Spring cruise - Day 7

We woke to another lovely sunny morning.  These moorings at Marsworth are really nice - views of fields through the trees across the canal, and views across the Buckinghamshire countryside on the towpath side.  We were in no hurry this morning, as we had an appointment at 10am.  Tim Garland from Garland Hoods was coming to measure up for a new cratch cover.  He arrived slightly ahead of schedule, and made a template with numerous markings on it.  The finished product should be ready in three or four weeks, in good time for Crick.

It was gone 11 by the time we set off.  We had a narrowboat and a widebeam in front of us, so the first couple of locks took a while, although we all helped each other.

The narrowboat stopped at Pitstone Wharf, and the widebeam crew kept the swing bridge open for us (which was good because it got stuck just like it did the other day).  At the next lock, I realised the widebeam was the one that was across the canal in the Tring Cutting the other night.  The owner said he'd really appreciated being alerted to the problem.  By the time the lock was ready for us the narrowboat, a Wyvern Shipping hire boat, had arrived, so we shared the next few locks, until we stopped for lunch below the Seabrook Locks.

The countryside round here really is very attractive, especially on a sunny day like today.  The stretch between Marsworth and Grove Lock is probably my favourite on the Grand Union.

We met a couple of boats coming up at the remaining locks of the day, then stopped just short of Slapton Lock at around 2.30pm.  We really aren't breaking any records this trip!

4 miles, 8 locks.  (54 miles, 54 locks)