Lazy Days

We have been very lazy for the past week, well lazy as far as cruising is concerned anyway.

Last Friday we made our way back to Banbury and moored on the 14 day moorings below the lock. We did the usual round of shopping, I found the Saturday market in Banbury a bit disappointing, I was expecting it to be better than the Thursday one and it was about the same. I'm hoping that the risk of frost is really past now and have bought compost to refresh my planters.

On Monday we moved up through the lock and the lift bridge, stopped at the boatyard for diesel and. gas, then carried on about another mile before mooring up. This spot is reasonably convenient for B&Q and some DIY is happening. As Ray gets his 'old codger's discount' on a Wednesday we spent Tuesday planning the work and getting the washing done.

Yesterday we did a trip to B&Q, returning with wood, chicken wire, staples, a double socket and plants. The wood is to make seats in the cratch on top of the water tanks,some shelves to suspend between the handrail and the gunwale to display my wares when we are trading and combined with the chicken wire to make a ventilated alternative to the rear hatch in anticipation of hot summer nights. We did have a ventilation hatch but it disappeared from the top of Merlin, we aren't sure whether that was the result of a close encounter with an overhanging tree whilst cruising or the idiocy of the local scrotes in Banbury. The staples were to fix the wire on the ventilation hatch and the plants were to make the boat look pretty.

Oh yes, the double socket, well we decided we could really do with another power socket in the bedroom so that's another job to do.

Yesterday I re-potted my herbs and strawberries and planted up one of my tubs. Today the ventilation hatch has been made, the seating for one side of the cratch is under construction and hopefully we will get both sides done before dark. I might even get some more planting done. Our plan is to stay another day here in order to get the various jobs done and the go and do battle with the SAS. No, not the Special Air Service, the Saturday and Sunday cruisers, I'm sure most of them are very nice people and I sympathise that they aren't able to enjoy their boats more often. Some, however, seem to ignore simple rules like speed limits and not stealing locks because they are determined to get as far as possible on Saturday in order to make the return trip on Sunday. They then want to moor at about eight in the evening and are surprised that the best mooring spots are taken for which they blame continuous cruisers who are "all overstaying". If it get too fraught we will just stop and enjoy the sunshine.

In the past week we have travelled 9.2 miles, 5 locks and 1 lift bridge

This year we have travelled 216.1 miles, 209 locks, 5 swing bridges, 13 lift bridges and 2 tunnels

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2294.7 miles, 1970 locks, 116 swing bridges, 74 lift bridges and 73 tunnels