Narrowboat 'wilvir'
by wilvir
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Whispers on water - a photo journal of our life on the 'cut' dedicated to keeping family and friends informed of our whereabouts.
Our Current Location: Copredy, Oxford Canal.
Tweet us @wilvir514
Helping to keep our waterways litter-free: www.litteraction.org.uk/narrowboat-wilvir
Drought, pollution and illegal fishing all threaten our waterways. Spotted something that looks wrong? See it, say it, save it. Call the Environment Agency (EA) Incident Hotline: 0800 80 70 60.
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We moored in the centre of Banbury on Monday. After shopping for provisions we stayed overnight and yesterday moved out into the quiet of the countryside.
As we headed south out of Banbury we passed by James and Heather (nb Matilda May) who we met up with a couple of years ago on the Peak Forest Canal. Having moored about a quarter of a mile futher on, James and Heather came and spent the afternoon with us. James gave us a virtuoso performance on my penny whistle and Heather sang a couple of songs accompanying herself on my guitar. They've now got to the stage of busking in towns near canals and have even produced a CD of their music.
15th Sep 2010, 20:30
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This fella turned up the other day and didn't want to leave. After three fruitless hours of trying to locate his owner we had no choice other than to get in touch with the local dog warden to come and collect him. It was a pleasure to have his company for those few short hours as he was well behaved and very obedient. We just hope that he ends up with the care he deserves as it was sad to see him led away to an uncertain future.
12th Sep 2010, 16:30
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Photo:
1. Rubbing down.
2. Ready to paint.
3. Done.
Last weeks job of the week.
12th Sep 2010, 16:08
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Photo:
1. Braunston Junction.
2. Footpath up to Braunston.
3. Rain approaching.
4. Wartime defences at Napton.
5. Lower Shuckburgh Church.
Nearly the middle of September already! I've added photos taken over the last few weeks.
We're moored just outside of Banbury where tomorrow we'll be shopping for supplies and moving on.
Last week the weather behaved itself enough for me to key the surface of the blue gloss paint running around the boat below the gunnels and over-paint with a coat of bitumen. I can now easily touch-up any minor scrapes with blacking. It looks good too!
12th Sep 2010, 15:47
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Photo:
1. The Grand Union Canal below Flecknoe.
2. Wolfhamcote Church
3. A reminder of what is still great (just)about this country of ours.
4. Nine months of one mans struggle against the inevitable comes to a sad end.
5. Windmill at Napton-on-the-Hill
We spent most of August on the border of Northamptonshire and Warwickshire exploring the villages and footpaths that have linked these small communities 'as-the-crow- flies' for centuries. We're slowly heading south to Banbury stopping for a couple of days at a time to enjoy the peacefulness of the countryside and canals with the now infrequent passage of boats that heralds the end of the holiday season.
I love September as the days get noticeably shorter and the chill of Autumn arrives. There is really something special about living this simple life of ours and the freedom that comes with it.
Blackberries, sloes, damsons, plums and apples are in abundance amongst the hedgerows as farmers gather the harvest in and the plough takes over to prepare the way for next years crops. I must have eaten a half pound of blackberries the other evening whilst out with Gunner - delicious!
12th Sep 2010, 11:50
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Photo:
1. Margaret and Geoff (nb 'Seyella')
2. Jo and John (nb 'Dragonfly')
We had an eventful August, notably Jim and Helen dropped by for Sunday lunch; Margaret and Geoff (nb 'Seyella'), came over the horizon and moored overnight to catch up since our last get together on the River Weaver; caught up with Terry and Sue (nb Aqua Lady), on a run down to Rugby Canal, who we hadn't seen for a couple of years,; then, Jo and John (nb 'Dragonfly') chanced upon us the other morning on their way back to Huntingdon having come up from the River Thames.
On the run up from Rugby we 'winded' at Braunston Marina to service the boat before heading for Banbury, and to our surprise an old friend from my RAF days popped his head out of the restaurant boat 'Gongoozlers Rest'. We hadn't seen each other for over 12 years, although we'd recently been in touch by email. What a coincidence as he'd only just been talking about us while having lunch with a friend when we drifted past the window. Spooky! Good to see you Martin (you're lucky, the photo of you was to dark).
3rd Sep 2010, 10:02
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Photo:
1. New Auckland arrives.
2. Leaving us.
3. Jenny and Mark.
Jenny and Mark arrived on Wednesday to spend a couple of days moored alongside giving us ample time to catch up with each others exploits and what's next on their worldwide travel agenda.
Sadly this is probably their last narrowboat venture and although this is only our second meeting, we've become firm friends. Maybe we'll see each other sometime in the future; you never know.
They left this morning heading for Braunston and the Grand Union Canal to make their way onto the River Soar and back to Northwich via Middlewich. Jen hinted, time permitting, that they may squeeze in a final trip to complete the River Weaver, from Anderton to Runcorn, before flying back to Australia.
We wish you both a safe journey home in September and look forward to hearing from you.
As a famous ships crewman once said 'live long and prosper'.
13th Aug 2010, 23:33
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With the sun just about to slip below the yard arm this is the view from where we're moored.
11th Aug 2010, 20:28
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