, were heading down the Rothersthorpe flight of locks on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union last Friday.  Pacing themselves for the seventeen or so locks to take them to the River Nene for the summer.

They’d hardly started when Vic came under the bridge to be faced by someone aiming a camera at him.  Vic watched Lucy hurtling down the towpath to greet me and he knew it wouldn’t be such hard work after all.

Part way down the flight I discovered this old lady sitting on the old lock beam at the side of the canal.

There was just time to admire their new headlight - with a big bulb Sue won’t mind the tunnels as it won’t go dark inside.

Following down the flight was Chas and Ann on Moore2Life and there was time to help them with a few locks too.

Posted on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 20:32
Comments (1) Category(s): No Problem , Northampton Branch

Rothershorpe Flight

Today was a complete break from the planned meeting in London which was cancelled at the last moment allowing me to swap my planned day off from Friday to Thursday.

Today I was up just as early as a working day but this time I was heading via Birmingham to Northampton.  Then a bus ride to Milton Malsor and a short walk across the fields to the canal.  This was the day that No Problem and Moore2Life were descending the Rothersthorpe flight from the Grand Union Canal to the River Nene.

They had done the first few locks before I got there and John Sinclair was already helping them but an extra pair of hands is always helpful. 

The weather was the best so far this year and I really enjoyed the day.  We moored the boats together for a picnic lunch.

And today was Sue’s birthday so I was able to wish her a happy birthday in person.

It was lovely to be able to chat to Chas and Anne on Moore2Life and to see Vic and Lucy again.  Lucy’s behaviour is wonderful as she trots along the towpath keeping pace with the boat and looking after herself.  She never rides on the boat when there is a towpath.  Then she amazed everyone at the last lock on the Grand Union Canal when she got on the boat and sat down without any commands being issued.  As there is no towpath on the River Nene she has to ride on the boat and we can only assume she remembered this from last year when No Problem made the same journey.

I left them at Northampton to make my way back to the station to catch the trains home.  Thank you Sue, Vic, Chas, Anne, Lucy and Molly for a lovely day.

Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 14:50
Comments (0) Category(s): No Problem , Northampton Branch