Chris and Sally
showed us the basics concerning their boat so we could look after it properly.
We had another
very long call to Three, and suspect we were speaking to someone in Asia. The
line was once again terrible, and the accent strong. They would not put me
through to anyone to discuss my data plan or my bill until I had paid the
outstanding overinflated amount. I said that unless someone would talk to me
about it I would have to go elsewhere. They refused, so here ends about ten
years of loyal Three custom.
It was a very
wet day. We went to the Vodafone shop and signed up for unlimited data for
£16.50 per month for six months, then £33 per month for six months. Then, in a
year, we can go onto sim only for about £14 per month. We can now take part in
Zoom meetings and do the blog once again.
Only half the
shops were open, and there were strict distancing measures in place everywhere.
We bought some small grocery items. We plan to do a larger shop on Sunday or
Monday as we leave.
Chris and Sally
had gone on the train by the time we returned. The rest of the day was spent
catching up on emails and posting another chapter of the blog online.
We wrote another
complaint letter to Three.
We had a zoom
meeting with our life group in the evening, which was great.
This mooring is
not wonderful. There is a large wall opposite, and we saw a rat running along a
ledge just above the waters edge. There was loud music coming from student
accommodation nearby, and laughter and loud voices until the small hours. Time
to move both boats.
No boating today
Fri 19th
June Leamington Spa
to Radford Semele
Today was wet
for a long time, so we didn’t do very much until late afternoon. We wanted to
move both boats east to Radford Semele where there was a more rural mooring. We
were facing west, the wrong way, so this involved turning the boats twice.
We set off on Gabriel
from our brick wall mooring between br 39 and 40, to the winding hole beyond
bridge 43. Hazel alighted to go to Sainsbury’s, while James turned the boat and
returned to the ugly wall.
James then took Kairos
back to collect Hazel, turn and go back to where he had left Gabriel.
Hazel then switched boats, and set off with Gabriel, while James
followed with Kairos.
We cruised out
of Leamington Spa, and took turns to wind the boats in the winding hole at
Radford Semele. Hazel on Gabriel got stuck in shallow water and needed a
push from a passer by.
James on Kairos
managed to moor up. Meanwhile Hazel was having difficulties trying to maintain
position on Gabriel with strong winds. She was alongside another boat
and ended up resting against it for a moment.
She backed off and pulled in behind.
The owner of the
other boat came out and said: “You touched my boat twice!” Hazel replied: “I’m
sorry, I was caught in the wind.” “That’s the word I wanted to hear”, he said.
James took over
the helm on Gabriel, and found he had no steerage as there was something
on the prop. A visit to the weed hatch revealed a fitted sheet or similar. No
wonder Hazel had had problems steering.
James then drew
alongside this other boat, giving plenty of clearance, and then got stuck in
mud, needing to use the boat pole to get clear. He brought Gabriel
alongside Kairos, as there was not enough room behind.
There were
threatening clouds ahead so our timing was good. We had rain later.
0 locks, 3
miles, 2 windings, 2 stick in the muds, 1 weed hatch visit. Dep 1525 arr 1615.
Dep 1715, arr 1840.
Sat 20th
June Radford Semele
The boat behind us left, so we pulled Gabriel back
behind Kairos as there was now space. It is just as well we did this, as
two boats appeared later, breasted up, and they would have had difficulty
getting past, especially with the shallow area opposite.
Unusual sky
We did not do much today. Occasional showers.
No boating today.
Sun 21st June
Radford Semele to Warwick
We followed the Broughton Church live broadcast on
Facebook, Featuring James T circling the parish on his bicycle.
After a chat with Chris and Sally, we moved both boats
through Leamington Spa to the Warwick Tesco at bridge 46.
We passed our previous mooring, opposite the wall, where
there was a sign to the Christian Bookshop, where we have been on several
occasions. Sadly, it closed down in February, although we could see the stock
still in place through the window.
Now closed down
We have noticed that many of the ducks in this area have
white fronts. No doubt there was a dominant male a few generations ago who had
this distinctive feature, and now many of the birds show their ancestry. Some
of the small ducklings had the same marks.
We passed Brace Yourself, moored just before the
aqueduct over the Avon.
We moored both boats on the bollards at Tesco, with one
rope round a tree as the bollards were wrongly spaced.
0 locks, 3 miles. Dep 1515, arr 1625
Next: Going up the Hatton Flight towards
Kingswood Junction
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