Stayed in Thrapston as the wind was horrendous and just getting out of this little cul-de-sac mooring would have been too much of a feat even for the ever so good captain Trev.
Time for a little quite contemplation :)
Tue 24th May
Wind has died down a bit so setting off towards Northampton .( we are traveling to the north to visit family and friends on Friday and have arranged to leave Merlot in a marina just outside Northampton a well as collecting a hire car for the journey)
Arrived at a mooring outside a small town called Irthlingborough. The mooring was supposed to have full facilities - water, shower, toilets etc. These are provided usually by the environment agency or the water ways at various points along the rivers and canals, however as it happens, far too often, these facilities are no longer available due to some problem - usually lack of money or a dispute over who should pay for them as they are often on ground owned privately or as in this case by the Rushton and Diamond Football club.
As can be seen by the pics not only were the facilities boarded up, the garbage had not been collected for what looked like weeks....phew what a stink and even worse sight.
We had a quick walk into the town as Trev has read on Trip Advisor that there was a very good Chinese restaurant and we decided to have lunch then just a bite later on. What do you know, the restaurant is closed every Tuesday. I kept thinking of the calories I saved!!! Another grubby little town on its last legs. Back to Merlot got rid of rubbish then set off for next town - Welling borough.
We moored up next to a large green park type area, filled up with water then moseyed on into the town to see what we could find. AS we had missed out on the Chinese yesterday, Trev researched an Indian restaurant called Ali's which was also supposed to be very good, according to his trusted Trip Advisor, (that's Trevs logic anyway). Well well well, we found the restaurant open and had a very nice meal. The service was outstanding!!! The owner Ali was attentive and helpful as the menu had a lot of dishes we had never heard of. At the end of the meal he offered us a drink on the house - ANY drink we wanted, wow. We both opted for a liqueur coffee which was nice. He then arranged for a family member to drive us back to Merlot as we had asked about a taxi. Lovely experience. Stayed at mooring for the night.
Wednesday 25th
Set off the the marina - Billing Aquadrome - about 5 miles from Northampton. Half way there we had to stop as Merlot had caught something in the propeller. Whilst Trev wrestled with the propeller freeing it from some old rope and weeds, I got chatting to a couple who travel with two other boats, old friends of theirs. She told me she and her husband opted to live on a boat twenty years ago with 4 children, youngest 6 months. Wow that's brave. Her kids are now adults and all live on their own boat bar her son. She said she could not ever imagine living in a house again and I am beginning to understand how she feels.
Watched a farmer herd his cows over a bridge we went under, what a lovely sight.
We arrived at the marina and was allocated a mooring. The first thing I did was hook up the electricity. No more checking battery status, well at least till we leave the marina. Our car will be delivered on Fri at ten so just going to relax and catch up on recorded TV programmes, catch up with issues to do with guests in our cottage, e mails etc etc.
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