FRIDAY, 13TH MAY
Today Trev went to fetch our friends, Jane & Pete. The reason he went to fetch them is that, when they leave us on Sunday, they will take our car, as they have bought it! Whilst he was away, I cleaned up a bit and generally made the boat look a little bit loved.

Eventually they all came back, and we had lunch on board, and then set off. As usual, Jane had brought enough supplies with her to feed the whole of the boating population, so we didn't starve! In fact we had to cancel the reservation at the pub as we had so much food! We went north along the Leicester Branch, and down through Foxton Locks again. We thought Jane and Pete would enjoy the experience, and indeed they did. I also had a compliment from the lock keeper, who said that my steering in to the locks was like a hand into a glove! I needed no further praise! I was delighted!

SATURDAY, 14TH MAY

We didn't travel far today, just as far as the next winding hole, winded and moored up, all of a mile. Pete went off to get the Saturday papers, and we stayed here for the rest of the day. Jane and Pete lead such busy working lives, they were quite happy to flop out. In the evening we had a barbecue and rather a lot of booze! We were all on our own, and so played music quite loudly too! The weather has been good today.

MONDAY, 16TH MAY
We slept late, it was so peaceful. We rarely wake before 8.30, often later! Isn't that decadent? When we wake we think of those of our friends who still work, having to get up and get going, and are very grateful that we no longer have to do that. It was drizzling and quite cold today, and we eventually set off around noon. It was cold on the back of the boat.

We'd been going for a couple of hours, I was 'below decks' when all of a sudden there was a clunk, and a loud bang and Trev quickly knocked the throttle off. We had something serious in the weedhatch. We couldn't engage the engine as that would have revved like mad and destroyed the gears. We drifted in to the side, but, unfortunately it was the wrong side. I got the barge pole and tried to push us to the towpath side, but the mud was so deep and thick, and the barge pole is so heavy I could hardly lift it. So I couldn't do anything to help. Trev turned the engine off and lifted the weedhatch. Whatever it was that was stuck fast was so deep that he couldn't feel it. So he poled us to the side and I moored up. Sadly, we realised that we had left a mooring pin behind somewhere, and so only had one. I tied the front rope to the metal piling, a serious mistake as I found later when I came to untie and found the piling had cut half way through the rope.

We moored up opposite Crick marina, and were glad to stop and warm up It had been a cold and miserable day.

Tuesday, 17th May
We set off for Watford locks and Norton Junction, but had only gone about two hundred yards when we saw a boat we recognised called Anon. We had met the owners on the Avon and the Severn in our first year, and also seen them last year. They make a living by selling canal items and this was a fortuitous meeting, as we needed some new mooring hooks! Dave also sold us am external aerial for the mobile 'phone, which is metallic and can be used when we're steering on the back. And, to cap it all, he spliced our damaged rope so we didn't need to buy a new one! Fate lends a hand sometimes!

We filled up with water at the bottom of the locks and Trev fell asleep, although it was only lunchtime! So I set off on my own--well Trev was on the boat, but I did it alone! I'm pleased to see how my confidence has grown. Some time ago I would never have untied and steered on my own. We went as far as Weltonfield Marina and filled up with diesel. the price has been climbing steadily and now it's 45p per litre.

We arrived at Norton Junction and turned left on to the Grand Union mainline. If we continued down this canal, we would end up in London. But we're just going as far as Gayton Junction where we shall turn left. The picture is of the picturesque little toll house which overlooks Norton Junction. For many years it was the base of the late Commander Fielding of the Salvation Army. In the fifties he and his wife ran the mission boats Salvo and Aster, cruising around the canal system, ministering to the needs of the working boat families.

We went through the seven Buckby locks, and, at the bottom lock, Trev went to Whilton Marina on the opposite bank to enquite if they had a specila tool we had seen advertised in 'Waterways World' magazine to assist in freeing the prop when something is jammed. But no, they didn't have one. And here it was that I learnt my lesson not to rest on m laurela. As we pulled away, I didn't see that the boats were moored two abreat and rammed straight in to one. Fortunately there was no one on board, it was a very old boat and it was for sale. After a few rather unladylike expletives, we continued.

Trev steered and seemed to have the bit between his teeth, and we carried on late in to the evening. It grew cold and we eventually moored up at Bridge 32.

WEDNESDAY, 18TH MAY
We set off around 10.30 and got stuck behind a boat which seemed to be trying to win the 'slowest boat on the canal' award. He didn't seem at all concerned that we were stuck behind him, and made no attempt to move over and let us through. Today, Trev has a frozen shoulder, and so I steered.

Eventually we had Gayton Junction in our sights. There was a lot of dredging going on. It's amazing how full they fill the barge containing the dredgings, to within a couple of inches of the top. I was trying to avoid one of these dredging boats, and a boat was coming towards us and there was the tortoise boat ahead of us, when I realised that the boat approaching was that of our friends Claire and Peter. We waved and exchanged as much news and pleasantries as one can in two minutes, and then they were gone. There was nowhere to moor up and have a coffee together, most frustrating. The last time we'd met was in similar circumstances. One day we shall get time to stop and have a real conversation.

Our friend the tortoise was also turning left, or so it seemed and we hovered in the middle of the canal waiting to see what his intentions were. It would have been good if he could have told us that he was only pulling in for water and not turning left, but I suppose he didn't think it necessary. We turned left, and at last were on to the Northampton Arm.It was very congested for the first mile or so, with boats moored on each side, but it thinned out eventually, and we arrived at the first of the seventeen locks which would take us down to Northampton. As Trev still had a frozen shoulder, this was my job today, and I cycled the five miles and did the seventeen locks, and felt pretty pleased with myself. Hopefully I shall have shed a stone or two!

When we came in to Northampton, we left the canal for the last time for a few months, and went on to the river Nene. it was good to feel the living water beneath us, and to be able to open the throttle and go a little faster. We moored up just below the South Bridge and shopped at a very convenient Morrison's. Then on into the next lock which required a key. Our friends, Cherry and Russ had lent us their Nene key, but could we find it? We felt so cross with ourselves. We were sitting in the lock and couldn't get out as we needed the key to undo the padlock. Eventually I found it, in the place where I thought it was originally! We opened the lock and were off in to the real river. We continued on to Rush Mill lock where we moored up and ate at the Britannia pub, we felt we'd earnt it!

I hope to put up the last year's running cost shortly--sadly quite a lot more than the first year's!