Since arriving in the Foxton area Ginny has been shopping at 'Rural Trading's bespoke village store, located in the old skittle alley at the Black Horse pub in Foxton. It is well worth the walk, even when we're moored a couple of miles away, to buy fresh produce and everything else you would expect from a thoughtfully run village store. The store is so important to residents of the local villages as it is to us residential narrowboaters on the Old Grand Union Canal as it passes under Black Horse Bridge just a stones throw away.

Take a look at their website: www.ruraltrading.co.uk/index.html

Photo:
1. A damp and windy start at the 'Tannings'.
2. What a difference a day makes!

You can see from the photos that we're far from the madding crowd and pretty isolated from everything except the weather. Despite the vagaries of the wind over the past few days everything has remained in place and we've had surprisingly little rain (so far). Gunner's water bucket froze over two nights ago but the wind has since brought the temperature up a degree or two.

Passing gongoozlers have been inhaling the woodsmoke drifting from our chimney with relish and a certain amount of envy too. One gentleman asked if he could take some home in a bottle! Anyone who grew up around an open fire will know exactly what he meant and understand just how that simple aroma can evoke a deep feeling of comfort and nostalgia in many of us.

Don't forget to use the google map link in 'wilvir's current location' post to see where we are.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them - always.

Photo:
1. The approach to Union Wharf.
2. Residential moorings.
3. Wharf hireboat/timeshare fleet.
4. I've no idea what the sculpture represents! Ideas anyone?

We made our way to Union Wharf above Market Harborough today to service the boat (water, toilet etc) and top up supplies.

Rather than stay overnight on the visitor moorings we left to find a mooring out in the sticks that we'd passed by on the way in. We just love the isolation and peacefulness of the 'cut' and the opportunity to be on our own and really appreciate our surroundings. The weather was kind to us today too with only a couple of showers while we were moored at the wharf.

Photo:
1. Two little ducks!
2. Reed mace fringed towpath.
3. Our sun-bathed mooring.
4. Foxton dusk.

Well, the weekend brought the lower temperatures we ought to expect this time of year after the unusually warm air of the previous week.

Today we are in the grips of a wind driven deluge so we delayed making our way to Market Harborough until tomorrow.

Photo:
1. A leafy Foxton lane.
2. Kingfisher territory.
3. My roving setup (minus the tree limb).
4. A grey old day!

With the passing of the Autumn equinox fewer and fewer boats leave their moorings as the longer nights draw in and the cosy warmth of a fire becomes a necessity.

This life of ours really let's us live the seasons and to experience the vagaries of the English weather. I love this time of year too as the countryside bares its soul in preparation for winter. There's nothing like walking out across open fields and damp woodland, snug and dry in sturdy boots without a care for anything other than being dressed appropriately.

The past two nights has seen the wind get up enough to rattle everything stowed on the roof, but no harm done. It has also rained on and off over the last couple of days, although not enough to deter us from going out. I even took the opportunity to walk a couple of miles to a local garage for 10 litres of petrol to top up our supply for the genny.

Today I made a replacement cover to keep the weather out of the stern when the doors are open with the genny running. It works a treat and is something I dreamt up a couple of years back.

Over the past few days we've had Kingfishers boldly demonstrating their skills from the various vantage points in the hedgerow along the canal. Buzzards have been circling above us in the weak thermals too. The pheasants have wisely kept their heads down so as not to get caught in the open and only made fleeting dashes for better cover. Rabbits are becoming a lot more wary too as their ground cover disappears. Gunner has me waiting interminably long minutes as he stalks them from afar in the hope of getting close enough to run them down and impress me.

Fishing has proved a challenge trying to seek out the better roach specimens this time of year, with the best so far being one of 1lb 2oz.

Guess what? Its raining. I hope it doesn't put too much of a damper on Guy Fawkes night. I still remember our garden Bonfire back in the 60s as one of the biggest in the neighbourhood with jacket potatoes and corn on the cob sizzling away in their foil wraps. The fireworks seemed to go on forever with Catherine Wheels, Roman Candles and Rockets being the best of the bunch in those days. Sparklers were particularly fierce and had to be held by fingertips at arms length. Even so you always got a white hot spark somewhere on your skin or clothing. A jobsworth trying to spoil the fun in those days would have ended up in the gutter. Dad took great pride in ensuring everyone enjoyed themselves and we certainly did.

Emma, Wayne and the girls arrived yesterday to spend a couple of days with us at Foxton, it's great to have them come and spend some time with us.

Photo:
1. Jo the Coalwoman and Keith depart aboard their coal carrier narrowboat 'HADAR' after dropping off a supply of coal. Great service!

Just before leaving Crack's Hill this morning, working narrowboat 'HADAR' happened to pass by crewed by 'jo the coalwoman' and her other half Keith (www.hadar.org.uk).

We bought 5x25kg sacks of coal to keep us going for a while and were pleased to learn that they'll be plying their trade on the Grand Union Canal below Foxton, which is where we plan to over-winter as there are few stoppages. These commercial carriers are the lifeblood of the canals for us liveaboards needing supplies over the winter months so it was great to meet our local supplier.