Monday 1st September 2008.  The end of summer, although when did it begin?  At least here the rain has not fallen on us quite as much as it has done on others and temperatures have been good, even when the sun hasn't shone, i.e. most of the time.  Roger has been kept busy with the Foxhangers Hire Fleet and Maureen has been working an extra morning at the shop during the summer holidays.  All very ordinary.  The big news should have been our new crew member - a four legged type!  We had already decided we would find a replacement for our Snowy when we got settled here.  We had been looking, without much success when we were informed our local police dog unit had a spaniel they were looking to off load.  Bobby - what else do you call a police dog - had proved a bit of a failure as a drug sniffer but the hope was she would make a good pet.  Sadly, this attractive, lively, little dog proved to have a major behavioural problem and before the end of the weekend we were ready to send her back.  So we are looking again and hopefully we have now found a replacement - of which more next month.   Maureen went north in early August, back to High Peak, to talk with our tenants and letting agent and to meet up with local friends.  They, the tenants that is, had given notice to quit but had changed their minds.  So we have avoided the upheaval of finding new tenants but a bit of decorating and refitting is required.  For the Bank Holiday weekend we were joined by daughter Heather & partner Chris and turning Ramyshome around we headed west once again making it almost to the edge of Trowbridge - 8 miles, 7 locks - before turning around to head back.   At least we got a different view from our windows and Ramyshome seemed to enjoy sailing again rather than just floating.  We welcome the regular updates from those of you cruising again.  It is nice to know you are out there - enjoying the waterways in summer - hopefully keeping drier and more secure than in the floods of 2007.  But we don't miss cruising - do we?

Looking down the on line moorings at Foxhangers Marine

Thursday 31st July 2008.  The end of July and whilst Ramyshome's engine turns every day to provide us with power and hot water, her bow has only occasionally pushed away from her mooring.  Having paid our first quarter's mooring fee I guess we are now official residents at Foxhangers Marine.  No more towpath hopping for us, at least for a while.  Despite not moving, or perhaps because of it, visitors continue to appear at our door.  Hurrah!  John & Carol Lillie came back, obviously impressed with our well built boat, but this time they also brought their posh new motor home which they moored up on the campsite by the Farm.  It was good to see them again so soon and we enjoyed a pleasant evening at another local hostelry plus a trip to Bath - for all except Roger, who was working again.  Back too was Ken Fountayne, supposedly to collect the rainwear he left on board back in May. We suspect it was just an excuse to get afloat again but whatever, we were delighted to have him aboard once more and sorry the cruising only lasted a couple of hours this time.  Maureen's Auntie Madeleine & Uncle Noel slipped over The Plain from Salisbury before Maureen's parents took the same route later in the month although they had come a little further, all the way from Perpignan, South West France.    In between, work has continued for both Roger and Maureen, keeping us busy but solvent.  If it has to be, then there are few jobs that could be so enjoyable and right for us.     We are beginning to see a lot of boats moving now.  Summer holidays are obviously underway and private boaters and holiday hirers are plentiful on this part of the K&A.  There is a winding hole just a few metres beyond our mooring and we are regularly entertained by the inexperienced steerers trying to turn their boats around.  Well, we all had to start somewhere and at least we haven't been hit - yet!

Thursday 26th June 2008.  Spring has turned quickly to summer here in the South West as May's rain has given way to sunshine, only occasional showers and temperatures climbing.  And twelve days ago Ramyshome began an ascent too.  Until then she had sat happily alongside the towpath, her only movement up and down as water levels in the canal rose and fell due to the operation of the pumping station just round the corner.  Roger has continued his gainful employment, busy but happy, and Maureen too has joined the workers again with a two-morning a week job at the village store and post office in Seend.  It doesn't pay much but she gets to meet people and it has solved a problem in respect to our mail.  Visitors are still coming, we are pleased to report, with Ann Robinson and new partner Doug  overnighting with us, seemingly in preparation for their own canal holiday!  On their way home from a holiday in France, Buxton residents Colin & Janette Sykes made a detour to call in.  It was good to see them again if only briefly; the last time was December 2006 at Bugsworth Basin.  In between those visits Ramyshome had her hull blacked.  This involved climbing up the 29 locks to Devizes - thanks Niki & Paul for your help - hauled up the slipway into the paint shed at the Marina; back into the water three days later; then after a few days stay at Devizes Wharf, descending 29 locks to Foxhangers again - thanks Carol & Francis for your help.  Quite a trip.  Devizes Marina were happy for us to live on board whilst Ramyshome was out of the water, providing a ladder and an electric hook up to charge our batteries.  The strangest thing was living aboard a boat that didn't rock as we moved around it.  We have become so used to compensating for a floor that moves that we struggle to cope when it doesn't!  And finally we have been saying our goodbyes again to fellow boaters.  Brian & Shelia aboard Nb Liberty Bell eventually set off on their summer cruise heading first to Braunston then wherever the wind takes them.  Klim & Tina Corke have also set sail aboard Nb Strathmore, leaving Foxhangers for the last time.  Their first trip is to Bristol & back, as in the future they intend to find winter moorings away from the Kennet & Avon.  So we shall see them again in a couple of weeks time before they too climb Caen Hill Locks and away to Reading and the Thames.  We wish them well, as we do all you long term cruisers.  Just remember us workers stuck on our mooring for the summer.  At least now we have a nice black bottom.

Ramyshome on the slipway getting bottom blacked

Tuesday 27th May 2008.  Well, we are truly settled in now, although Ramyshome is still waiting for her permanent mooring space to become available.  We are in two minds about this delay for although we would like to be officially moored up at Foxhangers Marina that will only happen when our friends Klim & Tina Corke move off with their boat Nb. Strathmore.  And when that happens we shall be waving them goodbye again for who knows how long.  Sadly, they have decided that Foxhangers Canal Holidays is not for them and so in a few weeks time they will be heading off for another summer's cruising.  We kind of envy them but things are beginning to work out well for us here and we are very content to stay put.  Ramyshome finally arrived at the foot of Devizes Locks on Sunday 11th May three weeks, almost exactly to the minute, since she sailed away from Pillings Lock.  The new crew, initially Ken Fountayne and later Carol & John Lillie, not forgetting Niki Jakeman, did sterling work as Ramyshome cruised on through Newbury and Hungerford, climbing up the Crofton flight of locks before descending into the Vale of Pewsey and on to the top of the Caen Hill Locks.   Roger was able to join them there and on the Sunday the Yorkes and the Lillies worked steadily down the final 23 locks to reach Foxhangers Wharf and the end of another journey.  Since then Maureen has been occupied washing and spring cleaning the boat, doing all those chores that are still required even when living afloat.  We have however found time for a few evening walks. The weather has been dry and warm until this Bank Holiday weekend when we drove up to Crick Boat Show in pouring rain that lasted most of the day.  We spent most of the time there hiding in the big marquee, such a shame for the outside stallholders, but at least we managed to catch up with lots of boating friends.  In the evening we drove on to a very sunny Leeds to stay overnight with daughter Heather & partner Chris.  A journey that would have taken weeks by boat done in a few hours.  Puts it all into perspective!

Another Thames sunset after all that rain

Sunday 4th May 2008.  We can report that the second crew passed muster although they were unable to reach their intended destination.  Geoff Beaven, Howard & Isobel Lawrence duly arrived at Banbury station on Monday morning.  Once bags were stowed and coffee taken they were underway with Maureen in charge and Roger left to wave goodbye, before heading off to Devizes by road.  Whilst he earned his living for the first time in over three years (some would say much longer!) Ramyshome headed south reaching Thrupp on Tuesday evening as the weather deteriorated.  It was heavy showers in Wiltshire and work was progressing well but in Oxfordshire the rain was falling steadily as Ramyshome turned into Kings Lock and out to the Thames.  Purchasing a three day licence to cruise the Thames they were soon passing Port Meadow, squeezing under Osney and Folly Bridges and then away from the dreaming spires.  Safe mooring was to be found at the lovely riverside town of Abingdon along with a Waitrose to restock the larder and a Chinese restaurant to refill four hard working sailors.  The original plan for Thursday was to make a longish cruise to Goring.  With the Thames flowing and the crew in the swing that destination was reached in the early afternoon and with warnings beginning to arrive about strong flows on the River Kennet it was agreed that they would push on downstream.  At Whitchurch Lock there was confirmation the red boards were out at Caversham so a mooring was found on the edge of Reading.  With the station close by Geoff decided to head home that evening and when on Friday it became clear Ramyshome would remain stationary, Howard and Isobel also jumped ship.  We were grateful for their company and their help in bringing Ramyshome into Berkshire.  Roger was back on board on Friday evening, four days being enough for a first week of work, and on Saturday, having checked river conditions, we slipped through Caversham Lock before turning into the Kennet in front of a full gasometer.  The river was also full and flowing fast so it was a slow crawl to Blakes Lock and on through the centre of Reading.  Another 5 more locks brought us to Theale for an evening mooring having caught up with our timetable.  Today we have pushed hard against the flow for a couple of miles and two locks, emptying loos and rubbish and filling the water tank ready for another week on the Kennet & Avon.  Roger will return for a second working week and a new crew will join Maureen to complete Ramyshome's journey to Devizes.                      

Saturday 26th April 2008.  England is looking very green in the springtime sunshine, at least those parts of Leicestershire, Northants and Warwickshire that we passed through at breakneck speed this week.  It was Sunday afternoon, having taken on a last supply of coal and said our goodbyes, before we slipped away from Pillings Lock Marina and turned up stream to follow the River Soar through six locks to Syston.  That evening we dined at the home of John & Val Cobb, an excellent start to our trip.  On Monday we were up early heading south into and beyond Leicester, finally climbing away from the Soar by early afternoon.  An eight hour cruise brought us to Kilby Bridge where Dave & Jackie Wade were already waiting for us aboard Nb Matilda Rose.  That evening we dined in the local pub but by 9:00 am we were saying last goodbyes as they headed off back to Pillings Lock whilst we welcomed Jim of Jim's Mobile Mechanical Service who had arrived to service Ramyshome's engine.  Everything was going smoothly until Jim spotted a split in one of our alternator belts.  Our "spare" turned out to be too big so we spent the next two hours driving around the Leicestershire countryside trying to find a replacement.  It was almost 3:00 pm when we got underway but still managed to put 12 locks behind us before mooring up for the night.  Mid-morning on Wednesday we reached the attractive lock flight at Foxton.  These are narrow locks in two staircases of 5 and with boats already descending we had to wait about an hour.  This gave us the opportunity to walk up the flight again, to chat with the lockkeeper and to push a few gates whilst the sun broke through the clouds.  Soon it was our turn and we climbed quickly to the top and the Leicestershire summit pound.  By evening we had crossed the little River Avon into Northants.  Thursday was not a good day.  One of the new alternator belts stripped right off and we had to replace it with the old one, keeping our fingers crossed that it would be OK - it is so far; whilst passing a boat and butty coming through Braunston Tunnel we caught the wall, scratched the paintwork on the tumblehome and sheared a catch on one of the rear doors; and in between, the April showers came regularly and heavy, soaking us several times.  Nevertheless we made it to Braunston and thus were back on track with our timings.  In comparison Friday was uneventful.  Sadly we weren't able to buy a new belt or catch in Braunston but the sun shone and after a pleasant sail to Napton we climbed the 9 locks with ease.   Just before the locks we came across Nb Sandringham and remembered that 18 months ago we had spent several hours at Salter's Lode worrying together about whether we had the power and the nerve to cross the tidal Ouse to Denver.  It turned out we had both and it was good to hear they too had made it back again later that summer.  The Oxford Canal summit twists and turns so much it feels like we are going round in circles.  The lonely landscape is populated only by sheep and their energetic lambs with hardly a building or barn to see.  The one prominent structure is a radio mast which we seem to pass at least three times before mooring for the night at Fenny Compton.  And so today we have dropped down the 12 locks to the Cherwell Valley and Banbury, the end of the first stage of this journey.  On Monday Ramyshome, with Maureen and her new crew head south to Oxford and the Thames which will take them to Reading and the Kennet & Avon.  Roger will go by road to Devizes and his new adventure working for Foxhangers Boats, of which more next time.            

Tuesday 15th April 2008.  Well Easter proved to be quite a wash out, at times even a snow out, so we abandoned the idea of taking Ramyshome out for a spin and like the proverbial robin hid our heads under our wing.  On Sunday we decided we needed some air even if it was cold and wet, so we drove a few miles to the northern tip of Leicestershire where we walked a good 4 miles along the towpath of the Grantham Canal.  Hence the new bit of yellow & blue on our map.  The Grantham is a restoration that seems to have some real chance of success.  Already several sections are re-watered and a few locks restored.  The big blockage is the way to the River Trent.  The original route has been lost to road construction, etc. but there seems to be an alternative and the Trust has just obtained funding to complete a feasibility study to ascertain this.  There is much else to be done to achieve full navigation but we are hopeful that one day Ramyshome will be able to visit these waters.  We wish the hardworking supporters well.      Despite the weather doing its best to hang on to winter, real signs of Spring are all around us now.  The local swans are nesting, the marina ducks have paired up and a pair of oystercatchers come visiting the marina regularly.  The other day we spotted a sparrowhawk being mobbed by crows and a pair of woodpeckers occasionally appear in the trees across the fields.  The trees are still short of leaves but the hedges are sporting a new green hue and the trumpeting daffodils have blown their last for this year.  On Easter Monday Ann & Doug Shields came a visiting and later that week Colin Butterworth was back for a day - all welcome as always.  On the final weekend of March we decided it was time Ramyshome's engine turned again and having slipped our moorings we cruised for about an hour along the Cut to Loughborough.  We got there just before the rain came so shopping and laundry took priority over painting and cleaning.  At least on the Sunday we were able to moor up just short of the marina to do a few jobs before the cold winds forced us homeward.      Since then life has become rather hectic and for a time frustrating as we waited for others to make decisions about our future.  But everything has worked out as we hoped and finally we can report that Ramyshome and her crew are preparing to set sail again.  This Sunday, the 20th we give up our mooring here at Pillings Lock and head south on our way to Devizes in Wiltshire.  Maureen has handed in her notice at work after barely two months but more importantly Roger is to be employed again, working for Foxhangers Boats below the Caen Hill flight of locks.  Initially he will be part of the team turning round the hire boats each weekend but the intention is that over time he will work with the owners putting his financial and business advisory skills to good use.  (Yes he does have some!!)  We shall be sad to leave Pillings Lock.  Despite the mud and noise that continues whilst the marina creeps slowly to completion it is a very pleasant and sociable place and we shall miss the new friends we have made here.  But onward and upward as they say.  Foxhangers are offering just the opportunity Roger wanted and it is a lovely part of the world.  We just have to learn to live with southerners and their strange ways!