Green Life

What chance for the green world? When we started camping under canvas it was the minimal way of life which made it different. Boating is a few steps in that direction, we have survived and enjoy life. Seems that others are not accepting 'less than' when on holiday. The canals are filling up with moving boats as the days get warmer. Problem is that they rush about and require lots of power to exist. Engines are being run 'out of hours' which is unsociable. It is no wonder that mooring near houses are becoming restricted.

Web site

I have now created a web site called www.moore2life.co.uk .  Please have a look.  Just click on the link on the right.  The site has many pictures of the canals we have explored since 2000.  I am still in the process of adding more pictures and intend to expand content to include useful information about living on a narrowboat.

Moorings and Tesco

On down the locks at Hillmorton. The cafe / bistro here is worth a visit. Next stop, Clifton. Were lucky to find our mooring where we are protected by bushes and trees from the golf course. Saw the fox in the field opposite again. Together with long horn cattle and rabbits. Molly had the stitches removed at the local vet. Some boaters are passing too fast, a growing problem in the 'moving' season. Sadly the poor little ducklings and baby moor hens are getting swamped by the wash. Ann was upset to see several dead chicks in the water.

Ansty

Moved on to Brownsover, the Rugby mooring. We had successfully managed to place an order with TESCO using the Net, saving us having to carry all the heavy goods ourselves. The driver found us and was very willing to bring the order to the boat. Despite the fact that his van was too tall to clear the barrier into the car park.  Then moved on up to Ansty for the night.

Shallow waters

Shallow waters

There are 10 miles of level water between Claydon and Marston Doles on the Oxford Canal. But there is only 5 miles between the two places! Such is the way it follows the contours with many bends and turns. It is very shallow making the boat slow and unresponsive. The water is always brown with churned up sediment. This is the summit level and I wonder where all the water is coming from. We had passed the reservoir but no water was being fed from it.

Stopped near Nimrod Bridge 108 and fed the baby ducks.

Banbury Cross

Back at Banbury we took Molly to the Vet to be spayed. A 20 minute walk across town past the famous cross and a statue of the 'fine lady' on a horse. We were amused to see a small frog sitting there by the horses hoof. The original cross was removed in 1602 and replaced in the 19^th century.

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross,

To meet a fine lady on a white horse,

With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,

She shall have music where ever she goes.

Next day we collected Molly and managed to carry her back to the boat. Resting at the Cross and admiring the rather fine statue of that horse. Molly spent a quiet day in her bed. Then we went back to have her checked and the plaster dressing removed. Have arranged to remove the stitches at the Rugby vet.  Meanwhile she is quite wound up with restricted exercise.

Help needed ashore

We stopped at Cropredy, north of Banbury and celebrated Ann's birthday at the Brassenose Arms. The only Pub in Britain with that name. (I'm not surprised). We were half way between Cropredy and Banbury when we got the news about Tracy. Her leg had swollen up due to a burst cyst in her left knee. They need help because Tracy is to rest and cannot walk without crutches.  Our two young grandchildren need our help.

Luckily we could hire a car from 'Enterprise' at Banbury and drive one way home leaving it at a local office.  But first find somewhere to leave the boat in a safe place. We got some diesel at Sovereign Boats who suggested leaving it opposite where they could keep an eye on it. But it was only a 48 hour mooring and BW told us we could not leave it there. Had to go on through the town past the lock and under the bridge. The 14 day moorings there are too public and considered insecure. So on a bit further to a quiet mooring where there are at least some other boats.

'Enterprise' collected us and took us to their office where we got the car. Back at the boat we transferred our luggage and the animals before driving home. Decided to stay with relatives so we were only 20 minutes walk from Tracy, Chris and their children. After breakfast we walked there before half past eight! Later we borrowed mum's car. Spent 10 days getting to know Ben and enjoying some quality time with Josh.

Tracy's leg was getting much better with the use of an ice pack but she was still on crutches when we had to return. Our mooring on the canal is limited to 14 days. Thankfully a friend reported that the boat was OK and he had checked the mooring pins for us as he was passing. Hired another car from 'Enterprise' and returned to Banbury. Got back to find the boat just as we had left it.