NB Zindagi: April 2012

Plan? What Plan?

When we started out in 2007, we had a vague idea of the main places we wanted to go first, and then worked out where we might go after that. Our plans have been flexible, to say the least, and we like it that way!

In 2007, though we started up in Lancashire, we headed south and spent spent most of our time exploring some of the waterways in the south of the UK – but not all of them!

In 2008, we headed north and stayed there for most of the year, heading southwards in November to moor up in Blisworth Marina for the first time. After that, it became our usual winter 'home' until early 2013.

2009 found us fitting our cruising around Val's replacement knee joint operations in January and July. They were very successful! In the Spring, we went down the Nene to the River Great Ouse and the Cambridgeshire Fens. After the second op, and more recovery time in Blisworth, we set off for the Kennet and Avon Canal, via Braunston, the southern Oxford Canal, Oxford and the Thames.

An eventful time on the K & A, and a magnificent frosty journey back up the Thames from Reading to Oxford – and we entered 2010.

To start with, largely immobile in Aynho and Blisworth, but then we headed north-east via Leicester and Nottingham to the River Trent, from which we branched off wherever we could, down to Lincoln and Boston and back, then along the Chesterfield Canal and back before leaving the Trent on our way to Rotherham and Sheffield.

Then north and west over the Pennines by the Rochdale Canal, down to Manchester and then via the Macclesfield, Trent & Mersey and Staffs & Worcs Canals south to near Wolverhampton, via Birmingham and on down to the Severn at Worcester. Right down to Sharpness, then back up to Stourport, to head up the Staffs. & Worcs. Canal near to Wolverhampton again.

Blisworth again for the winter, then in the spring of 2011 we took a trip down the Grand Union to London, through and out the other side to the Lee and Stort – and slowly back! Then over to the Stratford Avon and up the Severn to visit the newly re-opened Droitwich Canals.

By boat to London for Jeremy and Laura's wedding in October 2011, then back to our 'second home' in Blisworth for the winter, enjoying a little more involvement with Christian folks there, too.

In 2012 we started by heading north again to see the Caldon Canal in the Spring, then changed our plans and decided to cross the Pennines again - up and down the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and then back over the Leeds & Liverpool to the Bridgewater. Our proposed visit to the 'Shroppie' and the Llangollen followed on after that – beautiful countryside on the way and once we were there.

Then onto the southern section of the 'Shroppie' and from there the Staffs. & Worcs. – we decided not to go down to Stourport but turned north again to Great Haywood, then south via the Trent & Mersey to the River Trent and then the the River Soar – up to Leicester.

From there, we dawdled back towards Blisworth for the winter again. The folks at the marina were expecting us on 5th November 2012, and we just managed to avoid being there early!

January 2013 saw us move back to the land in Lapford, and very little 'boat-related activity' until October 2014, when we moved Zindagi onto the 11-mile long Grand Western Canal near Tiverton in Devon. 3 years there gave us the opportunity to carry out some needed maintenance, but we did very little cruising!

The future? Well, as you can see, we moved Zindagi back onto the main national canal system in early October 2017. Just those couple of days gave us a fresh taste of enjoying life on board – almost like old times!

So, we hope to get out for some more trips, hopefully sometimes with friends, re-exploring some of our old haunts. Looks like there may be some interest from the younger members of the family, too. Lots of different routes to follow from Hatherton! Only about 3 hours drive to get there from Lapford – not too bad!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Longest Blackthorn Winter?

We had never heard the phrase 'blackthorn winter' until we moved to Devon in 1987. The tradition (not just in Devon, apparently) is that there is usually a spell of cold and wintry weather just when the blackthorn is in blossom. That also explains why some years there are very few sloes on the bushes in autumn – very few pollinating insects fly in the 'winter'! This year, the blackthorn came into flower during March's warm spell, and is only now beginning to fade. Meanwhile, we seem to have had ALL the seasons' weather, not just winter!

More signs of Spring! On our way back to Blisworth from the Leicester Arm, a duck with ducklings – I make it 15 of them!

Oilseed rape in flower in a quiet canalside scene near Brinklow as we head north-westwards on the Oxford Canal . . .

. . . and swans nesting on the Coventry Canal near Bedworth.

Can you see the subtle flush of blue on the woodland floor here? (Click on the picture to enlarge it.)

Lovely countryside where you might not expect it – between Nuneaton and Atherstone.

Val tackling one of the locks in the Atherstone flight.

Geometric patterns in the well-tilled soil near Grendon – and the hawthorn is nearly ready to blossom. "Ne'er cast a clout till the may be out" they say, so warmer weather must be on the way! Meanwhile, the weather seems to be trying to compensate for water shortages . . .

. . . and a grey squirrel in Hopwas Wood poses for his photo as 'Zindagi' chugs slowly below him.

We are steadily heading north-west, hoping to be on the Caldon Canal near Stoke-on-Trent for some real Spring weather!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Family Gatherings

During the last few months, we have seen a little more of our family . . .

Towards the end of 2011, we descended on Adam in Shrewsbury for a couple of days of not-doing-very-much-together, and very enjoyable it was! We did a bit of eating, though, as you can see! Here are Laura, Thor, Shireen, Jeremy, Val & Adam doing their best to clear the table . . .

. . . and 'Lottie the Rottie' enjoying a tug-o-war with Shireen (with Thor's help!)

An evening walk shows Shrewsbury looking a little different

Games for all ages!

A brief visit to Glasgow in February included exploring the Transport Museum with Thor –

who took great delight in operating the 'sack loading' hoist on board the tall ship 'Glenlee', moored alongside in the Clyde.

We also visited Balmaha on the eastern side of Loch Lomond,

Watching the water – for what? (No idea!)

Helping Shireen redecorate her short-term art gallery!

More recently, having checked out of the marina, we met Jeremy and Laura at Whilton Locks and then went up the Watford flight together,

– coincidentally marking 6 months since a certain wedding back in October –

and then meeting Adam in Crick. We chugged on for a few miles together, then turned back to Crick, where J & L left us,

and Adam came DOWN Watford with us, collecting his car at Buckby. The logistics worked out fine in the end!

We then made our way back to Blisworth for a few more days, before setting out again last Saturday, 14th April.

By the way, on 27th March we celebrated 5 years since we first set out on Zindagi for our 'year afloat'.

It was always likely to be two years, but FIVE ? !!!

Winter in Blisworth

We have actually set off on our travels now but, before we get you right up to date, let's share some of the images we gathered during the rest of our 'hibernation' in Blisworth Marina . . .