Muddy and Wet

Sumo in his ruffwear harness, which enables me to pick him up like a suitcase. Best thing ever. People often say "Don't you mind the smell of a wet dog on your boat?". And I reply, "It's probably no worse than my socks". Arf!

2013 seems to be going out the same way that it came in, under two feet of flood water (festooned with used syringes, condoms and dead ducks). The river is, thankfully, on it's way down at the moment. And I hope that it'll continue to recede further. Because putting on my waders, and jumping over the side every time I want to go out is getting kindof 'old'.

Happy new year, everyone.
Stay dry!

Christmas Day

Happy Christmas, everyone.

Storm over Marlow



Ominous big black thing

Blotting out the sun. And heading our way.
Guess it's going to be another wet night.

River: Red boards. Fast flowing. Rising rapidly. Wehey!

Panic Saturday

Happy Solstice everyone.

50 shades of 'not very nice'.

ahhh, the joys of christmas. Stressed and grumpy cityfolk, pushing, shoving and squabbling over the few remaining sprouts and parsnips. What a wonderful time of year this is!

It's also seasonally cold, grey and windy. Doesn't look like I will be going anywhere until the river settles down again. Thankfully, I managed to chop up some more logs before it heaved it down with rain.

Sheena tells me that our Blue Ensigns have turned up. And our official royal warrant to fly them. Somebody jokingly called us "The Pikeys" the other day, which upset her quite a bit. It's only a bit of cloth, but I know it will get right up the noses of certain people who look down on us because of our off-grid lifestyle choice. There is even one ex-naval person here, who thinks that narrowboats are not "proper" boats. What a tool.

Mists of Avalon



unimpressed



confused Geese

We're back in Bourne End now. Travelling upstream through the mist was great fun, because we could be comfortable in the knowledge that we were the only crazy fools mad enough to be moving. Glad we went out, because it was unusually mild. Barely any current on the river, and not a puff of wind. I guess "the rains" have to come at some point, but no sign of them yet. Hard to believe that christmas is less than two weeks away.

Windlesora

(Windlesora = Anglo-Saxon name for Windsor)

Incredibly benign weather conditions for this time of year. So we are out and about, making the most of it.

Bray Studios

Looking sadly neglected and even more delapidated every time we pass it

The joy of thermal underwear

Sheena @ Dorney Lake

Sunshine @ Dorney Lake

24 hour moorings unusually empty

Not a ripple!

Sheena @ the waterpoint

Windsor - Faster flow on this reach, presumably to power Queenie's castle

An interesting navigational challenge

Cliveden Cruise

We went downstream for a couple of days, to avoid the forecasted storm, and luxuriate in some peace and quiet. Nobody else was moving, so we had the whole river to ourselves again. I know I've often said that before, but the complete and utter joy of bimbling along at tickover, without being bumrushed or hustled along will never grow old or tiresome.

The journey was a bit on the chilly side, but not yet cold enough to deploy the thermal undies. Hardly any flow on the river at all, which is remarkable for this time of year. Yesterday afternoon, the wind huffed & puffed spectacularly. but we were tied up safely, and our beech logs burnt really well. In a satisfyingly glowing hard wood fashion. We're hoping to get a few more days cruising in next week, before Sheena has to go and do christmas.

The recent high winds have blown all the leaves from the trees. Cookham lock was completely stuffed with them. They look pretty, but they clump around your propellor, making steering sluggish and difficult. Thankfully, a quick blip of reverse shifts them.