Thats a first...being shouted at! And inconsiderate dog owners!

 New Year's Eve, been and gone I know, but I'm that behind with the blog, thought I might as well continue where I left off.

December 31st

Not a bad day, no rain for a change, that came overnight. The plan was to shop at Rugby, provisions were critical, most having been taken across to our sons for the Christmas festivities. Before Rugby, we had Hillmorton locks to do, very quiet with just one other boat going down with us. We got to them first and Ian lifted a paddle to help ease their passage.

 Rugby was very busy. It's always worrying whether a space could be found and in the direction we were heading, no chance of seeing if anything available near to Tesco. Just before the Rugby moorings started a boat passed us. I asked if moorings were available and with the reply that one by the Tesco walkway was still vacant, we hoped that it would still be free when we arrived. It was, just, a boat came through the bridge as we turned up also looking for somewhere to stop. They pulled onto the water point and was still there with no hose out when we left an hour later!

Newbold tunnel, short compared to Braunston and no boats coming through, but one was seen coming toward us. Turns out it was the diesel/coal boat Auriga. We were to see him again, on New Year's Day, following us through Old Oaks Wood.

 

Old Oaks Wood is one of our favourite moorings, so very quiet....usually. Not tonight 'cos 8 pm and the bangs and whizzes were heard. Rushed out to watch but we had all but stepped onto the back deck when it was over. Makes one wonder just how much a box of fireworks are these days. 5 minutes of oohs and ahhs and it was finished. Might just as well stick a couple of tenners in the fire instead!

 Jan 1st 2022

What a night, we partied, just the two of us, polishing off two glasses of Baileys each, one bottle of 19 Crimes Shiraz and a bottle of Cava Brut bubbly to toast in the New Year. A few more fireworks seen nearby but what surprised me the most was the firework display in London, I had thought it to be cancelled. It was excellent with the laser display and narration. Bed for us was about 1 am and surprisingly we both awoke round 8 am without a hangover!

It was late when we did finally get away and still amazingly mild. 13 degrees at 10 am. Old Oaks Wood with the trees lining the canal, really lovely at this time of year. 

 

Not so good was the rubbish that had been left in the car park. Disgraceful!

 

It was on reaching the car park that Auriga was seen again, well not so much seen at first but heard! Gosh his engine was noisy! It was also as we passed the Old Oaks visitor moorings that we got shouted at! Us who are the slowest of boats when passing others. He told us to f**king slow down! That boat of his rocked and banged against the side but ever a wonder. It was secured only by a center rope. Not a bow or stern rope to be seen. Ian lost it with him, swearing back and telling him he should learn how to secure a boat properly. I watched as Auriga went past, this boat with a much deeper draught than us, made the boat rock and roll again. He didn't come out to swear at him! No the diesel boat services may have to be used at some point, so no doubt thought better of it. 

 

Remember those black bags with yellow ties in the canal? They've gone, every last one of them! As had that burnt out boat. Good on CRT.

Toward Hawkesbury Junction and at the lock a boat was just exiting. Bit confused as to why they closed the gate in front of us, turns out they didn't look ahead but to give them credit, when they did see us, one jumped off the boat and hurried to get the gate open. How nice was that. 

One of the cassettes had to be emptied, so Ian went off to do that job, whilst I took FS through the lock. He got back just in time, I was about to do the right-hander onto the Coventry Canal and again managed the turn in one go.

Sutton Stop

 And that wasn't the only boater who didn't look to see what was coming. Having passed the water point I suddenly saw the bow of a boat swing out. Surely not, I thought. Did that boater not see me? No was the answer. By the time he did, the bow was now right in front of FS's bow. Into reverse went I, that made the boat owner look up! I could see the panic as he tried to turn the bow back toward the bank. It was okay though, we did miss and a sheepish apology followed. Laughingly I told him it happens to the best of us and with a Happy New Year, we both went on our way.

We had planned to stop at Hawkesbury but still early we decided to push on, past Charity Wharf with the jumble of steel and mannequins,

 

Past the Ashby canal had it really been two weeks since coming off? And stopped past bridge 15. 

The wind was still a problem, so while Ian held the center rope, I grabbed the stern rope, threw that down on the bank, got the nappy pins and proceeded to secure FS. Unknowable not only had I walked in dog sh*t, but dragged the rope through it as well, It was over my shoes, hands and back deck. Bl**dy inconsiderate dog owners! I'd love to drag you lot through it! Bag the sh*t up why don't you!!! Boaters understand all too well this issue and although the public think it's us lot are to blame, the majority of boating dog owners always pick it up! So shoes off to go in and wash hands, rubber gloves on, I had to untie FS again, wash the rope in the canal, scrub it with clean water before retying! Then it was trying to get that muck out of the treads on my shoes...it was not pleasant and I hope those owners will be caught and fined! No way of removing the sh*t from the grass, so well squished it was, instead Ian put ash over it. At least we won’t be treading in it again! 

 Other than that this was a lovely mooring, really, really quiet and we had it all to ourselves.

 

And wildlife today