Celebrating the New Year at the Boat Inn in Braunston.

After Christmas we have headed back to the boat at Stowe Hill and preparing for our winter to start.

The last few months we have been working on Hilary's cottage  and we completed on Christmas Eve.

After Christmas shopping in Fenny Stratford which meant we did not leave until 3.30pm.
But the upside was that I have used the nav. lights in anger and cruised in the dark.

Whilst we were moored at Milton Keynes Caroline and James took the opportunity to make a visit

We took the last mooring place at Campbells Park in Milton Keynes only to find that large firework display was to take place.
Cassie enjoyed an hour of barking at the fireworks.

The view as we leave Cosgrove lock and once again the autumn colours in the tree's.

Like a scene from the Hitchcock film The Birds the gulls just seemed to be waiting for us.

Yesterday we started our way to Milton Keynes taking in the autumn colours in tree's as we travel.

After a week back on The Maisibert we returned to Essex to go to Madisons first birthday party at Claire's new flat.
This started the week where we worked on Hilary's house with the help of brother Ray and niece Sacha.

We cruised to Newark on Trent and returned along the river Trent leaving Diane and Peter at the Trent Junction.
On the return trip the leg took a turn for the worse and we had to return to Braintree for medical attention, this has meant that we only returned to The Maisibert this Saturday.

Whilst cruising we encountered the tail end of a hurricane from America which battered us nearly the whole duration of the trip.
Whilst trying to moor I managed to graze my shin.

At the beginning of September we cruised with Diane and Peter on Plan B and we used Penny and Mic's boat Intrepid.

As the day draws to a close we have had a couple long days of cruising to get back on to the Grand Union.
The Oxford was short of water in places but we hit the lock restrictions just at the right times

We spent our last night on the Thames in Abingdon known as the Queen of the Thames.
I must admit it did not disappoint, we are now sitting on the Oxford at Thrupp.

We have enjoyed the trip on the Thames but the poor quality of moorings and services has meant that we have had a few long days cruising.
But we have seen some great sunsets.

I have not posted due to poor single, we stayed in Reading whilst the festival was in progress.
We watched the revellers leaving tired and muddied but it sounded like they throughly enjoyed themselves.

Ray left us today but not before slipping on the bank and dunking one leg in the Thames.
Tonight we are moored near the beautiful suspension bridge at Marlow.

Sunset over the Thames as we moored at Cookham.

Today we have cruised past Millionares row with helicopters flying and landing in gardens.

The Queen was in residence as we arrived at Windsor last night but as we arrived at the castle she had just left.

Last night we were moored outside Hampton Court and have moved on to today to Shepperton.

Ray taking us out of Brentford to start our trip up the Thames.

Sunday we leave Paddington Basin to start the return journey back to Weedon for winter,

Saturday brother Ray met us at Paddington Basin and spent the afternoon in Hyde Park.