Repatriation: Day 9

It appears that the mooring on the bollards at Buckby bottom lock has less noise from the M1 than further along where we normally stop.  Or maybe the wind was just in the other direction.  Anyway we had a quiet night, apart from the noise of the rain, which was quite heavy at times.  By this morning though it was dry and brightening up.  We were in no rush to leave, as we wanted a top up of diesel at Rugby Boats, and their website said they didn’t open until 10 — so I set off at 8.40.  Sure enough, we arrived just after 10, and had to wait for a few moments while another boat paid.  The diesel price was good today, at 69.9 basic per litre.  By the time we set off again, the sun was properly out.

At Heyford Fields we passed a Buckingham Canal Society crane being pushed by a tug.  There had been an early morning closure of Blisworth tunnel today to let it through.  It was followed by a procession of three boats — the lead one said he’d been behind it since Blisworth.  He wasn’t impressed.

Past Bugbrooke there was what would normally have seemed like a long fishing match — but it was nothing compared with last Sunday on the Shroppie.  There were lots of boats moored before Blisworth but only one in the village itself.  The tunnel was very foggy, and we were more than two thirds of the way through before I could see the far end.  We passed two boats inside.  The Stoke Bruerne end was buzzing with people, including to kayakers and a paddle boarder.  The towpaths were busy, and among a couple of trading boats was an off licence.  There were two boats ahead of us to go down the locks, so while we waited, Adrian went to find Kathryn, and we had a quick catch up.  It was also good to see Mike and Stuart on the trip boat, Charlie, and all the Covid precautions they are taking.

We went down the top two locks on our own, and had boats coming up at each.  One of the boats going down ahead had moored in the long pound, so we teamed up with the other one for the remaining five locks.

We moored at the bottom at about 3.30.  A bit later, Adrian’s former colleague Thelma and her partner Martyn dropped by, and we had Prosecco and crisps on the towpath in the sunshine.  As I opened the bottle, the cork flew out the side hatch, and certainly gave the local ducks something to think about.

15 miles, 7 locks.  (148 miles, 83 locks)