Crew - Simon, Manu, Celine, Renee and Phaedra.

Simon: Wow! First entry in the new log book, and first 2004 entry as well. We're here on a 'getaway trip' from uni. Drove all the way down from Salford to be greeted by rain and gales. Weather better on Saturday morning, and got through Banbury before being blown onto the side. Tried again after clearing the prop, and crawled for another 1/2 mile before the wind got UP and forced us into the side again. Total distance all day, 6 miles, very poor! With a Brit, a Greek, 2 French and a Chinese - big UP for Renee - international co-operation.

Renee: About the canal boat trip: the water was cold (when I checked the propeller). The wind was strong, (it made us can not go ahead). Manu was so naughty, (we try to kill each other :-) I'm joking. Actually it was the most exciting experience I have had. Thanks simon for inviting me and giving me such a wonderful memory.
Ed's note: I get the impression that Renee was prop clearing officer having lost a bet long before the trip, and had taken on the task of prop clearance without any idea of what was involved. Students ... drinking ... what are they like?

Phaedra: So... here we are on our first boat trip in one of the canals of England. Although this day started quite normally it ended up being a bit more adventurous than most of us expected. After a good night sleep in our mini-beds, a nice cup of tea for breakfast, ( bread and nutella for most of us non-English) we decided to start on our trip. Unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side, but despite the pouring rain, head blowing winds and freezing cold, Simon and Manu's Tarzan skills ( with some assistance from Celine, Renee and me) we managed to get to Banbury for a first stop.... and continue to the point we are now. Basically stuck in the middle of nowhere. It doesn't matter though because I'm sure we all had our daily dose of excitement, exercise and of course getting absolutely messy, dirty, and.... (I really can't think of anything else but I'm sure you all know what I mean.) Anyway, before this gets too long I just want to say that it was definately an experience I will never forget.
P.S. I hope no-one gets food poisoning tonight by Celine's and mine pasta bolognese.

Manu: After having a quiet Friday night playing cards, eating some After Eight and reading, the canal boat trip can start. But before to leave Renee had to clean the propeller. Then the first lock was pass without any proble, also for the 2 next ones before stopping in Banbury for lunch, and a visit to banbury for Simon, Phaedra and Celine. Shower for me and hairdrying for Renee. One hour later we are ready to g, ne more lock and fill up the water tank. After one hour and a halfwithout any problem suddenly the wind was too strong and we had to stop. Therefore, some tea, some read and other a short sleep (Renee). When the wind come down we decided to carry on. Problem: the propellor was full of plastic, branches.... Simon was volunteered to clear it! After 15 minutes we had to stop again for the same reason but this was the end for today, we have to spend the night here. After a good dinner prepared by Phaedra and Celine, Simon's parents joined us. It wasa good time for Simon to offer strawberry and champagne to his mother, (mothers' day). After his parents left Celine and myself went to bed. This day was excellent on one side, lock teamwork, and on the otherhand I was disappointed because we had to stop due to this ........... wind. Hope tomorrow will be better, fingers crossed.

Celine: I'm writing after Manu who said you all the day story. Therefore I will talk about my own experience. I like driving the boat, sleeping in the boat, spending good evening with good company.... but I prefer to work on the locks with Phaedra. I didn't try to clean the propeller, Renee's task, but that's not a problem. I didn't push the boat when it was blocked (strong man's task) Too, I didn't clean the toilets [do a pump out] thanks to Simon's parents. So I spend a really good weekend to relax and I thank Simon's family for that.

Crew - Simon, Manu, Celine, Renee and Phaedra.

Simon: Wind postponed our leaving until 11am, after nice, filling, cooked breakfast. Took advantage of a better spell of weather and pressed on to wind above Neil Bridge lock. Tried to return to Cropredy but were forced to abort by the wind and driving rain, and reluctance to leave the boat in Banbury. Sorry. See you soon Jannock, and well done crew.

Crew - Graham & Brenda.

Although the day was grey and murky British Summer Time was being heralded by skylarks. An uneventful cruise into Banbury to source tasteful and expensive prizes for Graham's up and coming party. Pre-birthday lunch for Brenda, then onto Cropredy. I spent a happy 1/4 hour watching a diligent Jenny Wren taking grubs and other wriggly things from the water margins and tree roots to her nest in a tree behind the old barn; I wonder how many beaks she had to feed.

Crew - Graham, Brenda, Brian & Julie.

Julie: It was a very windy day, sometimes blowing us off course. I did some steering under Graham's instruction. Had to keep remembering to turn the tiller the way I didn't want to go! Only got stuck on the bank once when Brenda and Graham had to take over and rescue me. I helped open and close a couple of locks and, where the locks were close together, I walked along the towpath. I had a guided tour of the boat- it was very cosy! We had a lovely ploughman's lunch and a lovely coq au vin for dinner. I found the strong wind was an excellent way of back-combing my hair!

Crew - Graham, Brenda & Matt.

Matt : Very sunny and err, yep.
Graham : Marston Doles top lock to The Blue Lias pub (Stockton bottom lock) in wonderful sunny weather. Matthew became a lock-keeper, helping other boaters who didn't seem to want to work thier own passage through locks. We shared down Stockton flight with a boat that had been repainted at Rugby (Our destination and purpose) Went home to celebrate Matt's 18th birthday tomorrow.

Brenda: we asked why the pubsign sported a dinosaur, and what is Blue Lias. Blue lias is a local stone, and dino remains were found in quarries in the area.

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Jannock spent the next month at Willow Wren,
Rugby to emerge with a new colourscheme.

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Jannock's new colour scheme.

With our hearts in our mouths, we travelled to Rugby to see Jannock's new colour scheme for the first time since we left her at Willow Wren's yard on 12th April. We had designed the colourscheme on computer but were never sure what it would turn out like. Initially it was a bit of a shock but I can honestly say that we're very happy with her new sophisticated look.

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Crew - Graham & Brenda.

Graham : Having spent a good few hours hoovering and cleaning all of the dust and muck out of the inside of Jannock we left Rugby Wharf resplendent in a new coat of paint and turned left toward Coventry. Had to wait for 2 southbound boats in Newbold Tunnel, and the new paint seemed to be working as a magnet to trees and bushes whenever a newly hired Rose Narrowboats craft appeared heading south. Finally moored for the night near Brinklow, in a very peaceful setting.

Brenda: quote of the day....' I'm just licking out the wok!' That'll be the Thai stir fried beansprouts then.

Crew - Graham & Brenda.

Brenda: I-Spy nb Laura first thing. We were still abed, but it was raining.... I-Spy nb Pilgrim who promised to see us in September. (at least we were up for that one!)
As we approached Hawkesbury junction I remembered that Charlie and her Dimmocks did an historical recreation of the lockhouse garden a couple of years ago. It was with anticipation that I looked over the wall; what a disappointment! The orchard was there, the chickens were there, I could see the track of the lavender hedge which partitioned the garden, but everything else was just waist high grass and weeds. Just as well it made good TV as the license payers' money was otherwise wasted.

As we approached a 'Towpath Closed' sign the 10 hikers we'd been racing along the canal began to look concerned. There was no obvious way round, so it was a case of 'all aboard who's coming aboard', and Jannock played waterbus.
Today we identified the ubiquitous 'knackered bike pump' bird, so called because its call sounds like a ...... We thought it to be a tit from our Birds of Britain book, but upon actually seeing one we now believe it to be our second choice based upon the description of the call in the book, it is a chiff-chaff.

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Crew - Graham & Brenda.

Brenda : Graham took advantage of a wonderful morning and no locks to rekindle his flyboating aspirations. I stayed in bed awhile. A real cruising day with only the 3 Hillmorton locks before we moored in the shadow of the soon to be felled Rugby radio masts, soon to be only 2. We moored behind nb. Slim, whom we've been leapfrogging for 2 summers now. A chat ensued and a techy appointment was made for when Jannock passes his next proposed mooring point at Braunston.

Crew - Graham & Simon.

Simon : Don't these early starts concern anyone? I thought this was supposed to be a boat of holidays and relaxation! Dad had the engine on at 07.00. 37 secs this morning, forcing me to get up. Long cruise had me driving so dad could wash the roof, then the sides, then the front, all before arriving for water at Napton. We joined the motorway queue for Napton flight. Final mooring was just past Draco and Lexa above Adkins lock, with 2 inches to spare between us and the next boat, and all before 2pm. Home for Matt's farewell dinner later; he's off to Uni. in Preston tomorrow. To be fair, the early start worked, we'll be there in plenty of time.
Right, I'm going back to bed now, grumble, grumble, grumble.......

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Brenda's report : An excellent weekend, with friends old and new. Beeky treated us to a curry supper at Friday kick-off. We served so many cuppas on Saturday that I began to feel like a theme caff. The Saturday B-B-Q became a movable feast as we finished up in the marquee due to rain. The band was very good, and we won T shirts and fleeces in the raffle. Hurrah.
More cuppas served on Sunday. We enjoyed the 'solution' session for the picture quiz, slick MC and yards of heckling. We won the top prize in the main quiz with the brains from Albion and Enceebee, hurrah, hurrah.
We then learned that this give us the 'opportunity' to set next year's quiz. Hhmm. Next came first prize in the raffle, amazing.
Monday morning was spent dismantling and avoiding the rain, with a little light blackberry picking and photography.
A fun time was had by all.

Crew - Graham & Brenda.

Graham : I was up at 7.30 to assist Albion down Napton flight, then helped some newbies on a navy boat back up again. Took down the rally lighting and assisted with marquee dismantling. We went to Southam, in the car, for supplies before winding Jannock in the engine arm and setting off down Napton flight again. Water and rubbish were sorted at Napton bottom lock and we set off towards Braunston. It was very windy which caused problems when we slowed down to pass moored boats. Finally we moored just past Butcher's Bridge, behind Prairie Crocus, the PC crew came to dinner.

Brenda : As Ken tucked into his dessert he announced that I would be sent to Hell because of it! Fresh blackberry and apple sponge with orange zest and a splash of cream. Was that a compliment or not? Answers on a postcard....

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Crew - Graham, Brenda, Ian and Jessica.

Brenda : Saturday evening was spent at The Bridge inn as a result of our having won a voucher for a dinner for two in the raffle at the Cutweb rally. And what an excellent meal we had, in pleasant surroundings, washed down with well kept Cornish Knocker Ale.

08.20, Ian (he of the delusions) and Jessica joined us for fresh baked croissants and a day sur l'eau. A steady cruise back to our winter mooring enhanced by Jessie's obvious delight with her mode of travel. Everything was 'cool' especially dancing on the roof. After lunch mum was phoned, it seems the family could possibly be taking a canal holiday next summer, brochures on order... Jessica declared Wormleighton tower magic as it moved from front to back of us, left to right of the cut. Ian was perplexed to see Napton windmill ahead of us some hours after we had left it behind. Maps were consulted.

Big thanks to Ian for the gift of a super set of saucepans and frying pans for Jannock's galley. Detatchable handles mean that 4 saucepans and 2 frypans all stack in the shelfspace of 1 frypan. And they all go in the oven, so act as casseroles and baking dishes too. Fiendishly clever Tefal, just the job for boats and caravans!
We were welcomed home by John of Toad's haul and then did a car shuffle to fetch the Zafira from Napton.

Crew - Graham, Brenda, Richard, Joanne and Raj.

Richard : We had a great day, lots of fun and even managed to navigate a lock!! Thanks a lot.
Jo : Thankyou for inviting us. It's been great. Lots of memories about Rosie and Jim were stirred. Sorry about crashing into the tree.

Raj : What a great day! Everyone agrees that I'm clearly the best driver. Many thanks. Cap'n Jack Sparrow.

Brenda : This has got to be better than spending a December Saturday Xmas shopping, not least because a kingfisher was about. It's always good to enthuse comparative youngsters about their canal heritage. The weather was dry and, at 10 degrees, great for December. Not much about so the lads didn't have to fight each other for a 'go' on the lift bridge. Raj was indeed a natural steerer, but all declared it an awful lot harder than they imagined. Cruising was declared the perfect way to relax, and holiday hire was mentioned.

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