June weekend: Day 2

Another lovely sunny and warm day.  We’d moved Adrian’s car to the marina last night, so we didn’t have to do it this morning.  We set off at about 8.45, and were soon going across the Wolverton Aqueduct.  In Robbie Cumming’s latest series, he said the view was the best he’d seen from an aqueduct — but it later transpired he hasn’t done the Llangollen Canal so hasn’t been over the Ponty!  But the view is still pretty good.

This was the third time in two days I’d done this stretch, so any of the moored boaters who were paying attention must have wondered what we were up to.  But this time we carried on past the winding hole at New Bradwell, heading for Milton Keynes.

Our first target was the water point at Giffard Park.  There was someone on it, but there was also room for us to pull in and wait, and I made a visit to the Tesco Express to get the things I forgot yesterday.  I also got a 9v battery for the smoke alarm, which for some time now has been beeping intermittently, but only at night.  If it does it again tonight, its days are numbered.  Eventually we could water up, but the tap didn’t seem the fastest.  Earlier we passed a huge crèche of goslings, and the whole group came by while we were moored.  We then passed them again when we set off, and this is probably the best photo of them all.  We reckoned there were probably 30 in all.

We plodded on through Milton Keynes, spending quite a lot of time on tickover because of all the moored boats.  As we approached Fenny Stratford Lock, a little Sea Otter moored up if we were going up, and could they join us?  We were, and they could.

It turned out they moored at Taverners, just through the bridge from our marina, which explained why we recognised each other.  They stopped for the Elsan and rubbish, but caught us up again at Stoke Hammond lock, which needed turning.

There was a rubber glove in the water in the lock, which looked quite macabre at times.

We moored just round the corner in a spot with a nice outlook.  It’s a bit of a favourite spot round here, although it seems to have been nearly four years since we were down this way.  There’s a wide towpath, so the Cobb barbecue will be coming out this evening.

14 miles, 2 locks.  (20 miles, 3 locks)

Rediscovery Cruise: Day 22

It rained on and off pretty much all last evening, and there was more heavy rain in the night.  But by the time we set off at 8.15 is was clear and sunny, but quite chilly.  Adrian walked down to set the lock while I brought the boat.  The stretch between Slapton Lock and Church Lock looked particularly good this morning.

The pub at Grove Lock, The Grove, always looks attractive with it’s hanging baskets with narrowboat brackets.

We stopped on the water point at Leighton Buzzard to fill the tank and start some washing, and Adrian popped to Tesco.  None of that took long and we were soon on our way, passing Wyvern Shipping — looking more empty than we’ve ever seen it before.  Sometimes it can be a job to get past with hire boats triple breasted.  Today there was just one boat in, and it had only just arrived back.  The reports of hire fleets being booked solid appear to be true.

We’ve only seen two Wyvern boats further south, so we expected to see plenty passing us today — and we have done.  A boat was just coming out of Leighton Lock meaning we could go straight in.  At the Three Locks at Soulbury a boat was just coming up the top lock, and a volunteer lock keeper went to re-open the middle one for us.  We were joined by another boat going down, and with a boat also coming up the bottom lock we were down in no time.

We moored at lunchtime at a favourite spot at Stoke Hammond.  We were glad to get inside, because the wind had got up and it had a real chill to it.  This afternoon I have sorted a problem which manifested itself on Day 1 of the trip.  I noticed in Blisworth Tunnel that our red nav light wasn’t working; it turned out that the back plate had split and the whole thing was hanging off.  Somewhere down the Thames (Shepperton, I think) I took it off completely and we’ve just had a couple of wires sticking out.  I phoned Willowbridge to see if they had any in stock, and when they did I walked down there to be them.  They are exactly the same size and shape and the screw holes are in the same place, which made things a lot easier. After a bit of a faff getting the short wires connected, we now have LED nav lights.

We have put the chimney on, just in case we decide to light the fire later.  Summer really has come to an abrupt end.

9 miles, 7 locks.  (287 miles, 190 locks)

Easter Cruise: Days 0 and 1

Yesterday, Adrian spent the day working from the boat.  I’ve been on night shifts, so drove up after work this morning, arriving before 8.30.  We unpacked the stuff I’d brought up in the car, and within fifteen minutes or so we were pulling out of the marina and heading south, as it’s a while since we’ve been this way.  At Cosgrove Lock, an electro-fishing boat had just been launched and was taking up quite a bit of the lock landing.  There’s a Canada goose which has made its nest on the offside of the lock; some netting has been put up, either to protect it or lock users, I’m not sure.  As I went into the lock, the goose stood up to hiss at me, revealing a clutch of six eggs.

We stopped at Wolverton, just getting on the end of the moorings, and visited Tesco for food for the next few days.  Then we set off on the long slow plod through Milton Keynes. There are so many moored boats these days that it feels as though you’re hardly ever out of tickover.  Almost as if to demonstrate how long it is since we came this way, there’s a new marina which looks almost complete, and lots of new flats going up on the opposite side of the canal.  There’s also a new Y-shaped bridge across the canal, with the arms of the Y forming the towpath bridge over the marina entrance.

We had lunch on the move, and the sun had burnt off the early mist.  The temperature also started to rise.  At Fenny Lock we had help from a little boy and his grandmother; apparently he’d been waiting for a boat to come along.  We went up Stoke Hammond Lock, which now has a display of rubber ducks on the offside.

We moored a bit further along in a favourite spot.  One September we saw lapwings in the field opposite; no sign today, but maybe it’s an autumn thing.  As we’ve come along, Adrian has made a chilli for dinner tonight.

15 miles, 3 locks.

Bank Holiday Weekend: Day 3

Late yesterday afternoon the sun came out and the temperature went up; we had the side hatch open until about 8pm. This morning wasn't as overcast as yesterday, or as the forecast had predicted, but it was a bit breezy. We set off at a little after 8.30; it seemed like a long time since we'd been beyond here into Leighton Buzzard. At Leighton lock I left the camera on the boat, so Adrian started snapping away.

At the Wyvern hire base we counted 14 boats moored up -- on occasions we've been past in the winter there have been as many as 35 there. It meant there was plenty of room to get through, and people had even moored on the towpath opposite.

I went cautiously through the bridge after the shopping mooring, as you can't see very much. Once I was through I found the Jules' Fuels boats coming towards me, breasted up. At least there's a winding hole there so there was plenty of room; almost anywhere else along here would have been worse.

We carried on to Grove Lock, where I used the little arm below the lock to turn around. The wind was pretty strong and not entirely helpful, but we got round easily enough and started re-tracing our steps. We went past the Jules' Fuels boats on the shopping moorings; we knew they'd be stopping to serve the long term moorers here, because one of them had asked if we'd seen them. Back at Leighton Lock, a boat had just arrived below but it was in our favour we we went down first. We passed last night's mooring spot about three hours after we'd left it.

Yesterday, one of the boats moored near the top of the Soulbury Three had been feeding the ducks, and I'd counted twelve ducklings. The lady said there had been thirteen to begin with. Today, all remaining twelve were still present and correct.

At the Soulbury locks, we had to turn the top lock, but could see another bkat coming up the bottom one and soon to go into the middle. That meant we could leave the gates open and cross in the pound. It was the Bromley Youth Trust boat, which we also saw yesterday.

There were a couple of volunteer lock keepers om duty, so the gates of the bottom lock had also been left open for us. A boat conveniently arrived at the bottom, too, so we did all three locks without having to close a gate after we'd left a lock.

We continued just a short way on, and moored in another favourite spot. One summer evening we watched lapwings in the field opposite. The water level is a bit low, and the chances are that it might fall a bit further tonight, but we'll see. After lunch we washed the side of the boat, as the really dirty side was now on the towpath, and I cut up some pallet that the new fridge arrived on for kindling. It's been in storage under the bed. It's been partly sunny this afternoon, but also very blustery at times.

10 miles, 5 locks. (27 miles, 11 locks)

March Weekend - Day 2

We set off this morning at around 9am. Adrian walked up to get Fenny Stratford lock ready while I brought the boat. Here he is swinging the bridge back into place after we'd risen the foot or so.

Stoke Hammond lock is one of our favourites; Adrian is particularly keen on the converted engine house there. Today, a Wyvern hire boat was just leaving as we arrived, but they closed the gate anyway. While we were there, the sun made a brief appearance.

We continued up the Three Locks at Soulbury, where we had to turn all the locks as a boat was ahead of us, nearing the top. All the pounds were short of water. At the top we went along the Jackdaw Pound to Old Linslade where we turned around, and then returned to just before Bridge 109 (a favourite spot), where we moored for lunch.

We set off again about 1.30, and were soon at the top of the three locks. As I'd worked them on the way up, Adrian went to work them on the way down. There was a boat coming up on the middle lock, and he was waiting for a boat which was coming up the bottom lock. They both turned out to be on their way to London, to join the merry throngs trying to find somewhere to moor in the centre of the city. It all took quite a long time, and another boat arrived at the top to go down. This turned out to be a Black Prince hire boat, being moved from Willow Tree in London to Napton. Black Prince and no longer using Willow Tree as a hire base, and it seems the two may have fallen out somewhat. The guys on board said the boat was chained up when they went to collect it on Thursday, and it took a couple of hours of negotiation to get it released. They're due at Napton on Monday, so we're on quite a schedule.

We stopped in the pound below the locks in another favourite spot. One summer evening we watched lapwings in the field opposite. The pound is already a bit low, and if it's true to form will probably drop a bit more overnight. By tomorrow morning we might be sitting on the bottom.

Adrian started making our dinner hours ago -- a pulled pork recipe that's a Vicky Blick special from Canal Boat from about a year ago. It's gently simmering on the stove, and smelling lovely.

9 miles, 8 locks. (21 miles, 9 locks)

 

Home Counties Cruise: Day 22

It's been one of those days where things seem to have taken much longer than they should.  We set off at 8am, and as we looked back to the lock just behind us we could see a hot air balloon.

At the two Ivinghoe locks, we had to fill the first one, but two boats were just approaching the second, so they came up first.  I walked on to Horton Lock, which was also empty and with wet walls; it appeared someone was in front of us.  We waited for a boat setting off from the moorings above the lock, after the couple on board quickly finished their breakfast.  I walked to Slapton Lock, and saw a widebeam just leaving the lock.  We shared this lock too, then our companions said they'd probably stop for a cup of tea before the next lock.

All the pounds were well down.  As we passed boats below Slapton Lock each of us was in danger of running aground not far off the middle of the canal.  We both tipped over somewhat.  When we reached Church Lock, the lock was set with gates open, but the widebeam hadn't yet entered.  Adrian helped him down, then waited for a boat approaching from below.  The water was low in this pound too, and they got a bit stuck trying to pass the widebeam.  Once they were in the lock, a Wyvern hire boat appeared to be setting off from the moorings, so we waited for them too.  They were sat on the bottom, so getting away from the edge was a challenge; it turned out that getting in the lock was also a challenge, but for different reasons.  By the time we actually got into the lock, we must have been there for at least forty minutes.  At least the surroundings are attractive.

At Grove Lock a boat with dozens of Scouts on board was coming up.  The boys all ignored the instructions from their leaders not to get on the roof or the gunwales.  It didn't look very safe to us.

We stopped at the shopping moorings in Leighton Buzzard, mostly to get some battery top up water from Homebase.  We had lunch while we were there.  Setting off again, Leighton lock proved to be another challenge.  A boat was coming up, but couldn't get the lock to fill because the bottom gates wouldn't close properly, probably because of something on the cill.  We tried all sorts of things to shift whatever it was.  Two further boats arrived at the bottom, one carrying the unpleasant boater of the day.  Eventually, possibly thanks to a grappling hook from the other newly arrived boat, the gate appeared to close properly, and everyone was on the move.

Just after Old Linslade, we saw Gary with the fuel boat, Ascot and its butty, Beverley, moored up so we went alongside to fill with diesel.  With three boats across the canal, it's just as well no more boats came by.  We put in 110 litres; we've worked out that our fuel consumption since filling at Bull's Bridge has been 1.13 litres an hour -- which is pretty good, considering we've done so much river work this trip.

As we got to the Souldbury three locks a widebeam had just come up.  There was a boat coming up the middle lock so we swapped with them, and the bottom lock was also full.  The pub garden was full of walkers we'd been seeing all day.  They'd walked to Grove Lock and back for a brain tumour charity.

By now the sun had come out and it was really warm again.  We moored up at Stoke Hammond, another of our favourite spots in this area.

10 miles, 10 locks. (264 miles, 207 locks)

Bank Holiday Weekend - Day 2

It wasn't nearly as cold last night, and the sun was again out when we got up this morning.  As we had the eggs from the Stoke Hammond hens, we had scrambled eggs for breakfast, then set off at about 9.15.  It's pretty slow going through Old Linslade and along by The Globe pub because of moored boats and fishermen.  At Leighton Lock we shared with a funny little boat, with a bow a bit like a landing craft.

Above the lock we saw some tiny moorhen chicks -- they were paddling as fast as they could but seemed to be getting nowhere.  Wyverne Shipping had about twenty boats unhired.  Strangely, we haven't seen any heading back today, which is unusual because normally all the weekend boats are due back on Monday morning; perhaps there's a Bank Holiday Weekend hire period, allowing people to return their boats late on Monday, or even on Tuesday.

We stopped at the Tesco moorings in Leighton Buzzard, to get a few things off our running list.  In town, Adrian bumped into Martin, from the Braidbar boat, Icebreaker.  We set off again at around 11.30, and rather than using the winding hole just through the bridge, decided to go on the Grove Lock and turn there.  Below the lock there's an arm, which I think is actually a river which runs into the canal.  I'm not sure whether it's an official winding hole, but plenty of people use it.  My job was made a little trickier because there was a boat moored directly opposite.  Still, there's enough room, and we were soon heading back. 

We passed Tesco again about an hour after we'd left, then dropped down Leighton Lock.  A boat which had just come up left a gate open for us.  We moored below the lock for a lunch break.

This afternoon, we headed back to the Soulbury Three Locks.  There was a boat in front of us, so we reckoned we've had a partner for the locks.  There were also some volunteer lock keepers on duty, so all the locks were set for us, and we hardly had to wind a paddle or push a gate, so we had an easy run down.  The water levels were pretty high in the flight though, so the middle lock was emptied slowly, to avoid flooding the tow path and the pub.  Adrian and the other helmsman, from an ex-OwnerShips boat, Steelaway did some more synchronised boating.  I like the way they're both looking down the side of their boats in this photo!

The pub was pretty busy, not surprisingly as it was so sunny and warm, so we had quite an audience. We've moored up just a little further along, at Stoke Hammond.  When we passed here yesterday, there was virtually no-one here; today there's a long line of boats.  We're actally only about 2 miles from where we moored last night, but it's taken 10 miles and most of the day to get here!

10 miles, 5 locks.  (27 miles, 11 locks)

May Cruise -- Day 4

Yesterday's mystery duck has been identified as a red crested pochard, thanks to comments from Irene, Sheila, and Debby.  It was not, as suggested by my cousin Jonathan on facebook, a river parrot -- although that seems like a good default guess for future mystery birds.

This morning, a boat went past while we were having breakfast, so as we weren't ready to leave we let him get a bit of a head start before we set off.  It was about 8.20 when we headed for the first lock under blue skies.

After the first couple of locks is a longer pound, then I jumped off to open the swing bridge just past Pitstone Wharf.

We met boats coming up at the next lock, the top one of the three Seabrook locks.  They passed on a message that the boat in front would wait for us at the next lock.  It turned out to be a professional boat mover, Richard, and we shared all the way down to Leighton Buzzard.  We got into a good rhythm, and I ended up walking all the way to Slapton Lock, which is three miles or so.  At Slapton Lock, we met the hotel boats, Snipe and Taurus coming up.

Later, we saw another hotel boat, Takara, that we've seen several times over the past couple of days

At Grove Lock, the wind was exceptionally strong, and we struggled to get away from the side and into the lock.  We stopped on the shopping moorings at Leighton Buzzard, and Adrian popped into Tesco while I got lunch ready.  After lunch, we set off again -- the first time on this little trip that we've done more than half a day's boating.  At Wyvern Shipping, the number of hire boats moored up has reduced significantly since yesterday -- down from 30 to 15.

At Leighton Lock it started to rain, and as we passed The Globe, where  Lois Jane was moored up, it became really heavy.  There was a pause in the rain, but as we came down the Soulbury Three Locks there was another downpour combined with strong winds.  The lock keepers were a great help, and the boat we shared with, a Canal Breaks boat from Hillmorton, did a bit of synchronised boating, which was probably wise in the conditions.

We moored up for the night at Stoke Hammond.  While we've been here, there have been squally showers interspersed with sunny spells.  It really can't make up its mind what it wants to do.

12 miles, 15 locks.  (41 miles, 33 locks)

May cruise - day 4

Yesterday evening was very changeable, weatherwise.  Just after I'd blogged saying the sun had come out, there was a very heavy hail shower.  The hail stones bounce on the roof, and a few of them manage to come through the mushroom vents!

Later, we went across to The Grove Lock pub, where we had a very pleasant evening.  First, a colleague from work who lives in Leighton Buzzard joined us with her husband for a drink; they went home, and we had an excellent meal.  Afterwards, we walked along the canal, past the new Grove Lock Marina, up to the next lock.  It was clear and calm as the sun disappeared over the hill.

This morning it was raining when we woke up, sometimes quite heavily, and we were up relatively early.  By the time we set off at 8.15, it had stopped raining but was very cold.  We stopped briefly after about half an hour at the Tesco moorings in Leighton Buzzard, so we could get some bread and other things.

Counting the hire boats at Wyvern Shipping, it seems that four boats went out yesterday.  A boat was coming up the lock, so Adrian went to help them before we went down.  The next stretch was cold and blustery at time, but chinks of blue sky were appearing.  Soon we were at the top of the three Soulbury Locks.

I went to fill the top lock, then the lock keeper came to help.  There was a Wyvern Shipping boat going down ahead, and the lock keeper had asked them to wait for us in the bottom lock.  I assume the lock keeper and his assistant are volunteers; they're helpful, but don't seem entirely clued up on the most efficient way of doing gates and paddles.  Anyway, soon enough we were at the bottom, and decided to stop for water.  The Wyvern boat also wanted water, so a little boat which was on the water point having its engine worked on shuffled forward a bit.  It turned out that the two women on board were moving the boat for a friend who's selling it; they'd discovered that little or no maintenance had been done for a couple of years, so there were engine problems and the water pump didn't work properly.

The tap at the bottom of the Soulbury Locks has very good pressure, so we weren't long filling up.  Surprisingly, the sun had also come out.  We carried on for less than a mile, before mooring up just before Stoke Hammond Lock.  We had lunch (while a heavy shower passed through), then tackled an engine oil change, as it's just over 250 hours since we did the last one.

After another heavy shower, we set off to walk to Stoke Hammond.  Hopes of doing a circular walk were scuppered by large "Private, Keep Out" signs on the track near the lock (which used to have a narrow lock alongside, hence the double arched bridge).  Instead, we walked back to Bridge 106 and into the village, where there's a pub and a shop.  The village sign on the green says it was one of the handful of places which lost no men in the Second World War -- hence the "Thankful Village" on the sign.

We got back to the boat in the dry, but there have been showers ever since, including some hailstones.  We've been very lucky, because we've managed to dodge all the rain today.  Tomorrow's forecast is much more promising.

6.5 miles, 4 locks.  (28 miles, 11 locks)