Now moored just before the junction on “Braunston Puddlebanks”. A beautiful sunny day again today. A great day’s cruising the first 11 miles lock dree then down the Napton flight with every lock set in our favour, or a boat coming up as we approched. Another barbecue!

We are setting out to go to the Cutweb rally at Alvecote, but we are going a long way round, via Liecester. First we called in at Soverign Wharf to buy a new battery, one of our domestic back is at least 6 years old as it was on the boat when we bought it.

There is quite an autumnal air around now. This morning the mists were rising from the canal and it looked really beautiful. We set off just after 7 and had a good run until we hit queues about 10 o’clock. A breakfast  stop was taken opposite “The Pig Place”, a farm shop and camp site

We had arranged to meet our son-in-law’s parents Ann and Richard at Newbridge at 12:00. So to make sure we were there on time we set off just after seven. It was a very pleasant morning and  good to reacquaint ourselves with the upper Thames. We haven’t been this way for over 10 years. At

A day of delays frustrations. When I went to start the engine I could tell that the battery was low and didn’t seem to have been charging yesterday. Also the tacho and the other instruments weren’t working. It seemed likely that one or more wires were loose behind the instrument panel. They had taken it

It has been fairly windy over the last few days, and the forecast is for much stronger wind over the next few days. This is apparently the tail end of hurricane Bertha. Because of this we decided to leave early in the morning when the lighter winds would make getting out of the marina easier.

We have spent the last three days at the Cropredy Festival. This is organised by Fairport Convention and features mostly  Folk and Folk-Rock type music. Highlights for us were: Joe Broughton’s Folk Ensemble The Churchfitters Benjamen Folke Thomas Blackbeard’s Tea Party Fairport’s closing set and of course the wonderful Richard Digence.  

At last, after over four months being re-painted we now have the boat back. There are still a few odds and ends that need tidying up, but at least we are on board. Just a short chug back to the marina where we’ll stay for the next few days.

Bob called to say the boat would be ready today. So we drove up to Fenny Compton, but when we got there it still wasn’t quite ready! There were various odd little things that still needed to be done,but we agreed to go out for a few days and then return back to the boatyard.