The Ups and Downs of Fridays

Got past WB Jenlyn unscathed :0)

We are used to people taking pictures of Captain Nasty but we had the best one yesterday while we were on our Ice Cream break.  A budding paparazzi rolled  down the bank all SAS stylie while snapping covert pictures of Nasty and our boat. lol  Have seen it all now!
This morning i am on the look out for Steve Jay on Jenlyn. We had a minor set too on Facebook last night it may just be poo tanks at dawn!!  We caught up with them at Linslade but managed to reconcile our differences without poo much trouble. ;0)
There's a festival in Linslade this weekend and it looks as If it will be very well attended. There are boats of all shapes and sizes lining the towpath.  It is a real shame that we don't have time to stop but we have an 8am appointment to keep with Blisworth Tunnel. Maybe next year, fingers crossed.  

Slowest Person on the Canal this morning!!

We were stuck behind this hire boat for ages, he's was on his way back to the yard for the end of his holiday and  going so slowly, we were on tick over and still having to put her in reverse every 3 minutes to prevent us from rear ending him!! I dont think he wants his holiday to end :0( poor chap.  We did well yesterday and made it as far as Ivinghoe Locks.  28 locks negotiated and 13 miles covered.  I was getting a bit concerned about the amount of diesel we were using so decided to have a little work out on what she was costing per mile.

LOL So wish I hadnt now!  
Canalplan says distance between Brick Lock to Ivinghoe Bottom Lock is: 75 miles and 84 locks and so far we have used 80L of diesel!! That's what you get for travelling with a 6 cylinder Perkins I suppose :0(  Glad we don't do it all the time, wouldn't be able to afford to eat as well lol!!  
We passed the most stunning tug called Sidney today. I wish I had taken a picture now and I cant find one on-line to show you.  She was beautiful, brass gleaming, perfect paint and obviously loved to the extreme. To hear the owner refer to Viking as 'Class' felt like the highest form of praise we could have had. For a minute there I was sad that we were taking her to her new home for someone else to love her as much as he obviously loved Sidney.

Mark up to his earholes

Not sure whether to describe today's cruise as a roller coaster with all it's ups and downs or waltzer ride with all the spinning and swinging. Either way, this part of the canal has been so shallow in places that we have felt every log, rock, slope and road hump it has had to offer, bit of a waltzer coaster. There has been so much crap round the prop today it is just getting boring now. Mark ended up up to his neck in the canal with a handsaw removing a 3" thick tube of crud, plastic and god knows what from the shaft behind the prop.  I am more thankful though that there wasn't any human hair, body parts or fishing hooks to get his fingers tangled up in! 

Unscathed but more than slightly damp and drippy, leaving the prop and shaft clear of all obstruction, ship shape and Bristol fashion, Mark retired to the boat for a hot shower whilst I made him a much deserved cup of tea.  Thank you Mark you are a total Star!! '300 Ronni Points' for a job  well done!! 
All we3 have to do now is get to the top of Stoke Bruerne Flight before 8am tomorrow.