Three decent finds.

 Oct 10th

Many years ago this mooring at Gifford park was known as dog shit alley. It was awful, everywhere one looked piles of the stuff on the side and the path itself and trying to moor was like making your way through a WW2 mine site! Hardly a boat to be seen then, and the pick of places to moor was yours if you could avoid the poo. Then the council waged war on those dog owners by shaming them into doing the right thing. Lots of blue blobs as each shitty pile was sprayed and it worked because now everywhere looked clean and well-kept. So from hardly any boats then, today this has become a popular mooring.

  So why mention it, well we got chatting to another boater. He remembered those days well and wouldn't have dreamed of staying at such an awful place. But now was different. In fact this was his preferred mooring, he stays as long as possible and knows how to cheat the mooring laws. Every Wednesday the enforcement officer comes to check how long boats have been on the mooring so he moves, stays away long enough and then returns. Talk about playing the system! For that reason alone I say bring back those unscrupulous dog owners who don't pick up. At least it would stop people like him abusing the mooring laws!

With another lovely warm sunny day ahead the plan was another day of just chilling out and not moving Some painting did need doing on the roof, a few rust spots seen and Ian went into overdrive, the Fertan was grabbed pretty quick. So after a rub down the light grey paint came out to cover the small area and he was finally happy! Makes a change from his normal grumpy self!  It doesn't seem to take much to wind him up these days!

But that all changed when I had a quick look at the weather for tomorrow. 70% chance of rain coming in tonight...oh blast, hope the paint wasn't slow drying! Anyway these days we prefer not to boat in the rain, something to do with not finding it fun, and the decision was rapidly made to get to Campbell Park for this afternoon. 

Set off after lunch and struggled massively with the wind. First thing this morning hardly a breath of air to leave a ripple on the canal, by lunchtime though, it was blowing a hooley! FS was pinned to the side. It was left up to me to untie and get underway, Ian was busy making the bread, but every time I rushed from the front to the back having given the bow a good shove, back in FS came! Ian was my only hope, thankfully he came out to my rescue having got the bread ingredients in the machine and wondered why we hadn't as yet got going.

Even with that wind the cruise was lovely. I have said it before but the canal through Milton Keynes is so well-kept and lovely to cruise along.

Those branches bending nicely in the wind.

I chugged past Lionheart cruising club. This will be where we leave FS for a few days over the weekend but that won't be until Friday. A family get together has been arranged to celebrate the three boys birthdays in October. Oscar (grandson) will be 15, our son Colin will be 48 and Ian will reach the grand old age of 71!

Lionheart cruising club

Yesterday I mentioned my concern in finding moorings at the park so not wanting to go past and find nothing, I dropped Ian off before we arrived. The plan was for him to take his phone and let me know if anything was available. Having secured FS on the centre rope I did wonder quite how I would fare in trying to get away from the bank. That wind seemed to get stronger!  5 minutes later Ian phoned to say a mooring was available. Thumbs up, oh goody, now all I had to do was get away from the side.

Waiting for the call

For once a speeding boater was actually a help. He came past so fast that the bow was dragged away from the side and before the stern could do the same thing, I had FS untied and rushed to get on! Throttle forward and I was away...phew!

The park side moorings were all taken but towpath side had plenty of space. Ian had started to walk back, saw me and pointed to where I should go.

Ian walking ahead

In his hand was a cladding pin. Hmm.. had he taken one with him? Nop, it was found lying in the grass, another one to add to our collection. And then after we had secured FS, also in the grass by the bow was what looked like a piece of rope. On closer inspection it was a bunjy cord, very useful and another decent find.

 But that wasn't all. Lying near to the hedge was a sizable log. Ian checked for woodworm and how dry it was. Yep, that will do nicely to start the log collection to burn over the winter months. Three things found within 2 metres of the boat...now that can't be bad!

 Oh and for anyone interested in buying a fabulous boat, please look at ABNB website as Waka Huia (Marilyn and Davids boat) has now gone on sale. I will leave the link on my side task bar.

And wildlife seen last night outside the side hatch