Spring Cruise: Day 2

Today has been like proper summer — sunshine and very warm.  We set off a little before 8.30, with an appointment to keep at Heyford Fields Marina.  We were due at 10 and got there half an hour early, just as Andy the photographer arrived by car.  We were there to do a boat test, and the conditions were perfect.  As we left, as about 12.30, Andy put his drone up again to get shots of the marina, and got some great pictures of us.

We had lunch on the move, then made a stop at Rugby Boats for diesel and an ice cream.  We were served by Matty from Old Friends, and the CanalWorld Forum.  We made another stop just through the bridge to fill the water tank and start the washing machine, mostly with washing we’d brought with us.  Setting off again I said hello to Jim Birch at the boatyard at Weedon, then saw a familiar boat heading towards us.  It was the tug, Harry, and I was all geared up to shout that we knew the previous owners when I realised that the previous owners, Vicky and Kevin Blick, we actually on board.  They’ve bought another project boat, but are delivering Harry to his new owners.  Just beyond Weedon there’s been massive progress on the new road and bridge since we were last this way in September.

When we got to the bottom of Buckby Locks we decided to go up as it’s very noisy from the M1 at the bottom.  Two boats were just about to come out of the bottom lock (including Braidbar no 88, Symphony) and there was also a boat to come down the second lock.  It wasn’t until the sixth lock, our last of the day, that we had to turn one.  We moored up on the long pound, just by the canal shop. As it’s so warm we’ve treated ourselves to a gin and tonic.  It’s Silent Pool gin from Surrey, a leaving gift from Adrian’s work.

11 miles, 6 locks.  (21 miles, 13 locks)