Not quite the end to our number plate saga

Yesterday morning, just as we were about to leave Kilby, the phone rang. It was a PC from Welford road Police station wanting to ask Ian a few questions. When did he report the plate missing? From where and what time? So for the second time Ian  related the tale. I cant understand why they don't  just read what was on the original report! Then the PC told Ian that a Peugeot 206 displaying our number had been clocked by two number plate recognition cameras, one on the A6 heading toward Derby and one at Oadby. Then the penny dropped. It was us. The first one was when we were heading back to Sandiacre and before we realised the plate was missing, and the second was when Ian went to Oadby to have the plate replaced. Just shows that overhead cameras do work!! Still no crime has been committed using our plates, yet, which is good and the information has now been passed to central office.

 Finally we set of for Foxton at around 8.20am. The going was good until just before Bumblebee lock. Then we hit ice again. Still over 1" thick.but as all our blacking was off anyway there didn't seem any point in worrying.   



At Top Mile lock Ian spied a tree recently cut down. This was just to good an opportunity to miss and we never pass any wood that could replenish our supplies, so while the lock was filling he set about gathering as much as he could.



This is only part of what Ian gathered.



All safely loaded.

All Ian had to do now was get the chainsaw out and cut it into manageable lengths and the best place we found to do that, as well as one of our preferred moorings, was between bridges 79 & 78 near Newton Harcourt. Once moored Ian set to and started work. I on the other hand went to check the blog to see what everyone else was up to. I had made a comment on Keith's blog Nb Hadar, saying what a shame it was that we would miss them by 1 day and then there, lo and behold, was a comment from Keith  to say that they decided to stay another night at Foxton instead of moving on to Braunston. We haven't seen Keith and Jo since we met up at the Droitwich opening in early July. It was just to good an opportunity to miss. By now it was after 1pm and with 5 more locks to do and another 6 miles, we very hastily packed the roof with the cut wood and once more set of for Foxton. Again there was ice and this time it was closer to 2" thick. Our progress slowed right down until our luck changed and we met a canal time hire boat coming the other way. From then on all the locks were with us and all the ice broken up. We arrived in Foxton at about 4pm. First thing we did was find Hadar. We found her moored at the top of the locks. After a fantastic meet and great moment and a bit of a natter, it was decided that we would all meet in Bridge 61 at the bottom of the flight for a pint later in the evening.



Jo, Keith & Ian

 What a great evening we had. Its wonderful when you can meet old friends not seen for months and chat away as if it had only been yesterday. Thanks, Jo and Keith, for a very enjoyable and memorable evening.