Autumn Cruise: Day 1

I really like the mooring by Stantonbury Bridge.  I heard an owl hooting last night.  This morning was quite chilly, so I had porridge for breakfast, then went out for a long walk.  I started off through Stanton Low park, where there are the ruins of a church.

I crossed the park and came up on the towpath near the Black Horse moorings, and continued along to the former railway bridge which we’ve been under many times but never over.  It’s now a walking and cycle path, and I was surprised how non-overgrown it was up there.

I walked through the edge of the newish housing development and out into the other half of Stanton Low park, taking in a visit to Asda, to get a few things that there’s now room for in the fridge.  By this time the sun had come out and I wished I hadn’t worn a jacket but had taken a hat.  Back at the boat is started a chilli for dinner, then had a chat with the owner of Ascot and Beverley (who’s no longer trading as a fuel boat), and then set off about 12.15.  I plodded along these familiar waters, which are pretty full of boats these days.  I did like the name of one particular widebeam though.

At Cosgrove lock, I’d spotted a Wyvern boat ahead of me and hoped they might wait.  But a boat came down the lock and they went straight in.  By the time I got there they were almost ready to leave.  I turned the lock, and as I did so noticed another boat coming along, so I went in, pushed over to the other side and waited for them.  As we were getting ready to leave, a boat was coming to go down, which made things easier.

I pulled into our marina — making use of the fact that a double space next to us was unoccupied — and tied up just with the centre line.  I got the hosepipe out and started filling the tank, and took some rubbish up to the bins, at which point I saw Adrian’s car pulling up to the gates.  Once he was on board with his stuff, and the tank was full, we set off again — we’d been in the marina about 20 minutes.

With our holiday now properly started, we’ve come along to the moorings below Stoke Bruerne locks, where it’s quite busy.  It’s odd, because places en route which are normally full of boats have been almost empty.

10 miles, 1 lock.  (17 miles, 2 locks)