Close Encounters of the Wild Kind!

Today, for my excellent behaviour, I was granted some reprieve! I was also given some spending money!! Not a moment too soon it would seem as himself has apparently been dreaming about me falling into the deep mud of the River Severn head first when the tide is out and waggling my little short, fat, hairy legs!! (They are NOT hairy!!)

Beswick Swan

Flamingoes

So .....how did I celebrate my get-away? I went off to find creatures one would not expect to find (at least not easily) along the environs of the canal system.

I went to Slimbridge!

So, what did I think? I'm not sure! There was every conceivable type of duck, swan and goose and, for sure, many of these I will never have the chance to see out of captivity. HOWEVER, the ducks that ARE indigenous to this country and I HAVE seen in the wild like smew, eider, mergansers, goldeneye? In captivity? As I say, I'm not sure. The enclosures were fine and they didn't have to worry about finding food or safety but ...... ? Endangered species - they are keeping some safe and breeding them so that has to be a good thing.

It was the only way I am likely to see these lovely, adorable creatures in the for-see-able future.

They have just introduced a female otter and her cubs + some beavers + some water voles in an area called "Back from the Brink". The numerous visiting children were really excited about all of these so if they grow up with a passion for the protection of these animals that has got to be a good thing .... doesn't it?

Watching birds in the wild from a hide? In my opinion the RSPB wins hands down.

So how did John spend his "time off"? He fettled and fa*ted! My entrance fee? "A small price to pay for a peaceful day", I can hear him say!

Sharpness

There is a section of river bank from a place called Purton to Sharpness where old barges have been deliberately beached in order to protect the bank from erosion. This one didn't make it as far as the bank!

Good old estuary mud! The birds love it! This was at low tide at the entrance of the old lock.

Looking up the estuary from Sharpness.

Looking down the estuary from Sharpness - the two bridges across the Severn into Wales can just be seen.

Tewkesbury

Well, despite initial concerns about yet another river festival we have had a really nice weekend here in Tewkesbury.

Ken (Lord Kenneth) & Sandra (Lady Sandra) on Kesandra ("The Floating Palace") caught up with us on Friday afternoon and, whilst we were out and about in Tewkesbury searching for brass knobs (!!!) breasted up to us. Ken later said that it was a new experience for him and one that he didn't much like!!!

I must say that I think all this living on such a palatial vessel is somewhat going to their heads and that they are now getting a little carried away!

They are even beginning to think about getting a royal guard dog!

Sorry Rebecca. Sorry Samantha. They simply can't have this one because she's ours. She has, however, been welcomed on board "Kesandra", and, you never know, she might just have left a royal flea behind on that big back deck somewhere!

All joking apart - we had a really good weekend together. The Water Festival was quite low-key - local people have spent the last two years trying to pick up the pieces from all the devastation caused by the floods of 2007. It was, however, a really good Family Fun Day based around the water. There were water based races for children, mums and dads and teachers! There were fun-fair type stalls, some live entertainment, an illuminated boat competition which was really well supported and an excellent firework display to end the event.

Over the weekend Sandra & I went to have a really good look around Tewkesbury Abbey - the architecture of which is simply phenomenal. Whilst we were away Ken and John drank too many beers and, in the evenings, we all drank too much red wine!!! Thank you Ken & Sandra for your good company, your support re our boating shortcomings (!) and your great sense of humour.

An Ordinary Week

Loyal & faithful friends that they are ................. Annette and David helped us back up the Tardebigge Flight last Monday. Once at the top, we shared a barbecue together. Thanks Annette and David - hope to see you again soon.

Returning along the North Stratford Canal I have to say that we found it as unimpressive as the first time - very overgrown and not many inviting places to stop and moor. That is, until you reach the Lapworth Flight which, although hard work, is lovely - to Lapworth Basin, 21 locks. Lapworth Basin itself is especially nice.

Yesterday we moved on up the Grand Union to Knowle - we needed to do some shopping and it's the only little town around with access from the canal. It was, however, a long old trudge from the bottom of the locks and we had really heavy rain all day.

We are currently moored back at Kingswood Junction - where the Grand Union and the North and South Stratford Canals meet. Rodney is bringing John's mum to us and she is staying for a week's holiday. Some 'joker' on the TV last night predicted a heat wave somewhere in Britain!! Bet your bottom dollar it will be nowhere near Stratford which is our next destination!

The Centre of Birmingham

Well I never thought I would say this but ................... the canalside centre of Birmingham is absolutely lovely! Gas Street Basin is not how I imagined it to be - I thought it would be a larger area than it actually is - but together with The Mailbox and NIA areas the whole place is fabulous.

Everywhere is so clean and orderly - I have not seen any litter anywhere (not even a fag end!) and the presence of security guards is noticeable. The only thing is the lack of a bit of grass for Maggie! We have just sat and watched the Turkish Grand Prix moored in the shadow of the NIA. How cool is that!!

Yesterday afternoon, in the rain, we followed Rodney through the centre of the system and I have to admit that I think it is fantastic that he has been able to do this.

The approach into Birmingham, however, was much the same as with other large towns and cities - rubbish and graffiti everywhere. Yet again, it makes me ashamed of the human race.

Tomorrow, Rodney and Derek will be making their way towards the Coventry canal to get back to Crick and John and I will be heading off towards Worcester.

It can't be sunny every day

Well of course it can't but I really feel that I ought to show a balanced picture of Life on the Cut.


Today, as across most of the U.K. it would seem, it has rained continually. We travelled 5 miles and 6 locks to Banbury - in the rain - and didn't see another boat on the move until we got to Banbury. We passed through the lovely little village of Cropredy - a little tourist hot-spot.

The land does need the rain though - a couple of days ago we went for a long walk across the fields and some of the ground was badly cracked as it was so dry.

In actual fact, as long as I'm warm and dry, I don't mind the type of soft rain that we have had today. Just like the weather can affect our moods I think it affects the mood of the countryside and I like that! On a more sensible note, working through locks in the wet can be slippery and, therefore, hazardous and needs to be approached with caution.




I really like Banbury. The canal is a central part of the town and maintained to a high standard. Boaters are made to feel really welcome. It has a good under-cover shopping centre with well known chain stores but what I like about it most of all are the original streets and alleyways and individual shops that remain. We need to take Maggie to a vet to have her booster injections.

Coots get Social Housing Benefit

Today we left Cowley and went to Paddington Basin ..... and began our way back again. The Paddington Arm goes through the highly desirable areas of Southall, Greenford, Northolt and Wembley. We passed Kensal Green Cemetary where the revered Isambard Kingdom Brunel is buried. (It's an enormous cemetary with many, many residents!). Before reaching Little Venice there is an area of numerous flats and where every possible surface has grafitti on it. Who is Toxo 9?!!!! No one should ever complain about Staines again! Even the coots were entitled to housing benefits and were keen to re-cycle.

Little Venice itself is a nice area and interesting. All the old iron bridges are painted in bright colours. There IS some visitor mooring but 'visitors' seemed to be overstaying the time limit and we could find no space to stop ourselves.

We continued into the basin at Paddington. What an upper class buiding site it is!!! If anyone thought that no building work is being carried out in Britain because of the recession they are wrong. When it is all completed it will be a very desirable residential and commercial area. It is actually very close to major London attractions and has good free moorings for seven days if one wants to explore London.

We are glad we went but won't rush back.

Feeling Privileged

Well ............... today the weather has been so much nicer than yesterday. We have had bright sunshine all day and no rain. We arrived at the Tring Reservoirs shorty after lunch time. Then went for a lovely walk around the reservoirs. We are moored up just by one of the reservoirs. Again today, very little in the way of boat movement - we love it!!!
DON ASFORD!!!! If you are not a camp follower, WHY NOT??? Apparently there are Bearded tits and Bitterns just a few metres in the reed beds from the boat as I type!!!!! Yawn, Yawn!!!!!
Tomorrow, we need to get a bit of a move on to reach Berkhamstead as Mr Rodney Rogers (boat inspector) is to join us on Thursday for a whole week.
THIS IS A RASH THOUGHT BUT ...... I MIGHT ...... get up early in the morning and walk to the reed bed ..... just for a look and a listen!!!
Given more time, I could actually stay here for several days quite happily.

Milton Keynes

So ..................... have you ever been to Milton Keynes? What sort of place do you imagine it to be?

Milton Keynes was actually designed as a new town in about 1967 to relieve housing conjestion and poor living conditions in London.

Milton Keynes covers 22 thousand acres and incorporates not only the original village of Milton Keynes but also other small towns that existed:- Bletchley, Wolverton, Stony Stratford and 15 other villages and farmland.

Interesting Point: Milton Keynes is equidistant from London, Birmingham, Leicester, Oxford and Cambridge.

As with all other new towns of the time (Harlow, Basildon, Welwyn Garden City and Stevannage) Milton Keynes has characteristic grid roads that run between districts, lakes and parkland.

Cycle ways, poplar trees and daffodils (in the Spring) abound.

And ..... apparently, Milton Keynes is a shopper's paradise!

The cycle way network is second to none linking the linear parks (the flood plains of the Great Ouse and it's tributary The Ouzel) that run right through the town. John and I cycled to an area called Willen Lake. It is fantastic! A large, superbly managed area - free bird hide over-looking the lake - excellent cyle paths - amazing Buddist pagoda ..... for starters. The population of Milton Keynes are not short of leisure space!! According to a pair of well-established and very sociable locals and new boat owners (Pete and Anne on n/b Tortola), Milton Keynes is England's best kept secret.

The Peace Pagoda in Willen Park. Apparently, there are hundreds of Japanese Cherry Blossom trees planted behind. What a picture that must be when they are in bloom?

We met another resident walking round the lake with his elderley father who said that Milton Keynes was under-rated and he couldn't wait to return every winter from his second home in France!

The Grand Union Canal runs for ten miles through the centre of Milton Keynes, twisting this way and that through the various housing developments - from Fenny Stratford to the aqueduct over the Ouse at Wolverton. Almost throughout, the towpath is well maintained, free of litter and graffiti and well supplied with bins for refuse deposited by our lovely cannine friends! Not one sunken shopping trolley was spotted! It certainly does not feel like you are passing through a major town. There are plans afoot to link the Grand Union at Milton Keynes with the Great Ouse at Bedford. I do so hope this happens one day and that John and I will still be fit enough to cruise it!!!


So ......... we looked at some of the canalside property and thought ..... maybe? After talking to the locals, I don't think we could afford it!!!!


BUT .... from what we have seen and heard, Milton Keynes seems to us to have a great deal going for it! Comments from those who know?

This week: We have had a lovely cruise from Norton Junction just outside Daventry to where we are now - just outside of Leighton Buzzard. The weather has been glorious and lots of other boaters have been out and about to talk to.