The Winter Skipper

Well! I think it’s a disgrace! Don’t you?

All he managed for November was two postings! He should feel ashamed of himself.

As usual, it’s left to me to extrapolate his credentials from the mire again.

……. Well you know what I mean.

It’s just not good enough though. It’s a good job he has me around I think.

The Old Man’s not been aboard at all very much actually. He’s been going off regularly to Stratford-upon-Avon and places to see his brother and other friends as well. He does seem to make the most of this time of the year to catch up with things like that. It’s a ten minute walk to the railway station and then he travels everywhere from there.

I’ll bet he gets into the ‘Old Railway Tavern’ too with their big TV screen. I’m sure he loves watching the live football the sneaky old so and so. But he don’t tell me much and I have to use my common sense a lot.

I don’t know why he doesn’t have TV on board. I know he’d like it. All normal people watch TV so why doesn’t he?  All I know is that his little face lit up like a Halloween pumpkin the other night when Janis appeared on the computer screen very clearly, all the way from New Zealand, with the help of Skype, which is the same as telly really……. I’ll tell you he's definitely an odd ‘un ….. as well as being ockard. I have an awful job to work him out sometimes.

But I’m happy, sat quietly here on my own waiting with great patience till the end of February when we can cruise again. But for the last month we’ve had lovely weather in a November-y sort of way. No ice anyway and we could have cruised beautifully for all that time. I don’t even mind ploughing my way through the ice. It’s so exciting ….. But I know the Skipper’s worried about ripping all the paint off my bottom and having to get me re-blacked afterwards. And as he loves his country overnight moorings, I also think he worries about getting iced in somewhere during the night, miles from a fresh water tap and a shop.

The poor old chap….

So here we stay tied up snugly at Kate Boats with nothing better for me to do but count the ducks that pass by.

Hey Ho!

November

The time is here again when the thin dawn light of winter begins to seep into the day at around seven every morning, with a persistent damp and dismal lethargy. Then later, as soon as all has arrived, it immediately starts to creep out again and is gone by five o’clock never to return for another long fourteen hours.

In fact I am reminded at this time of the year of a poem that I learned while at school many years ago. It’s called:-

 

November

By Thomas Hood

No sun - no moon!
No morn - no noon -
No dawn - no dusk - no proper time of day.
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member -
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! -
November!

 

On these dark mornings one is encouraged to remain within the cocoon of one’s bed indefinitely. But eventually, having finally shaken off the shackles of sleep, it is wonderful to rise and still be able to remain somewhat self indulgent by just  sitting within the cosy confines of the boat luxuriating in the warmth of the Squirrel fire, whilst reading a good book.

Let the rest of the World carry on with its busy hectic life outside. I have happily maintained my alternative here for a number of days now.

 

However we do get the occasional morning without the cloud

 

I have just finished reading Terry Pratchett’s novel ‘Nation’. It was recommended to me by Janis before she left and I must admit that I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I have done. I’ve not read any of his books before and since the author’s note announced that the plot was set in a parallel universe to ours, I was expecting some kind of fantasy genre, which I have never enjoyed when I have tried to read them before; I must be the only person in the world for example who hasn’t enjoyed a Harry Potter book (yes I have tried one) or seen a Harry Potter film. But I did thoroughly enjoy ‘Nation’ with its simple profound  logic and witty prose that I found almost poetic in nature.

 

‘Roots and Wings’ at her safe berth for the winter

 

‘Futurest’ with that certain lived aboard look

 

Apart from a couple of visits to my brother in Stratford-upon-Avon and to the funeral of my friend Lyn in Banbury recently, after which, friend’s John and Maggie kindly put me up for the night, I have led a quiet life.

I’ve been for a number of walks around the district, for interest's sake trying to vary them as much as possible, and these have been very enjoyable. On Saturday 3rd September I was out in the evening for a stroll, watching the numerous and colourful firework displays around Warwick.

In turn briefly each would impress and flourish brightly and loudly for about twenty minutes before the normal traffic noise and the orange glow of the town took over once more. Furthermore on the following morning all over, like discarded skeletons was the anti-climactic debris of spent sky rockets, wet, soggy and forlorn in the morning dew.

The local pubs were hoping to be busy on that Saturday night too. Loud music from some and/or massive television screens blazed a bright path across the dark pavements, while outside the ‘Old Railway Tavern’, a board announced ecstatically the usual football matches ‘LIVE’ between teams I hadn’t even heard of.

Though damp and misty, recently the air temperature has been very mild and in conditions like this it is tempting to take ‘Futurest’ out for a cruise. But of course one cannot trust the weather and at any moment, within hours, icy conditions might descend leaving us stuck miles from anywhere without any sustenance.

We shall remain here safe and sound till the end of February as planned.

Back Safely at Our Home Port

Eight months ago ‘Futurest’ and I set off in excellent spirits from Kate Boats in Warwick for another exciting season of cruising, never quite knowing what adventure lay ahead for us. Now we’ve arrived safely back having travelled a total of 650.5 miles, through 408 locks and 10 tunnels since we left.

I know this is a modest amount to what some people manage to cover in the same period but then ‘Futurest’ and I were never designed for getting there-and-back-as-quickly-as-we-can and neither of us intended to go for any speed records. Having managed an average speed of 1.53 mph overall, which includes all locking time and other stoppages, I am certainly most happy with the result.

Our pattern has been slightly different this year in that we managed to join up with Janis and ‘Roots and Wings’ in Newark at the beginning of May. We’ve remained happily in tandem ever since and arrived at Kate Boats on Monday afternoon. Everything seems the same here; we are at our old berth, just beneath the bridge and the smiles of welcome we found unchanged.

I winterised ‘Roots and Wings this morning and she is moored snugly a little further away, adjacent to the paint shed. She should be fine for the coming winter months.

Her skipper Janis, far from relaxing after arrival, had to prepare herself for her forthcoming travels abroad and for a lot of the time was arranging flights, insurance, packing etc. that she would need for the next four months in Cambodia and New Zealand. She is looking forward to seeing home again particularly as she has not been back there for eight years or so.

However we did have some time to relax together and appreciate the wonderful atmosphere of Warwick.

 

My little Shipmate

 

Caesar’s Tower from Mill Street

 

Golden Glory in St Nicholas Park

 

Golden Sunset across the Avon

 

At this time of the year, forgetting the traffic and its noise, the town is an absolute delight with its medieval castle, its collegiate church and tall tower designed by Sir Christopher Wren and so many oak framed houses built during the Tudor period. They are all a pleasure to both eye and intellect. The park land too is wonderful with a myriad of golds and browns and carpeted with so many fallen leaves that in passing, one cannot help, like a child, swishing one’s feet noisily through them.

We managed to fit in a couple of urban walks, which took in both the castle and the nearby River Avon, high with rainwater and magnificent as usual but not currently in flood. The quaint little tearooms as well, where we shared a cream tea (or two), were full of their usual magical charm.

On one of these walks, which was taking us between the railway embankment and some allotments, behind which was an ordinary housing estate, we came upon a wonderful sight. We were walking along a narrow tarmac-ed path when suddenly from the hedge on the right, about ten yards ahead of us, jumped a brown animal which from its size, at first we thought was a dog. It looked at us briefly and decided to trot along the path in the direction away from us and it was then that we noticed that our dog had horns! We had spotted a Muntjac deer. I fumbled in my pocket quickly for my camera but in the excitement was not quick enough before the animal, spotting a man coming from the other direction towards us, skipped back nimbly through the hedge and into the allotment. Though Janis and I searched hard we never saw our little friend again. How brave wild animals are becoming these days, venturing so close to human habitation.

Janis left on Thursday to begin her World journey and I went with her as far as the railway station. The train was on time; I find generally that they are these days and at 6.41 pm she climbed aboard and disappeared from my life just as quickly as she had arrived.

The change will be nice but I shall miss her.

She has been a brilliant shipmate but very capable on her own anyway. Though we’ve remained in close convoy, she hasn’t needed my boating assistance in any way. She has been a good chum and I shall miss her laughter as well as her fine company and her advice.

Bon voyage Janis. I shall be thinking of you.

Leamington Spa

This week schools are on half term holiday. As a result Kate Boats are very busy sending out their hire boats. So when I phoned them to confirm our arrival at Warwick, Cheryl asked If we could possibly hold off till Monday, when it was anticipated all would be quieter to receive us. So we’re happily dawdling for a little longer before ending our voyage and settling down for the winter.

Currently the Sun is shining but for a few days earlier the cloud base was zero and we were enshrouded by a damp, drizzly mantle, which kept everything dripping wet and visibility to less than two hundred yards. It is cooler today but much brighter so it is no hardship for us to be contentedly moored for the time being on the visitor rings at Leamington Spa. We are at the bottom of the main Street and only fifteen minutes walk away from a large Sainsbury’s on the retail estate.

We filled our tanks at the last water point so what more could two contented boaters possibly want?

 

A muddy tow path at Leamington

 

It’s been a pleasure in fact to enjoy the delights of civilisation once more. We have visited the shopping malls and experienced all that the glossy expensive occupiers have to offer and we’ve walked around the town marvelling at the architecture of the grand town houses that were, with their big ornate porticos and steps down to the kitchens and servants quarters. Most of them are now occupied by firms of accountants or expensive estate agents….

And the prices of houses here….. Wow!

We’ve had lunch at the Pump rooms and though one can no longer ‘take the waters’, the ornate marbled Victorian fountain remains, albeit with flowers in its bowl. The building also houses a large library, the local museum and  a very fine art gallery.

After our lunch Janis and I sauntered around the Jephson Gardens filled now with the golden colours of autumn and watched little children, with their mothers, excitedly feeding ducks on the ornate lake. Grey squirrels, well accustomed here to lots of visitors, crept up on us soundlessly, sitting up perkily on their hind legs close to our feet and looking at us with alert and expectant little eyes. All we had was chocolate, but the offer was quickly accepted straight from Janis’ hand.

 

Janis in Jephson Gardens

 

An Autumn Scene

 

Hungry Squirrel

 

Foraging Squirrel

Last night we went to the local municipal theatre called The Royal Spa Centre. It is really a most splendid place and Janis and I enjoyed ‘The Sound of Music’, performed very enthusiastically by a local amateur team called The Spa Opera Group. We have both seen the show many times but last night’s was as good as any of them I thought. We returned to the little ships afterwards, happily singing all the well known tunes.

 

Leamington Old Town from the River Leam

 

Today we have one of our quiet days organised, when we both do our own thing. The towpath alongside is not the best, considering our proximity to the town so I shall go outside now to enjoy what remains of the Sun and wash off the starboard side of ‘Futurest’ which has been liberally splashed by bikes speeding through the muddy puddles.

Approaching Warwick at Radford Semele

The end of our voyage is close, as we moor near the small village of Radford Semele. It is just four miles to our destination at Kate Boats in Warwick. Our quota of locks, tunnels, swing and lift bridges for the year is accomplished and soon all of us will be able to wind down to rest for the winter.

Unlike last year’s tumult of major engine breakdown on the Chesterfield Canal, the resultant but nonetheless thrilling tow on the tidal River Trent and the necessary but very expensive replacement engine at Stretton Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canal, by comparison this year we have enjoyed a quiet excitement.

The season has been different to those in the past in that ‘Futurest’ and I have been accompanied for the whole period by Janis and ‘Roots and Wings’.

And such a success this has been too.

While being able to maintain my role as a single hander, this year there has been somebody else always close by to share every experience. To a limited degree this has happened in the past of course as in this travelling life one is always able to make new acquaintanceships by sharing locks and even moorings for a time. Many firm friends I have made in this manner. But our period together has been for a limited period only and always we have needed to separate after a few days, or a month maybe at the most, in order to accomplish our own personal plans. This year Janis and I set out from the beginning with the same cruising plan in mind and with the intention of staying in close convoy together for the whole time.

The plan has worked well.

All the machinery on board ‘Futurest’ too has worked so well and using the new Russell Newbery has been a very definite pleasure. She has always answered my commands very faithfully and has never let me down while ‘Futurest’ herself (bless her) has been a tower of strength and reliability too. I have given her some very difficult tasks sometimes but she has always uncannily kept me out of trouble. She behaves very promptly and is wonderful.

It is sad that all this has to end soon.

But next year is another year that I am sure will be equally as memorable.

At Rugby Janis returned after her visit to Newark, and we set off eagerly to the south glad to be en route again. All the way the autumn weather remained perfect for our passage. Sunshine was with us all the time and we made good progress as far as Braunston Turn.

 

Our arrival at Braunston Turn

 

There was no need for us to moor at the village itself, which wasn’t on our direct route towards Napton Junction. Instead we decided to moor on the Oxford Canal somewhere just round the corner but within walking distance of the village shop, where we needed to buy bread and milk. However we soon realised that nothing was available along this route so in the end needed to reverse approximately a hundred yards back to the junction. Neither ship has a bow thruster but we didn’t need one anyway. We both accomplished the manoeuvre brilliantly and, with great satisfaction, were happy to tie up at the mooring outside the ‘Boathouse’ pub for the night.

Peter, a friend of Janis, having cycled from Long Eaton, joined us here during the day and later we all enjoyed a meal at the pub together. The following day, just prior to our departure, Peter left to cycle all the way back home.

 

‘Roots and Wings’ Passing on the way to turn round at Braunston

 

On Friday afternoon, having descended the Stockton Locks, we moored for the night at Long Itchington, a small rural Warwickshire village sitting near the River Itchen,  in an area of pretty, criss-crossed footpaths and disused railway lines. On Saturday Janis and I went on a long walk to explore what we could. The weather was wonderful and the day was a great success.

 

Napton Junction

 

Autumn Poplars reflecting the sunset at Long Itchington

 

Entering the lower chamber of Bascote Staircase Lock

 

Though we could have travelled from Long Itchington to Warwick in a day, we have decided that while the weather remains so favourable we’ll make the season last for a few more days and arrive at our destination sometime towards the end of this week.

Janis has to leave for her planned flight to New Zealand a week on Thursday.

Rugby

The two little ships and myself are on our own at the moment. I’m quietly boat-sitting while Janis has returned to Newark to see old friends and to take part in what I can only call a physical test of endurance; but more specifically a 12000 metre run with some obstacles thrown in as well.

I’ve just received a phone call from her to say that the event happened today in Nottingham, that she’s okay and happy, though somewhat disabled as a result. She is on her way back to Newark to stay the night, and lick her wounds no doubt, at the house of her friend Lorna.

All being well she should be back here on Monday. Me and the two ‘girls’ will be most pleased to see her. Both ‘Futurest’ and ‘Roots and Wings’ must be feeling very put out and frustrated to be so stationary for so long.

 

Statue to commemorate the founding of Rugby Football

 

Unusual Sculpture in Caldecott Park

 

I’ve been fine and quietly enjoying the rest, while the weather, though being quite chilly with temperatures just above the frost level during the night to remind us that winter is not that far away, has  been quite remarkable during the daytime with plenty of sunshine to keep us cheered.

 Having spent six days here now, I have managed to do quite a bit of sightseeing so I know the town and its surroundings fairly well. I have shopped briefly everyday at the nearby large 24 hour Tesco, have found a footpath that runs into town (as straight as a dye and directly as the crow flies, for a real cliché bonanza) and managed to explore the old Brownsover waterway that was the original course of North Oxford canal when it looped flamboyantly in the beginning and in true Brindley style around the north of the town.

The canal had many of these meanders at one time along its whole length but in order to compete with the railway, in the eighteen hundreds all the loops were taken out and the canal benefitted briefly by being straightened and thus shortened. However I was surprised to find that the Brownsover course was still there and in water mostly. The whole surface was covered in a light green weed but both the Mallards and the Moorhens were making the most of it and seemed to cherish the quiet and lack of Human infringement.

 

Weeded Canal……

 

…… and overgrown towpath

 

Bridge 56 on the Brownsover Loop

 

Green weed

 

Rugby’s ‘Green Man’

 

Unfortunately I have found the town, in spite of being host to one of the top public schools, to be fairly uninspiring and apart from the usual run of pedestrianised streets and arcades for many of the nationally  known and used shops and pubs it seemed to have nothing more to offer me. There are numerous trading and industrial estates as well like many Midland towns but I found very little of historical interest including the buildings and churches.

I shall be glad to be on my way again.

Quite a strange thing happened this afternoon as I returned after doing my daily shopping. As I was climbing on board at the stern of ‘Futurest’, a short narrowboat came by. I couldn’t see any name but it was quite old with lots of roof clutter and it had a permanent port list. It looked a bit like an ancient ‘Springer’.

As it passed by the helmsman shouted across: “I enjoy reading your blog.”

I acknowledged and said thank you, as I usually do. It is comforting always, to know that people do actually read it as well as gain pleasure from it.

But then he followed it up with something I didn’t quite understand. He was by this time moving away from me and I’m not too certain as to whether I heard him correctly even over the rattling and noisy sound of his engine.

But what I thought he said was:

“And tell that crew member of yours to mind their own flippin’ business.”

I didn’t answer as I’ve no idea what he expected to hear. I certainly don’t know what he was on about, so all I could do was to try to look intelligent and smile at him with a big frown.

 

 

A Cold and an Army Assault Course

The Old Man’s been feeling a bit sorry for himself over the last few days as he’s suffering from a bad cold. Been sneezing and doing about something awful he has.

Come on you folk….  Altogether now…..

One, two, three….Aaaahhhhh! The poor old chap.  I don’t think he can take it bless him. It’s all been a bit too much for him.

I notice though he’s not doing it today as much, so perhaps he’s past the worst. Let’s hope so. I can’t stand him moping about all day the way he’s been doing.

He’s gone off ashore now……  to find some little tea shop I expect.

Janis hasn’t helped either. Maybe she’s fed up too as she’s left me with him and gone off to Newark for a couple of days to do an army assault course!

Well thank YOU very much.

Suppose it must be a desperate situation for her as well, ‘cos what else would make a lovely feminine female like her do an army assault course for goodness sake.

You can see the sort of people I have to look after though, can't you?

Weirdoes the lot I reckon!

Still ‘Roots and Wings’ seems a nice young lady. She’s tied up snugly just astern of me.

Doesn’t say a lot and has been very quiet all through the summer ever since she left Newark back at the beginning of May. But she seems quite happy to follow my example without question and that’s what I think is best for everyone.

She hasn’t ever travelled so far in all her young life so I expect she has to stay quiet to take it all in.

Still I wish she’d say a bit more as it makes me all nervous as to what she’s thinking.

Even though Janis has gone off to Newark, her and the Skipper do seem to be getting on very well together, as they have done all Summer.

I’m not sure, but there must be something going on there you know that they don't want us to know about. I’ve noticed when they go ashore they always walk close together ….

You know ….. close-like.

I’ve not actually seen them touching but they’re closer than normal people would be, when they went ashore. But I can’t forget that night in Cheshire when he kissed her.

Ahhh! You don’t kiss somebody for nothing without meaning it, do you? I’ll have to let you know what happens……. Ooooh isn’t it exciting!