With it being half term we had the pleasure of our Granddaughter Curly (Abbie) coming to stay with us for the week. As usual it wasn't long before she jumped on to the tiller and had a go at steering Inca. She is now becoming a proper little boating girl as she can now start and stop the engine plus she can read the maps as well. The only problem is that i have now been demoted to second mate with Curly as First mate and Carolyn of course is the Captain.
Its always good Crossing Grafton Street Aqueduct and watching the cars speeding below.
With the weather reaching over 20 degrees we are so lucky and what a pleasure to be cruising South through Milton Keynes in brilliant Sunshine.
We eventually got to Fenny Stratford and moored for a couple of days above the lock . Carolyn and Curly were in their element with all the shops at Bletchley and came back loaded with new clothes , shoes and toys for Curly. They also had a couple of trips to Bletchley leisure centre were they spent several hours enjoying the swimming pool.
On Wednesday morning Carolyn and Curly had yet another early morning swim and when they returned we pulled pins at 12.00 and headed for one of our favourite moorings at Stoke Hammond. With the water temperature still high this Heron was having no trouble fishing in the shallows.
On Thursday morning we pulled pins at 09.15 and soon arrived at Stoke Hammond lock . Carolyn certainly enjoys Curly’s company .
With plenty of water at Soulbury 3 locks we met these boats at the middle lock and had to wait in the pound as they locked down.
At the top of 3 locks it was total chaos . The poor old hire boat got in a right old state as he tried to moor before the top lock .At one time with us hard on the offside he nearly hit us. Matters weren't made any better when the two boats behind him started shouting at him. Carolyn to the rescue again when she told them what they needed to do to get to the bank. With the good weather there were a lot of Wyvern hire boats out and apparently there were some very good deals to be had with one hirer telling us he was told by Wyvern to make an offer for the weekend.
Its Halloween and Wow that's really scary…The Pumpkin is scary as well !!!!!!
With the week over far too quickly Number one Daughter Chloe arrives at Linslade from Devon to pick up Curly. After a night aboard they departed on Saturday morning for the 4 hour journey back to Totnes. Although it was great to have Curly for the week it was good to hand her back to her Mum as you forget how tired you get looking after kids ,Well that's the advantage of being Grandparents being able to give the little darlings back….
Happy Days