June weekend: Day 3

There was rain forecast overnight, but we didn’t hear any until about 7am, and even then it wasn’t much.  It was much more cloudy though.  We had a cooked breakfast, then set to using some Bullet Colour Restorer on the towpath side of the boat.  The cooler and cloudier conditions were ideal.  The side (which is the better one anyway) does look better, but the product wasn’t the miracle cure it makes out to be.  It was about 10.45 when we set off; Adrian brought the boat while I walked the mile or so to the locks.

I had the bottom lock ready and open when Adrian came round the corner, and there were a couple of volunteer lock keepers on duty so we made rapid progress.  We hadn’t seen any moving boats all morning, and the lockies said they’d had two up before us, but nothing going down.

At the top of the locks, we started meeting boats, first a widebeam, then a whole load of narrowboats; we probably saw more boats in this pound than the rest of the weekend put together!  We went through Old Linslade and past the Globe pub, and got to Leighton Lock.  There was a boat to come down, so Adrian went up to help.  The lady said there was no room on the shopping moorings by Tesco.  Then a second boat came along and joined them in the lock, and they said they’d just come from those moorings, so we would find a space.  Once they were down it was our turn to go up.

When we got to the 2 hour shopping moorings (where there’s space for up to four boats) the whole length was free.  We moored up, had lunch, and then walked into town, where the Saturday market was in the main street.  The weather had also begun to cheer up, and was now much better than forecast.

Adrian has been really suffering with his hayfever, and our surgery said he should get something stronger over the counter from a pharmacist.  We did that in Boot’s in town, then came back via Tesco.  Then we went and turned around just through the bridge and started re-tracing our steps.  It takes a while to get to the lock, because there are permanent moorings, then the Wyvern Shipping hire base.

Only one lot of holiday makers were being shown a boat, as far as we could see, but there appeared to be a family having Buck’s Fizz on the terrace of the holiday cottage.  Wyvern appears to be reducing the size of the fleet, as two boats are up for sale, at what I thought was quite an ambitious £38,000 each. After our visit of a few hours to Bedfordshire, we crossed back into Bucks, aiming for a spot before Bridge 109 that we like.  There are only three or four spots here, and this morning three of them were taken — but now one was vacant so we pulled in.  

It’s probably the third best as it’s on a bit of a curve; the plan had been to tackle the other side of the boat, but with most of the length a good foot from the bank, we thought the possibility of a mishap was too high so it’s not getting done!  We have a couple more days!

8 miles, 5 locks.  (28 miles, 8 locks)

Spring Cruise: Day 10

Finally free to leave, we slipped away from Aylesbury Basin at 7.30 — making our way steadily up the Arm.

At the staircase locks at the top, there is still a problem with the paddle between the two locks.  When we arrived, there was almost no water at all in the top lock, and as I filled it, the bottom lock also began to fill.  We made it to the junction after four and a half hours.

Having climbed 16 locks, we then began to make our way down the other side of the hill.  At the two Marsworth locks, an uphill boat didn’t notice that I’d lifted some paddles to fill the bottom lock, so we had to wait while they pinched our lock and came up.

There were a few widebeams on the move, including one at the top Ivinghoe lock.

Here we had caught up with a single-hander called Bob the Welder.  He has a little welding workshop at the back of his boat, and has made his gear lever from chain.  We stayed with him until Grove Lock, with the locks all in our favour.

Through Leighton Buzzard there was a downpour which lasted all through the town.  A couple of boats were just going down the lock, but at least by then the rain had stopped.  We carried on to Bridge 109, a favourite spot.  There are a few boats here, but we have tucked onto the end of the piling.  It was 5.30 by the time we stopped, so a ten hour day — partly because the forecast for tomorrow is very poor.

17 miles, 28 locks.  (56 miles, 70 locks)

New Year’s Cruise: Day 5

It rained quite heavily during the night and there was another brief shower while we had breakfast, but it soon dried up and we set off at 9.20.  It was pretty grey and chilly.  Immediately after the first bridge we were interested to see how the building site had come on since we were last here at Easter; Campbell Park Marina is now pretty much full.

We plodded through Milton Keynes.  It’s pretty slow going because of all the moored boats.  I began to estimate how long we could go at a stretch without having to slow down to pass a moored boat — and I reckon it was no longer than two minutes.  I came over all Brenda from Bristol each time we turned a corner to find more boats sat there.

At Fenny Lock the gates were open but we still had to stop first because the bridge needed swinging out of the way.  Gradually the sky behind us was clearing, and by the time we got to Stoke Hammond Lock the sun was out.  We continued to the water point below the Three Locks, where we filled the tank while having lunch, which was the left over of last night’s chilli on toast.

The Soulbury Three Locks either have masses of water or not enough.  Today was not enough.  A boat had gone up before us, and a lady who’d helped them and was returning to her car said it had taken them ages because the pounds were so low.  I walked up the flight emptying locks, and then ran some water through the top lock into the pound below.  I feel sure there must be a leak in that pound, because the level seemed to drop very quickly.

The Jackdaw Pound, above the locks, is really nice, and looked particularly good in the sunshine.

We carried on to the winding hole at Old Linslade, turned around, and returned to a favourite spot by Bridge 109.  We have a nice view out of the galley window — although the West Coast Main Line is right there.  We have been watching all the former Virgin trains going by, now naked of livery, but have also seen a couple in Avanti West Coast colours.

10 miles, 5 locks.  (29 miles, 6 locks)

May Bank Holiday Weekend: Day 2

We woke to another day with not a cloud in the sky.  We had breakfast and set off at 8.15 for the rest of the long lock-free section through Milton Keynes.  It really is very attractive, particularly on a nice day.

There were a number of changes to interest us along the way.  The former railway bridge that’s now a footpath by the Black Horse pub is under scaffolding.  There’s a huge building site just last Bridge 82, with a new little mooring basin.  And there are lots of new houses just past Fenny Stratford Lock.

We’d been following another boat for the few miles to Fenny, so had hopes of sharing the lock.  However, it turned out there was a boat in front of them, so they went through together.

It’s such a small rise that it didn’t take long before it was our turn, and the first boat had gone onto the water point, so they swung the bridge back for us.  We caught up with the other boat at Stoke Hammond lock, where a boat was just coming out so we could both go straight in.  Then we also did the Soulbury Three Locks together.  The pub was very busy, and there was a barbecue and hog roast under way out on the side of the bottom lock.

There was a single boat going up ahead of us, and the pounds between the locks were very short of water.  I ran a bit down from the top while that lock was emptying.  We continued along to the Old Linslade winding hole, having lunch on the way, and turned around.  We returned to a favourite spot just south of Bridge 109; it was around 2pm.  It’s very warm; Adrian has had a little nap, and when it’s a little cooler we need to put some sealant round the rear porthole that’s now on the towpath side, as it’s clearly letting in water.

13 miles, 5 locks.  (18 miles, 6 locks)

Bank Holiday Weekend: Day 2

We had a very quiet night at Campbell Park at Milton Keynes, but as we had trouble getting the fire going to any great extent last night, the boat was pretty chilly by this morning. We had porridge for breakfast, and set off at a little after 8.30. We had only about half a bag of coal on board, so were hoping to come across a fuel boat. Sure enough, a bit further through MK we found Gary on Ascot selling diesel to a moored boat; we went alongside too, and bought a bag of coal. A Wyvern hire boat coming the other way seemed a bit confused about what was going on.

As we went through Simpson a swan got up from her nest and started turning her eggs. The Canada geese at Fenny Stratford were a step ahead as they had lots of fluffy yellow goslings.

At Fenny we were looking out for Jaq on Valerie. There was a Briar Rose sized space right behind so we pulled in and knocked on the boat a couple of times; there was no answer, so we decided we'd carry on a try to meet up again when we're on our way back on Monday. Two boats were coming out of Fenny Lock so they left the gates open and the bridge swung put of the way for us. No sooner were we in the lock than Jaq appeared on her way back from the shops. We had a nice chat, then she waited for us to go through the lock and swing the bridge back. Here she is on the left, sitting outside the pub.

We swapped with boats coming down at Stoke Hammond lock, then at the Three Locks at Soulbury a couple of boats had just come down so the bottom lock was in our favour. We had to turn the other two, though.

At the top, it wasn't entirely clear what was going on, as there was a Wyvern boat on the lock landing but no-one making any sign of working the lock. By the time we'd come up, two more boats had arrived, one pulling alongside the Wyvern as it to make a point -- and the Wyvern crew were having lunch on the well deck!

I was aiming for a favourite mooring spot just through Bridge 109, and amazingly (considering how many moored boats there are in these parts) the whole area was free. We moored up at about 1pm, had the rest of last night's lasagne for lunch, and decided we wouldn't be going any further today. Adrian, who's been working lots of hours again, even went for an afternoon nap. Later, we did a circular walk, going across Bridge 109 and the railway line, picking up the Cross Bucks Way across some fields to Bridge 110, and back along the tow path.

9 miles, 5 locks. (17 miles, 6 locks)

London-bound: Day 2

We had more very familiar waters to travel today -- the long plod through Milton Keynes.  The good thing was that it wasn't raining.  At Lionhearts Cruising Club, a man on a very smart looking boat called over that he read the blog and the boat tests, so hello to him.  Then at Campbell Park, a bow I recognised came into view, moored up just before Bridge 82.  It was Dolce Far Niente, and a quick toot of the horn brough Stephen and Jayne out, and an invitation to stop.  I could see there were quite a few boats through the bridge, so rather than going on and looking for somewhere to stop, moored up alongside Dolce, the two boats nose to tail.

We must have spent the best part of a couple of hours with Stephen and Jayne, and it was great to see the, and catch up on their news and plans.

Setting off again, we had lunch on the move, as it started to rain.  At times it was pretty heavy, nd breezy with it.  By Fenny Stratford Lock it was looking much brighter, and the sun came out for a while.  By Stoke Hammond Lovk it was raining again.

We arrived at the bottom of the Soulbury Three Locks in pouring rain, and a lock keeper came and told us he was running water down, and we'd have to wait half an hour or so.  It wasn't a surprise, as the pound was very short of water -- a good 18 inches down at least.  Before we'd set off, the sun was out and the temperature had shot up.  Also, it turned out that the Canadian lady on the widebeam ahead of us was Bettie Boo from the Canal World Forum.

When we were given the go ahead to go up the locks, we followed the widebeam.  There were also boats coming down, and we crossed with pairs of boats in each pound.

At the top more boats were arriving to go down, so we could leave the gate open.  We carried on to a spot we like just through Bridge 109.  The piling was free, so we moored up, now in bright sunshine.  It really can't make up its mind today, because the black clouds overhead now suggest we might get more showers.

15 miles, 5 locks.  (18 miles, 6 locks)

Bank Holiday Weekend - Day 1

We both came up to the boat yesterday -- Adrian in the afternoon, doing some food shopping on the way, and me after work, arriving about 11.30pm.  This morning was sunny, but very chilly.  We were up pretty early, and tried to decide which way to go.  Last time out we headed south, and next time we'll be going north to the Crick show.  So we settled on going south.

We did the familiar drop down Cosgrove Lock to the sump pound, then plodded through Wolverton, New Bradwell (where a little bird hitched a ride for a couple of hundred metres), Great Linford, and Milton Keynes.  There was a little fair set up at Campbell Park.  We saw Tacet and waved, then a couple of boats along a lady said she read the blog - so hello to Windsor Castle.

We had lunch on the move just before Fenny Compton Stratford Lock.  At the lock, the pub garden was full of people enjoying the sunshine, some of whom helped with the gates.  We planned to stop for diesel at Willowbridge, but there were already two boats on the diesel point, apparently waiting for something, so we carried on.  Adrian had been bemoaning the fact that he'd forgotten to buy any eggs yesterday, so was delighted to find some for sale at Stoke Hammond Lock.  The lady in the garden said they'd been laid this morning.  Three are brown, and three white.

As we arrived at the bottom of the Soulbury Three, a boat was just about to come off the water point, so we shared the locks.  It turned out to be Tranquility, a shared boat, some of whose owners keep a blog.  I went ahead to set the lock above, which meant Adrian and the other steerer could do some synchronised boating.  By now, it was really quite warm.

We had a mooring in mind -- by Bridge 109, where we stopped for a night on our last trip.  It's quieter than usual because there are no Virgin trains, thanks to engineering works at Euston.  We moored just in front of a butty, which I think is called Beverley, and which is normally with the diesel boat, Ascot.  Sure enough, after we'd been here a little while, Ascot returned -- so we flagged him down, filled up with diesel, and got a bag of coal.

17 miles, 6 locks.

Spring cruise - Day 8

It was a bit cloudy and cool first thing, but I refused to put a coat on!  We set off at about 8.15, with me walking along to set the lock.  Along the pound below I saw a mink on the offside, and then a heron catch a decent size fish, which it struggled with for a while before swallowing it whole.  The camera was on full zoom, so it's not the best photo.

At Church Lock, Adrian decided that his broken shoulder was now feeling good enough that he could try to work the lock - the first he's done on this trip.  He managed it fine; I thought lifting the paddles might be a bit painful, but he said it was pulling the gates that felt worse.  He then walked to Grove Lock and worked that too.

At about 10 o'clock we moored up outside Tesco in Leighton Buzzard to do a bit of shopping.  Less than an hour later we were on our way again, and tackling Leighton Lock.  By now the sun was coming out, and the temperature was rising, making it another lovely day.  

We moored up near the Globe pub as we were expecting guests for lunch.  Christine was a colleague of mine, who ruled our lives by being in charge of the newsroom rota.  She retired early a couple of years ago, but in the past year has been quite ill.  It was great to see her looking so well today, and hear about her plans for numerous holidays over the coming year.  Her husband, Jim, is also very amusing, with a great dry sense of humour.  They'd never been on board a narrowboat before, so got the full tour.  There was a mother duck and six ducklings who swam up and down several times looking endearing.

After a good long lunch on board, Christine and Jim headed home and we set off again.  I had a rough target of the top of the Soulbury Locks, but also thought that if I saw a nice spot I'd stop.  Such a spot presented itself just before Bridge 109.  We have a view across fields to the railway line, but we quite like watching the trains.  It seems odd to see our local Southern trains this far north, mixed in with the London Midlands and the Virgins.  It's really sunny and warm now, and we've been passed by what seems like dozens of Wyvern Shipping hire boats.  The other boat moored here is Miss Matty, with which we shared Cosgrove Lock at this time last week.

6 miles, 4 locks.  (56 miles, 54 locks)