Braunston to Long Itchington ( 2 day travel ) Morons who insist in fitting a 70ft boat into 60ft space and sunken boat

Most people  know how easy going and obliging we can be. So when Nb Isis turned up with his 70ft trad and tried to get into a 60ft space, we were all forgiving some helpful advice. His wife came out and said could we move back by a few feet. Unfortunately we couldn't because we were already over the sign saying 48hour stay. He then said 'you've plenty of space behind so move onto the bollard'. I then laughed and told him the bollard was there because it was a water point. He got right uppity and told me in no uncertain terms to 'stop laughing women'!!!! Well that got Ian and my back up immediately and told him to stuff it, we wouldn't give him the time of day. He then went to Dennis and Margaret on Nb Icing and demanded that they move back a few feet. Again the rings were in such a way that Dennis ropes would have been all wrong and Dennis told him he wouldn't move. This really got the guy angry and said that he had every right to get into that space. Dennis told him that he better chop some footage off his boat because no way was he going to get his boat to fit into there!! Anyway in the end he left in a right huff. It wasn't as if there were no spaces to be had. Beyond the marina entrance only one boat moored but this guy didn't want to go there. To be dictated to by a moron like that was not on!!. After the unnecessary upset we stayed long enough to water up and then set off to do the left turn onto the Oxford.

Told us to move back to this bollard.

Our mooring. As you can see we are illegally moored, well the back end is.

Dennis stern rope. No way he could pull back.

We traveled about a mile when we noticed another sunken boat.

Nice perch for a duck!!

  Dennis as lead boat found us a mooring on a lovely grassy stretch a couple of mile from Braunston junction just right for our first BBQ. Typically  as soon as we decide to cook outside the sky darkened and the rain threatened. We were lucky that the only shower we had was brief and Dennis and Ian, with pint in hand as usual, cooked the perfect chops and sausages.

Dark skies and is that a UFO I see?

 Tomorrow Dennis and Margaret will wind as their boat is having the roof painted and bottom blacked by the Wyvern boat company at Leighton Buzzard.

Leaving our moorings

 Had a phone call from our daughter Christine last night to tell us that she thought Josh, our 2yr 9mth old grandson,had fallen heavily against the bedroom door jumping of the bed, and thought that his arm might be  broken. Thankful Kevin was minutes away from arriving home from work and the pair rushed him to Burton A&E. Sure enough he had broken his radius and ulna bones cleanly and now had a plaster going from his hand to halfway between his shoulder. Poor love cant even use it to sit on the toilet seat as he usually holds on with both hands. I had visions of him disappearing  bum first down the toilet!

Leaving later then normal today we were unfortunate to be the 4th in the line of boats that happened to pass us earlier. The lead boat crept along on tick over. All we had to do was 2.5 miles to Napton Junction.This snail pace continued and 2 hours later  we arrived at the junction praying they would go straight  on and not do the turn. We groaned when they did turn right onto the Grand Union again. Thankfully at Calcut locks they stopped to water up and as boats were waiting to come up the flight we descended on our own for those 3 locks. We joined another boat at Stockton locks so I didn't feel quite so bad at not waiting for them to finish watering.

Following the slow boat.

Saying farewell to Dennis and Margaret

Caught at the bridge 'ole' before the winding hole

Winding. I'm sure Dennis was pleased to leave the slow procession!

Ian did his good job for the day when a private boat owner tried to wind in what I can only describe as the smallest winding hole ever.  The length was okay but the width was no bigger then a widebeam. Due to lack of water he got himself well and truly stuck but with Ian pulling and the guy giving it plenty of revs,he eventually made it round.

 Then just before Stockton locks at the Kate boat yard another boat got stuck by misjudging the entrance.This time they were rescued by someone in the yard so all we had to do was hang back till they sorted themselves out.

Stockton locks

The Internet  at Braunston and here in Long Itchington was rubbish so to write this I,m having to sit in the Two Boat pub and drink wine just so I can use their free Wi Fi. What a shame!!! :) Thank goodness for Internet pubs otherwise another night would have passed before I could write some more of my ramblings.