August 2012
August is typically holiday month with two weeks enforced leave.
A long vacation was essential after a weekend of Spa 24 at the end of July.
The race highlights make for some great viewing.
So time to take in some Rn'R in the sunshine
and then back to the UK for the end of Cowes week and to watch
the traditional fireworks.
Meanwhile, nostalgic thoughts while sitting by the pool, made me want to chart that very
first trip, 15 years ago, when having just bought our narrow boat, we moved her from Hanbury wharf to Penton Hook on the Thames.
We did that trip in 3 stages;
Stage one, 17/7/97 - 19/7/97 Hanbury - Alvchurch - Lapworth - Radford Semele - Napton junction
Stage two, 30/7/97 - 1/8/97 Napton junction - Wormleighton - Lower Heyford - Oxford
Stage three, ?/8/97- ?/8/97 Oxford - Goring - Cookham - Penton Hook
The canals we travelled on were, Worcester & Birmingham, Stratford on Avon, Grand union, Oxford then onto the Thames.
In all, 194 miles and 175 locks, which is 369 lock miles in 90 hours over ten days, giving an average speed of 4.1 mph, a fast walking pace.
Hopefully, now that we have decided to sell the boat, it will give some added impetus to the Slipper project so we can get back on the river