Huddlesford to Fradley Junction

We moved from our peaceful mooring and made our way to Huddlesford, not really that far to go, but then a couple of hours is all that is needed isn't it?

Having an evening meal on board we ventured to The Plough for a drink or too.  Although there are three bridges here, one of them carrying the west coast mainline, we found it quiet enough during the night and got a good nights sleep.  We went for a walk the following day, giving our legs a good stretch felt good, and we made a circular route along the lanes into Whittington, with a brief shop in the local Co-op (surprising how big this store is) and then a rest in the Bell Inn, if you have never stopped and walked to here it is well worth it, this pub has so much character. We completed our walk back along to the towpath in the company of a local, he told us about his mum being a land girl in the war in Somerset until he reached his house.

The next day we set off to Fradley Junction, an early start, we got to the junction before 9 Martin made the turn and headed back up the Coventry canal, we moored at the end of the line of moorers still in their places from the night before, as it was drizzling I suspect they wanted to see if the day improved, it didn't much, but we have waterproofs and don't mind boating in the wet.

Heading back through Huddlesford we moored nearer to Whittington within reach of bridge 80, handy for the pub and back to the Co-op for the days paper.

Onto one of the super highways

We've loved the tranquillity of the Ashby canal , it suits our backgrounds being country folk, the turn right at Marston junction went well but we were very soon aware that we were travelling along a sort of super highway, the Coventry canal was busy and not something we are really used to. We passed Boot Wharf again where we'd launched the boat with our destination being Fradley junction, our turning point.

We descended the Atherstone locks our first locks in this boat, it's an easy flight to negotiate, and well kept by the volunteers. 

Martin safely negotiating lock three of the Atherstone flight.

We moored out in the sticks and had a peaceful night, while watching the sun set.

Sunset, ready for a peaceful night.

We're enjoying our boat and all the planning we have put in is paying off. You'll notice that the dates and days have gone from the blog & intro, due to us not (well me) wearing a watch and neither of us bothered about what day of the week it is, bliss, total relaxation!

And one last thing, I love that you are checking into the blog Mum happy reading, see you soon, love you X

Rails and Ales

It appears our timing was just right, we got to our marina just in time to enjoy the rails and ales weekend just over the canal bridge from the marina, my favourite being a fruity little number made from rhubarb and Rose hip.
We've spent some time getting the boat sorted too and meeting our neighbours, but one of the highlights was meeting up with friends Sue and George from nb caxton and welcoming them aboard as our first guests, I think they liked our boat.
On Monday we broke out of the marina and turned left to Snarestone, we enjoyed a lovely meal at the Globe, returning to the marina early on Tuesday.
Blogging is definitely on a go slow as we are far to busy enjoying ourselves and getting to know our new boat.

And so a week has passed

We have now been on board a week, where has the time gone!.

Launch day - it sure is scary watching your new pride and joy dangling above a lorry and swung into the canal, but the chaps all new exactly what they were doing so why worry?  Sonia Louise touched the canal for the first time and sat lovely in the cut, and was pulled alongside the wharf and diesel point at boot wharf Nuneaton.  First things first find out what and where all the keys are for. 

I got stuck into offloading my car, I'd tried to remember enough for our first day, tea, coffee, wine, beer (maybe not in that order) We then set about our first diesel fill, 200 plus litres later we were able to start the engine.  We now needed to head to Bosworth Marina on the Ashby canal, with John the engineer from Bluewater Boats on board the journey started, the engine was checked a few times through the short journey to Marston Junction, where we let John off Dave was there on the Bridge waiting and managed to take some photos of us going under the first bridge at the junction. 

We got to the marina after 9.30 that evening, Martin having made an excellent turn into the entrance and under the footbridge he soon had the boat reversing back alongside our pontoon.  Just a small matter of retrieving my car from Nuneaton, fingers crossed it was in a safe place! Car retrieved we got back to the Marina with a Chinese take-away, so a late dinner, but glad to be on our boat in our home Marina.

Friday morning was an early start, I drove the two and a half hours home again, my car windscreen needed replacing due to a rather large stone wound, at half seven that morning I was eating breakfast at home.

Shhhhhhh

Weds 20 July Ready for delivery - tomorrow! and she looks wonderful against that blue sky backdrop

Our boat, ready for delivery at the boat builders yard.

We may sleep tonight, but then again we may not!

Small things

12 July -This week the surveyor is going to survey the boat so fingers crossed that all goes well, then on Friday the fitters are coming to lay the flooring.  We also need the front canopy to be fitted, this has I understand been measured and templated.

Last week the electrics were being worked through, LED lights, wall lights and the beating heart of the boat, the engine was installed, it'd been put on the hoist on Thursday during our visit but we missed the actual event which happened later that day.

A rather blurred photo, but you get the idea.

On the home front we still have a growing pile of boat stuff in the lounge.  I've spent some time removing a sticky mass of labels from various items. 

I sent away for some fitted sheets a little while ago for the Cross bed mattresses, I'm really happy with the quality and service from Denise at made to measure. these along with other  boat laundry have been washed and aired.

On Monday we will be visiting the boat builder's again, mainly to try and go through any snagging issues, it's easier to do this while the boat is at the builders yard, then hopefully we'll know more definitely about the launch location and date, the location is dependant on the availability and ability to launch a 65ft boat by crane. 

We are tantalisingly close and will soon have a beautiful boat to enjoy, each time we visit we admire the finish, and the boat feels very relaxing inside.

So one photo for now of the interior, a bedroom full of seat cushions, hope we work out where they all go! and the cupboard handles are now all fitted.

How do all these fit into place?

The next update will now be of the launch, whenever that is, I just hope I remember that there is a blog to update! excitement is building but being contained - just.

Not quite launch day today - but the boat is named

Monday 4th July - Not quite ready so we have a slight delay. As our launch date was provisional we thought it might slip, on Tuesday we visited our boat builders and could see a week to get the electrics and associated elements (not least the engine) would take longer.  The flooring, some cupboard doors, front canopy cover still need to be fitted.  Slightly disappointing but we'd rather the last bits of the jigsaw are not rushed.

So I've had to re-arrange holiday again, and have now run out of any other options, I'm desperate for time off, the couple of days over Easter was months ago, I don't intend loosing holiday either use it or loose it!

We have a steady 'pile' of things collecting in the front room. The two reclining chairs we've had for a few years are now dismantled - fingers crossed they fit in.

We'll be visiting the boat builders later this week to see what the state of play is, but it's likely the boat will be launched sometime around or after weekend of 15 July.

On Tuesday we met with the sign writer and went through the lettering style we  wanted and how this could fit into the panels. Here is the one on the bow flash

Our boat now named