Part 3 - Chapter 6

"We'd found that her paintwork was very thin, and far too easily chipped and scratched."

You'll have to take my word for it. The paintwork was in very bad condition.

The photos just don't show it very well!

"Furthermore, the Roses and Castles and the lettering on the sides had been messed up

by the previous owner, and rust was coming through around many of the outlines."

"We were very impressed by Chris, the company owner,

and the examples of his work that he showed us."

"Undaunted, we set off for Braunston Tunnel."

"On to Braunston Turn, turned left and made our way to bridge 100,

that favourite spot of ours, where we stayed for the night."

Calcutt Locks

"When we arrived at the top of Calcutt Locks, though, it was raining hard.

We pulled over at Calcutt Boats yard to buy a bottle of gas, and started down

the three locks when the rain had slowed."

"Mike and I locked, and we made good progress, catching up with NB Amicus at lock 9

and sharing the rest of the flight with them."

"Bascote Locks was only our second encounter with a staircase,

in which the water flows directly from one chamber to the next."

"Royal Leamington Spa was our next port of call."

"Which monarch had wanted to adopt Leamington Spa, for goodness' sake?"

"We moved on to Warwick as soon as we could."

"Grace and I spent ages trying to tie the boat where mooring rings were

inconveniently placed, or was it simply that Kantara's an inconvenient length?

and the bank curved equally awkwardly."

Warwick Castle

"A demonstration of falconry, and the handling of other birds."

"One exhibition depicts medieval castle life."

"Daisy" - Frances, Countess of Warwick

King George V

Clara Butt

The trebuchet - "...where one stands and childishly imagines

huge rocks being hurled at people one dislikes more than a little."

"The return stroll through the town was fascinating, with

Tudor buildings nestling among Edwardian and Victorian."

(photo - Mike Wilding)

"I gazed at it for ages, coveting it silently. I wanted

to touch it, stroke it, hold it, play it. Make it mine."

"Much to our disappointment, we found St Mary's closed for three days

for the filming of a couple of episodes of  Songs of Praise."

(photo - Mike Wilding)

"The best we got was a look down the nave through a glass wall just inside the west door."

Budbrooke Junction

"...where we winded and started our return journey to Yelvertoft."

"The day's cruise ended in the lovely rural setting of Bull Lane Bridge, no. 34."

(photo - Mike Wilding)

"Sunday was indeed a sun-day, and hot from the start."

 (photo - Mike Wilding)

"Wednesday started mistily, giving the canal an air of mystery."

On towards Braunston

(photos - Mike Wilding)

  

“The problem with having a sense of humour is often

that people you use it on aren't in a very good mood.” (Lou Holtz)

"...then made our way very slowly to Crick Tunnel. We tied up past bridge 11."

Crick Wharf

"We tied up past bridge 11. Later that evening, Christine and Mike

took us for a good meal at The Moorings."

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