The Ashby Adventure

Turning onto the Ashby canal, twenty one and three quarter miles long ,no locks , one tunnel, sixty bridges.
All new for Emily Bronte

Brian , his favourite hobby, the last of the ash from Milton Keynes.

Jane's favourite hobby.

Stoke Golding, Sunny mooring!

Bosworth Field Battle sight, 

Shackerstone, beautiful  moorings next to a Motte and Bailey, this is where Jane would like to moor when she is old and decrepit. 

Snarestone black hole.

At the very end. well worth a visit.
A view of Measham across the fields, perhaps the canal will flow through there next time we are here.

Family Holiday in Middleton in Teesdale.

This is the Chapel we stayed in to celebrate big sisters special birthday,
Very spacious with plenty of space for all 14 of us, Complete with full size snooker table and sauna room.

Meal times meant full time catering, luckily we had lots of willing cooks.

Especially when it came to making chocolate pudding!

Birthday girl and beau.

Eventually! suited and booted we went to see High Force.

High Force at its best after 2 months of rain.

The Three sisters ( scary how alike we are )
Brain trying out the all terrain pram, baby fast asleep.

421 Locks and 528 Miles

Our mooring today is in Weedon having traveled from Gayton this morning. Scanning the map for anything interesting  Royal ordnance depot disused suggested further investigation.  This ancient fire engine is resting in the Royal ordnance depot  which we are wandering round. A central canal is surrounded by eight large warehouses two of which can be seen in the picture, The canal originally joined the grand union, but not anymore one canal Emily Bronte will have to pass by .

Hilmorton lock beams are carved with words, they are the first narrow locks Emily Bronte has navigated in 9 years!

The bottom locks at Hilmorton  an extra lock was built along side the original lock in the hay day of canal transport to cope with the increase in boat traffic.

Here we go 2014.

On this chilly but dry February morning, Emily Bronte chugs into the mouth of the 3,057 yards long Blisworth tunnel.
Goodbye Milton Keynes, Thanks for your super Cycle path network, clean and dry towpaths and plenty of space to moor. We won't forget our Christmas  ice skating too

Entering the tunnel , thinking it would be deserted , on this grey mid winters day, a light shone out from the depths, a boat was approaching from the other end! this would involve a tricky passing manoeuvre with only inches to spare.
Emily slowed as the light shone brighter, inching past without touching the tunnel sides, both  crews , gave a cheery shout.

The rain of the last mouth  appeared to have waited for Emily Bronte's approach, torrents of water came cascading down   like a circular waterfall from the air shafts, mostly missing the crew !

A ghostly image emerging from the northern portal.  

Gayton junction, starboard to Northampton and the Fens (August 2014) turn to port for Braunston and beyond. Port  for us today.

A commission to keep Brian busy, decorative engine side panel for narrowboat India.

New Arrival

Welcome to the world, Florence Rosie Born 24th November. A beautiful new great niece. Congratulations to Adam ,Gemma and Delilah. Can't wait to meet you!

Five of these Robins flew off  on their merry way to Skipton, via the post office, after the first flock disappeared mysteriously on a national express coach, from milton keynes.
Jane finished crocheted christmas cards with the help of sister Liz, this was like a scene from Blue Peter, glue ended up all over Liz and the bows of Emily????, obviously she has not had a professional education in the spreading of glue unlike Jane who has an N.V.Q in it.
Any one out there wanting to send christmas cards our way , please can we ask that you sponsor Lewis instead, as he is doing the london Marathon in aid of a charity who is trying to protect Elephants from extinction, please go to  justgiving.com/fortheelephants   Thanks very much xx

Sculpture of Running man with Figures, at Wolverton.
we passed by this morning on our way to Cosgrove, this photo does't do it justice, as you can't see the small figures he's holding out in his hand, any way we like it!

View from the back cabin as we chug up the canal , on the look out for fire wood.

At Fenny Stratford last week, we filled up with Diesel in the lock, Supplied by Working boat Aston.

Brian continues with new doors, now complete with lining, just about to varnish.
Knobs and door knocker to be made in the forge.

Not to be !

Well Jane's job didn't work out to well, infact only lasted a week.
Mainly due to back problems and finding it difficult to conform to buttoned up uniforms, eating off trays and generally feeling like she was back at school .
Brian kept up his good work ethic anyway, by making lots of beautiful things to sell at a new gallery at Wilton .
Jane carried on with what she enjoys best and has been making Christmas cards and decorations which will be winging there way towards friends and family soon.
Liz came to stay which was q great distraction from Jane's wows .This proved timely as Christmas shopping is much more fun with a sister in tow! And retail therapy can sometimes improve humour ,not always mind !
It was a good thing Liz brought a huge rucksack , as this went back full of Christmas goodies for the family up north, shame about her clothes though!
Milton Keynes is becoming easier to navigate around, mainly due to Brian trying different routes every time he leaves the boat. It is a place full of great ideas , that need a few more years to come together. It is affectionately known as Telly Tubby land by the crew.
Emily is having new front doors as we speak , so everything is pretty much up side down. The old ones leaked and were drafty, so off they came this morning, watch this space for up dates. Hopefully to be completed by the time Lewis returns from Uni in 4 weeks.

Wintering In Milton Keynes.

A lovely Sunny warm day, enjoyed by all, even this Heron doing a spot of fishing from the roof .
we are on our way to Cosgrove for the night.

We moored here for  night, in Cosgrove.
This heron seemed interested in Brian's Heron sculpture , perhaps he thought he'd found a mate.

No not a giant key hole! this is a tunnel under the canal specially shaped for the working horses to go through, or rotund people with bandy legs?

Wolverton Aqueduct, the iron trough carrying boats over the Great Ouse, built in 1811 and still carrying boats.

The view from Emily Bronte as we pass over the river.

 Favourite meal of the crew, Brians home made Sundried tomato and Parmesan loaf ,cheese on toast .
Simple pleasures!

Moored at Grafton Regis.
The home of the white Queen  (Elizabeth Woodville, Queen consort to King Edward iv was born in Woodville manor house, west of the current village )