Tuesday 21 January 2014

Losing track of time

I  seem to be losing all track of time. I haven't been able to wear a watch recently due to an allergy flair up and, anyway, the battery has gone flat. Then last night I asked G to record a movie for me, but it wasn't on because I'd been looking in last week's TV guide. Then I arranged to meet my cousins for the day next Monday but we both had a different date - I was looking at the calendar for January 2015. Talking of meeting the cousins, we need somewhere for lunch - has anyone tried The Black Horse in Foxton? Last time we were through here it had been taken over and was closed for refurb.

Awoke to a hard frost yesterday - very beautiful with mist hanging in the valley as it dropped away from the canal



 and from our side hatch this fabulous reflected tangle of tree limbs
I walked the dogs to the top of Foxton Locks and left G watering whilst I went in search of the Lockie - I checked the office and walked down to the bottom of the flight and checked the shop. No sign of him anywhere and the boys were getting very bored
G eventually tracked him down in the museum and we quickly made our way down exchanging a lot of banter with the Lockie and the inevitable gaggle of gongoozlers
It doesn't matter how many times you do this flight you never tire of the views. On a day like today they are sublime
Down the flight and hang a right through the swing bridge (no key needed to operate it now) onto the Market Harborough Arm. Although it was lunchtime we left Bridge 61 un visited as it was a 'fast' day
I felt very virtuous as a pint after a lock flight always goes down well - on reflection, a pint always goes down well even if there is no flight
The swing bridge at Foxton village was a nightmare - I tried to operate it and gave up, taking the tiller and letting G have a go. He couldn't work it either. Then some guys who were doing clearance work turned up and operated it; evidently you have to line things up manually before the electric bit makes contact. It was quite difficult picking G and the boys up the other side as I couldn't put my nose to the bank without sticking MR's bum in the overgrown trees and bushes - not good for the paintwork or my head
This space hopper had been strategically hung to warn of a very thick and low level branch
Gorgeous - not another moving boat seen all day, nor yesterday
Guess which idiot left the bird-feeding gear on the wrong side
Although I put the feeders up at 2 o'clock, the only bird seen was a Moorhen who rather liked the seed and grain I put out on the log. Probably because Daisy was out all afternoon (although she leaves the birds alone), it took her less than 5 mins to catch her first mouse
10 locks and 4 miles today - nicely positioned to meet up with Yarwood tomorrow in Market Harborough

6 comments:

  1. I think it was the Black Horse where I went for lunch with Lesley and Joe. Food was pretty good, and it's dog friendly.

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    1. Thanks Adam - I caught up with Lesley yesterday and she agreed with you

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  2. Hi you two, you sound Jill as if you don’t know if you’re coming or going!
    have you seen this blog - interesting to say the least!
    http://wanderingsnail.blogspot.co.uk and their published book ...
    http://www.troubador.co.uk/
    Give our regards to Lesley and Joe when you see them today. xx

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    1. Hi you two. It seems Lesley doesn't know which way up she is date wise either - she walked out to meet us yesterday, I will pass on your regards.
      Thank you for the wandering snail info but we do have it - we also picked their brains over dinner. Also Mike and June (who have been out there for 20 years on NB Temujin) came calling when we were in Braunston

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  3. Hi

    Might be too late but we went to the Black Horse on Sunday and had a lovely Sunday lunch with loads of fresh veg. Would recommend it. We knew you were on your way to MH so had a look for you but we were too early at Foxton and too late at Crick as we had been to check on Triskaideka!

    Ali

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    1. No, not too late at all Ali. We're looking for somewhere this coming Monday so thanks for that. Really sorry to have missed you, I'm afraid we have a habit of mooring 'outside' places unless we know that there are potential visitors in the offing!

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