Braunston Historic Boats Rally 23/24 June

Moored about a mile short of  Braunston on our return journey to Crick as the Historic Boats Rally was in progress.  Walked in and had a great day.

Through Braunston on Sunday, we were back in Crick Tuesday morning.

We aim to depart Crick around the 10th July for Birmingham, Shroppie, Chester and Ellesmere Port. This assumes that the long term forecast improves considerably, another month like June would not be enjoyable.  Return route not yet decided.

Back on Board

It's been over a year since our last entry.  There are numerous reasons why, but the main ones are lack of boat travel due to the horrendous weather we have suffered over the last few months and personal issues that have kept us landside.
Middle of May was our first trip on Bacchus.  A quick trip through Foxton locks and into Market Harborough tested Bacchus after 6 months of being idle.  She ran really well.  We travelled both ways through the locks without seeing another boat.  If you visit MH we would recommend visiting the town museum, it's only small but the Hallaton treasure exhibit is excellent.

Crick Boat Show, down the Oxford & up the Ashby.
Despite the weather Crick Boat Show seems to have been a success.  We spent 4 days on board moored in the marina during the Show with visits from family and friends, leaving on the evening of the last day to chugg down to Oxford.

Crick Marina during the Boat Show 4th June

The plan was to travel down to Oxford, stopping at bridge 113 to visit the Butcher's Arms in Priors Hardwick, then to continue through Banbury and spend a few days in Oxford. Well it never quite worked out like that as it rained nearly every day down to Banbury and we became concerned that the Cherwell might be in flood and decided to call it a day.  We were on a tight schedule and needed to be back in Crick by first week of July and did not want to get stuck the wrong side of the river. That meant a new plan - return to Braunston and then up the Ashby.  The weather didn't seem to improve on the return journey either and we never did make the Butcher's Arms, so I still owe Flo a lunch there.

Claydon Top Lock 12 June - note the blue string used to open/close the gate

Ashby Canal
The bloody weather still continued to haunt us, more wet days than dry; but we still had our first BBQ off the boat, were lucky enough to see a steam engine on the Battle Railway Line at Market Bosworth, have a really pleasant evening stroll around Shenton and met Brian & Irene O'Neill, a lovely couple from Auckland, NZ, who summer in England on their nb Rangitoto.

Market Bosworth Station

Flo, Irene & Brian