On arrival at Watford Locks – at the top or at the bottom – a boater must check in with the Duty Lock Keeper. You can never predict what the waiting time will be before you are allowed to start the journey through the 7 locks. The boat in front was a hire boat. The crew were uncertain about where ahead they’d be able to moor, so while Boatwif checked in with the lock keeper the Captain whipped out the laptop and printer. By the time the hire boat had reached Lock 2 maps giving the route ahead as far as Leicester were ready to be handed over.

Snippets of plans were gradually revealed by locals walking alongside the towpath: “Starts about midday – up at the Green…”

Shortly after noon Boatwif and the Captain started their ten minute stroll up into Napton-on-the-Hill village. At the Green proceedings were already under way: the village population was out in force, the Fancy Dress competitions had already taken place under the watchful eye of ‘Winston Churchill’ in his siren suit…

For the previous half hour or so the evocative sound of church bells had been filling the air. Just a small section of Cropredy’s church tower was visible. Was there a Tuesday morning wedding? Or was there an occasional or regular morning bellringing practice? On and on the bells rang, smooth, fluid sound filling the air. Was a quarter peal being rung? Was the day a special anniversary, the Battle of Cropredy Bridge perhaps?  (Well no, Google check, the battle’s date was Saturday 29th June, 1644).

The on-board Pearson’s Canal Companion (too old it seems for a publication date) has a circle pencilled around Fenny Compton. Wasn’t that the liaison place where Cleddau was returned to her crew after the former Tentatrice crew had delivered her there from Bletchley, via Stratford-on-Avon, way back in 1998 …?

A warm and rain-free day was ideal for an introduction to the delights of the western end of the Leicester Line. Out of the marina, turn left. The canal runs alongside the marina, past the somewhat dilapidated buildings at Crick Wharf and on through Crick Tunnel.

These days the canal basin is lined by apartments, a busy pub, some private moorings and some day and holiday hire boats. In former times goods such as worsted cloth, grain, bricks, beer and coal were brought in and out of the town via canal barge. A striking reference to the past is this, ‘Frank the Plank’, an art installation to suggest a worker moving a plank on the wharf-side. It’s a sundial too, according to this: https://batch.artuk.org/discover/artworks/union-wharf-sundial-frank-the-plank-315449

Onwards, northbound again, all but blinded by the dazzling white of the blackthorn blossom.

Then, a new colour came into view, the yellow heads of rape.  Ten days ago these fields were green, now large swathes of West Northamptonshire is dressed in spring-time yellow!

Mid-afternoon, after a second false start to this springtime shakedown cruise, Cleddau was untied again, to turn right, pass Trafalgar again, pass the previous night’s mooring place below Crack’s Hill and manage a couple of miles more before tying up for the night at a favourite spot.

Heading west round the coast Tenby’s famous harbour too was all but bereft of boats. Beachgoers and sea were absent too!

There were new memories now to seal and cherish: Cal Guy Jnr cooking a spag bol for the family, boats on the water out at Oceanside, the harbor sea lions barking and arguing, a shiny vehicle alongside on the freeway and backyard sunsets.

Sales of Julian pies were brisk from a side window, the line of buyers stretching across the yard.

 These it seems are part of on board holiday events, such as Jingle Jets when 750,000 lights are used to illuminate the Midway floating museum.

“You have to adapt to local time,” the Captain insisted, before finally a bed could be approached. The bliss of it. 23 hours after getting up it was good to get horizontal again.

One tiny black mark - one extensive upheaval.

Recently the Captain observed that during his dipping checks the bottom of the tank felt “crunchy”. A realisation dawned – did the fuel tank need cleaning out?