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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Thursday 9 July 2020

Hmmm, it has to be a new one.

Seems like we still have a problem. The fridge has thrown up another issue, it won't switch off! The deduction by Ian is that the gas put in by that Daventry engineer has all but gone. So we have made the decision that this fridge will become an ex fridge!

Dilemma....where do we get a new one from and how will we get it to FS? Answer.....Currys! Not only will they deliver but take the old fridge away (at a cost of course) but for us, there is no other alternative. As for where will it be delivered too, well from tomorrow we will be going into the new marina at Campbell Park. Not the cheapest by a long shot but when need must....! A date for Curry's to deliver is Monday and the lovely lady at the marina has given permission for us to go on the service point and await their arrival. In the meantime having a son living so nearby has solved the freezer problems. The offer to use his freezer has been welcomed and tomorrow when we go to visit the family for the first time since lockdown, our fridge will be stripped bare and switched off!

Today we left Cosgrove, a tad before 9 am. After doing the biz at the facilities we descended Cosgrove lock, crept past the long line of moored boats and cruised across the Iron Trunk Aqueduct.

Cosgrove lock to the left


Iron Trunk Aqueduct

View crossing the aqueduct.
 Dodged Pigeon poo as we cruised under the railway bridge at Wolverton. God their smelly and noisy birds and it was good to get to the fresh air on the other side.

 It was also a good place to stop for either Asda or Tesco. Wanted to stock up with nibbles, wine and beer plus a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the family coming together this weekend. Could be a poker night on Saturday, it's a family tradition at Christmas but last year with us going to NZ, we missed out.

Between bridges 71 and 71A is a Train Mural close to Wolverton Station, It was commissioned by the Milton Keynes IWA back in 1982 and was the work of the late Bill Billings. It had been restored and bankside trees and foilage removed in 2018. Hmmm, looks like more bankside work needs doing. Again another casualty of Covid.


Just past Grafton Street aqueduct, we came across this sight. A washing line had also been attached from the bench to a tree. Social distancing on the towpath???? I wouldn't want to walk past that lot!  



 Finally stopped about a mile from Campbell Park. Chances on getting onto the park side are slim at this time of year and we didn't fancy the overhanging trees on the towpath side. We used to moor at Newlands just after the winding hole but with the new marina not far from there we have no idea if those moorings still exist. Tomorrow we find out!


 Todays mooring


This was amazing. A Heron totally unfazed by pushchairs, cyclists or dogs. Oh and the towpath was blocked by yet another broken branch

Heron to the left and branch down to the right on the towpath.



 And last night Canada Geese came a knocking!




3 comments:

Dave Ward said...

Several years back I was sitting at a local Staithe, chatting to "Ye Olde Shopkeeper", when I noticed a Heron heading towards us. I was rather surprised until he said "Oh that's Fred (or whatever it's name was) - he comes to be fed every day". He proceeds to take out and open a tin of Pilchards, and starts throwing them at the bird (by now only a few feet away). It caught them all in mid air, and wolfed them down in seconds.

I remembered this when going to meet my sister at a riverside spot just after we were very graciously allowed unlimited travel for exercise earlier this summer. She arrived first, and rang me to say "Be careful coming down the lane as there's a young Heron about". I stopped at a shop and bought a can of tuna chunks (all they had), and when I arrived the bird was still there. I opened the tin and carefully threw a bit over, which it immediately picked it up and swallowed. Naturally the rest was gratefully received, and it seemed a bit miffed when the tin was empty. It wasn't at all bothered by other people, and when the local bobby turned up, happily posed for his pictures!

They may be "Wild" creatures, but quickly learn to adapt - especially if there's food involved, just like the Blackbirds in my garden.

Dave said...

If you haven't ordered your fridge yet try ao.com

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

The fridge has already been ordered, Dave. We did that as soon as we knew we could get a berth at Campbell Wharf.

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