Kings of the Agility Course by Daquiri

Gosh we were up to date with our blog so we’ve left it a week & now we have so much to tell you… that’s how rock n roll me & Cosmo are!

Well after we’d had our shopping delivered by Elvis (I kid you not that was the delivery drivers name on the text) we set off fully laden with bags of dog food for us & cider for mum oh & a bit of food for her!

We tootled up a couple of locks because mum wanted to moor near Waltham Abbey & moored above Waltham Town Lock. But mum found something even better! We’d only gone & moored right next to a white water rafting centre. Mum took us for walkies round the centre but we were not keen on going near that water it was way too fast moving. Cosmo was pulling at the extent of his lead the whole time to get away from it in case mum tried to get him in for a swim. As if that’s not bad enough mum has only gone & booked herself in for scarey hydrospeeding in July. She can well & truly count us out of that malarkey! Here’s us not looking keen at all!

The next day mum had a wander round Waltham Cross & the abbey gardens & was underwhelmed by it. She also set off to the train station & deemed it too far away so we released anchor & were off again like the wandering nomads we are.

We landed at Cheshunt after a bit of manoeuvring round a floating shed with an outboard!

Now Cheshunt we did like! It had loads of amazing walkies with lots of wooden sculpture things great for cocking your leg on, lots of water to swim in, very very near a train station & best of all a Doggie agility course. Here’s some of the wooden sculpture trail & a view across the lake next to our boat.

Mum made the most of being near the train station & went into London THREE times leaving us home alone! So badly treated we are.

She firstly met up with friends Olly & Jackie & then went to the theatre to see Everybody’s Talking About Jamie which she loved because it was based in Sheffield

Then she met up with Helen Marie (who apparently has treats for us next time she sees mum yay) to have a posh French dinner & see the Tina Turner musical

Then she also went off to see Dom & Jane & Fran on the Spice underground postal train trip.

But it wasn’t all bad as Auntie Joy came to visit & took us on walkies before heading off on a big sailing ship.

But the best day was Sunday. Mum got back (late after stupidly getting off the train at Walthamstow instead of Cheshunt as she forgot where we are). Two people had just arrived hoping to meet US so it was very lucky mum had just got back. So mum suggested that us & our new pals Betsy & Treve all went to the Doggie agility course. We did ever so well on it. There’s quite a few different obstacles & we were very brave attempting them.

The first one is jump along. We only did the little fences. Here’s me in action looking like I’m doing a nose dive.

Next was the woody weave. We were good at that for about the first 4 poles then we gave up.

But the next one was our favourite & we were really good at it

Through the hoop we weren’t keen on but we did it eventually under duress

And the log walk we were quite good at but we sometimes jumped off the end too soon.

After all that good behaviour we had lots of rely ploys, fighting & conga dancing to make up for it! We said farewell to our new friends I do hope they come & visit us again especially if we get to do agility courses next time. We didn’t half sleep well that night.

Monday we went on our last walkies round Cheshunt as we set off again edging ever closer to Ware. We’re now moored near Broxbourne. It’s not as nice as Cheshunt but we have already found a lake & had a paddle in that which is good as it’s been very hot today.

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Out on the River Lea by Cosmo

We had a sunny weekend trading at Hackney Marshes but we weren’t very busy. Lots of people stopping & looking but not many buying sadly.

Mum decided to stay here for the rest of the week as it’s easy links transportwise & it is such a fabulous walkies place. Mums boss Dom is back from his Everest climb so she’s been talking to her laptop a lot. She calls its Skyping we think she’s going mad!

Mum loves the high street here at Homerton. She says it has loads of bohemian shops up there. We now have proof that she’s going mad as one day she came back pleased as lunch with herself as she’d bought 3 different colour wigs. We do think she’s finally lost the plot!

On Wednesday she went off on the canal museum summer party which was a trip by boat round the Olympic Park. Although she had cruised some of it this time she got to go through Carpenters Lock. She took Heather as her guest & they had a stroll round the Olympic Park first where they met a little Doggie whose tail & ears matched mums hair. Oh please God do not let that give her any ideas. Mum came home happy after free wine & buffet but her feet were sore as she’d done over 23000 steps!

On Friday mum went out to meet Auntie Jan & they explored Portobello Market. She said there were masses of stalls & she had Thai street food for lunch.

Then they went back to Little Venice to catch up with Uncle Toastie, Jules & Pete. It was Uncle Toasties birthday so they were sitting out drinking bottles of pink fizz all trying mums wig on. Honestly glad we weren’t there our humans can be so embarrassing!

Mum then caught the tube back walked the 37 mins back to the boat, took us for walkies then disappeared out for drinks with some of the London boatladies. Today she racked up 25990 steps & definitely has sore paws!

Saturday we had to move as naughty mummy has had a text from CRT saying she’s in a no mooring zone. Not that there’s any notices & there’s all other boats around none of which had moved when we left! So we bid farewell to out lovely little marshes mooring & set sail for the river lea.

It was a beautiful day so we meandered north avoiding some very out of control rowers. The first few locks were mechanised & mum soon got the hang of them. There was a fair bit of weed in the water so mum had to keep doing that putting the boat into reverse thing to shake the weed off the prop. It was very nice to see countryside again.

At Alfie’s lock there was a bit of a queue so we had to wait for 2 boats to firstly go up then a clapped out cruiser came down with 2 chaps who just bought it. They didn’t have a clue what they were doing so mum had to instruct them as she ran up when she initially saw them come in the lock & tie the boat up tight with a massive granny lock then open the top paddles without shutting the top gates!

By the time they’d descended Michael Pinnock had arrived on the fuel boat so mum shared the lock with him. We then tootled onwards firstly following Michael then after filling up with water at Ponders End progressed onwards. 

There are now plenty of places to moor so that’s less stressful. We progressed to just above Enfield lock when we spotted a mooring right by the road. Normally that isn’t so attractive for us but we’re on our last bag of dog food so mum wanted to do an internet shopping delivery so this looked perfect. We tied up about 6.30pm & mum managed to get an order in for the next day. That’s a relief as we absolutely can’t run out of dog food!

Although we’re right by the road just through the bridge we discovered some lovely walkies round Ramsey Marsh. It’s another beautiful day up here on the River Lea a proper Doggie paradise.

Golden Boyz does the Olympics by Daquiri

We had a nice time at Victoria Park with lots of walkies. It was a very convenient mooring & we got lots of visitors Janet, Alan, a surprise from Rowan & Ian and auntie Sally came. She walked past the boat in the park but Cosmo spotted her straightaway & we were both on our hind legs at the railings. Then Cosmo sat waiting for her coming up the towpath staring intently. We were allowed to sit outside whilst mummy was trading but one time a bike nearly ran over my nose so I leapt up & barked at the cyclist. Shame she didn’t fall in the Cut nasty lady!

It was hammering down Tuesday so we didn’t move but Sue on The Herb Boat arrived next to mum all drenched. Her & mum had coffee & bacon butties & caught up on all the news.

Wednesday we set off on an adventure. First we had to turn round then down Old Ford lock which had  a volunteer on then down the 3 Duckets Cut ones which didn’t have a volunteer on, were all set against us with gates wide open. Par the course for London. Then we turned right. I was a bit worried we were off on that bumpy Thames again but luckily we weren’t phew! We went down the other mechanised Old Ford Lock & sharp left into the Olympic Park. You can cruise round the Olympic Park but you can’t stop so cruise round it we did.

We passed Carpenters lock, West Ham football stadium & right under arcellor Mittel thingy & under a couple of very very low bridges before popping out back on the Limehouse Cut.

Back up Old Ford lock again! We wanted water but mum couldn’t find the tap so we cruised on & luckily fairly soon found a tap that wasn’t marked on our book. Then just through the next bridge a boat was reversing off the exact mooring we were hoping to get so mum was straight on there. It’s on bollards & as there’s more rain due we’ll be safer if the current picks up.

Its a fabulous spot for us with loads of places for walkies Hackney Marshes & the filter beds & Walthamstow marshes. Mum took us exploring it all the next day. We walked miles & miles & miles! We found a huge picnic table which I scoured underneath for food. Can you spot me in the photo?

This is Cosmo flaked out only halfway round!

Apparently we’re staying here this weekend to trade as all the way up on our walkies it was nose to tail boats so mum reckons she’s best off where she is. Faberooni we should get loads of nice walkies then.

Golden Boyz goes East by Cosmo

After mum had done a mornings work we left Limehouse hoping to travel the short distance to Three Mills but the only bankside mooring free had a really high bank so we continued on past the Olympic Park & turned left onto the Hertford Union canal

Just as we got to the lock there was a boat coming down it was only Uncle Toastie! He was headed for Three Mills so we decided to head back with him as he’d help get us off. Unfortunately it was just not quite wide enough for mum to turn so she had to reverse back to the junction. We got moored at Three Mills with Toastie alongside of us & we had to do a massive leap to get off & on but we got quite good at it.

Not long after we’d moored up mum had to dash off for a Health & Safety session at the canal museum. On her way back she did a big stock up on food from Tesco’s.

The next morning we were up & off early to try & get a spot at Victoria Park. We both got breasted up near the canal gate at the park which is a pretty good spot. But that’s where my problems began. I am terrified of getting across the backs of boats. Daquiri is really good at it he just walks across no fuss but I hate it. I spend ages trembling & building up to it then leap at it & my paws slip so sometimes my back legs don’t make it. I did it a couple of times with a huge amount of fuss so luckily the boat on the inside agreed to swap as I was being such a wuss. Mum said she’d do it the next day. We went off for a nice walk round the lovely Victoria Park. It’s huge & really busy & there’s a spot where we can have a dip in the water.

The next morning I point blank refused to get off the boat even with Uncle Toastie helping so the boats had to be swapped  round before I could go out. I tell you I had my legs well crossed!

Mum spent most of the rest of the week working & we got lots of nice walkies. One day we saw a squirrel scampering across ahead of us & up the tree. We charged towards the tree & while we were looking up he fell out of a branch & landed on my back. I’ve never seen a squirrel move so fast as he did a triple back flip somersault landed on the ground & shot up the next tree before I’d noticed. He was some mad kamikaze squirrel!

On the Friday mum took the day off & enjoyed herself visiting the Weird Victor Wynd Museum …

And The Museum of Childhood …

And Camden Market which mum loved. She also caught up with Janet & Alan there who are down in London fur the weekend. They’re coming to visit us on Sunday.

When mum got back Uncle Toastie was alongside us so I enjoyed peering through his porthole while he was cooking

Mum was trading Saturday. It was really really hot. At night her & Uncle Toastie sat out drinking a bottle of wine but Daquiri knocked Uncle Toasties glass over twice with his tail so they didn’t get so much of the wine. We went to bed all tired but hardly got any sleep as there was a massive storm with dead scarey lightning & thunder & we hated it. Even Daquiri was up panicking & he’s not normally bothered. Today we’re just chilling until Janet & Alan arrive saving our energy so we can leap all over them!

 

On the Crest of a Wave by Daquiri

 

 

We knew it! We knew something was afoot yesterday. Mum had us up & out early then scarey things started happening with lifejackets, nav lights, anchors & VHF radios. OMG I think we’re going out to sea. Here’s mum all ready to set off we’re hiding inside.

Apparently we’re going on a tidal cruise. Get this only out through the Blooming Thames Barrier. And apparently we’ve had to take out extra boat insurance for this as normally we’re not covered seaward of the Barrier. Gulp we’re going SEAWARD!!!!

The Cruise has been organised by the marvellous St Pancras Crusing Club & we’are part of a convoy of ten boats. So without further ado we were in batch two of three in Limehouse lock. Three boats in together lowered down onto the River Thames & it was full steam ahead and out onto the river. Mum was very excited. We were not! We hung a left & cruised past the O2 & the cutty sark.

Next came the exciting bit as we approached the barrier the front boat radioed in to find which span we were to go through. This became very important as a huge dredger ship thing came up the right hand side of us & through the next span. It dwarfed us. Here’s us approaching the barrier & just past it and the map of our route.

After all that excitement we had we had a relatively gentle cruise to St Margaretness where we hovered waiting for the tide to turn. Then we retraced our path back, past Limehouse lock & many sights of London. There was a lot of boat traffic here & our narrowboat felt very little bobbing around in the wake of some of the bigger faster vessels. We were not happy with all the up & down & were on the settee clinging on for our lives! I can’t believe mum did this to us.

We popped above board to check what was going on but didn’t like the look of it at all so ran inside.

But unfortunately things were about to get worse. The boat in front of us lost power so as per our safety briefing we went to go alongside. We git the stern ropes attached but weren’t quick enough with the bow ropes & we were being taken down river in a V shape heading forthe pillar of Vauxhall bridge. Luckily the guys on the powerless boat let us loose they went through the arch sideways safely but we hit it head on at speed. It was a massive bang & everything fell out if the cupboards & all the boxes of Doggie stock were all over the floor. Although it was horrendous hitting the bridge so fast the fender took a lot of the impact & it was much better than swiping it sideways. We watched helpless as the other boat carried on down river until it got halted sideways on one of the enormous buoys. By this time one of the more experienced boats from the back was also com8ng across to help so they waved us on & they stayed to help with the rescue when the PLA turned up. All crew of all boats were safe & the other boat was towed to Brentford where it’s engine was fixed. For  some reason mum never got any photos of all this!

After all the panic we were soon on much calmer waters heading past Brentford & Richmond to Teddington our destination for the night. Boy we’re we glad to see dry land & jump off for cockaleggies!

Mum & auntie Heather went off to the pub for tea & we fell asleep still swaying.

Just as we felt we’d fallen asleep after mum gut back from the oh. The alarm clock was going. 5am it was!  What sort of time is that for making is go out for walkies. This is us not at all happy about it. And if that’s not bad enough we’re only going back on that stupid river again. All I can say is there’d better be no crashes today!

We assumed brace positions inside & we were off & out through Teddington lock. It was a much smoother cruise with a lot less traffic & hence wash on the way back.

The only hairy bit was the turn into Limehouse Lock as we went past it then turned so we were approaching it slowly against the current. Mum had to give it loads of welly to get round the corner but she did really well & didn’t crash. We moored back up on the pontoon & were soon off on walkies & rolling all over Auntie Heather in the park!

Oh how glad we were to see dry land. Not sure we’ll be doing that tidal stuff again. Mum loved it though & is muttering about wanting to go up past Teddington on the River Thames next. Well she can flipping well go on her own. Me & Cosmo are going on strike!

Mum says we have to thank some prople firstly auntie Heather for being our experienced crew member helping mum, secondly all our fellow mad intrepid Thames Tidalway cruisers for their companionship & camaraderie & thirdly to Andrew & Frances the cruise organisers for giving us such a wonderful exciting opportunity.

Pah! Just so long as we stick to sedate canals from now on.

Yours Cosmo the Wuss & Daquiri the Wimp!!

Golden Boyz travels through central London by Cosmo

Moving day finally came & we bade farewell to our little park. The first challenge though was extracting ourself from under the widebeam who had rudely moored up to us at midnight without an apology. It’s the norm down here to breast up but arriving at midnight waking us all up & then not coming to apologise or introduce yourself is just ignorant. This left mum with the job of somehow getting our boat out from under this one. Luckily auntie Joy arrived to help. After much shuffling & ropework all to an audience of tourists we were free! Here’s a photo of us after we’d escaped the offending widebeam!

It was a beautiful sunny day & an exciting cruise route. We passed Regents Zoo & onto the famous Camden lock which we were relieved to see had a CRT volunteer on. In fact the lovely volunteer helped us through the next 3 Locks. There were hundreds of gongoozlers at Camden lock. Mum had to stop below the lock to remove a somewhat kinky piece of clothing from her propellor!

We the cruised onwards where we met up with Auntie Heather at St Pancras cruising club. As it was all fenced in we were allowed to run around & play in the garden which was great fun but thirsty work.

Then we were back onboard & down the lock. Then great excitement we passed uncle Toastie at Kings Cross. We just went round the corner & moored up at the canal museum where mum does her tunnel trips from. Mum was very excited as she got electricity & water. Her & auntie joy sneaked off for an ice cream at uncle Toasties & came back with lots of shopping. We were taken out for walkies in a tiny Park then they went out for a night at the local supermarket. Very rock n roll!

The next day we were up & off early after our walkies in the tiny park. We picked up auntie Heather & went through Islington tunnel. Luckily mum didn’t bore us with her tunnel spiel! Then we cruised past Victoria Park & down to Limehouse. Luckily as there were 3 of us we were able to get off the boat & with auntie Heather driving we walked all the way to Limehouse from Victoria Park that made up for the tiny Park this morning.

Limehouse was full of really big boats. We breasted up against another boat who had an 12 year old curly haired retriever called Lizzie onboard. Mum auntie Joy & auntie Heather went off to explore & auntie Joy caught the tube home. Mum & auntie Heather we’re very excited about a lovely yurt they found. When they returned we were dead pleased as they found another fenced in park nearby which we went to with Lizzie.

After walkies mum & auntie Heather disappeared for a safety briefing. That’s sounds ominous! Not sure we like the sound of that. Hope we’re not going out to sea!

Reunions, 50th birthdays, doggie sitters & London canal museum by Daquiri

We enjoyed our mooring at Little Venice with our fenced in Park area. We were especially pleased as we actually managed to make a cunning daring escape from it… more about that later.

Mum was busy in the week prepping for her new summer role as a volunteer tunnel trip guide through Islington tunnel. Anyway T day dawned (tunnel day!) & off she trotted. She wasn’t away too long & came back really happy so it must have gone well. She was particularly pleased that Carlo the cormorant landed right by the boat during one trip.

The next day strange things started happening. Firstly mum started cleaning the boat including our dishes! And secondly she started packing things into a bag. Then just after lunch a nice man called Joao arrived who was to be our doggie sitter for the weekend with his partner Sarah. This turned out to be a very good arrangement as we were made a lot of fuss of & got to go walkies in the very big Regents Park. Sunday night mum was back so we made a right fuss of her. Apparently she’d been back to Sheffield & seen loads of our friends like Auntie Gill, Auntie Sally, Uncle Alan & one of our best pals Caitlin who in all accounts is quite grown up now. She went over for a big 50th party for Uncle Adrian & she also went back to her house. We only lived there two months & despite chewing its entire contents we hardly remember it. The only bit I remember is when the whole electrics went bang when Cosmo chewed the stereo cable that was funny! Here’s some photos from mums weekend

We decided in the week that we’d been far too good lately & that we needed to keep mum on her toes. One day when we were in the totally fenced off park our opportunity arose. A man opened the gate to let his big poodle come & join us & the other dogs in the park. Well we were like lightning out the gate up the park towards the dual carriageway with mum in hot pursuit & another Doggie owner fast behind her. At the road we spotted some bushes to our right wonderfully full of food rubbish. I quickly leapt the little fence & got straight in there. Wuss Cosmo was just trying to get over the fence when mum rounded the corner & caught him. She knew where I was then so she unceremoniously dragged me out of my bush feast by the scruff of my neck. We were frogmarched back past all the other dogs & not allowed back in the park. Pah! The funniest thing though was Cosmo then had an upset tummy all week but me who ate all the rubbish was fine!