Post Crick: Day 1

We set off at 8am, in rather chilly dank conditions.  When we got to Norton Junction, we turned right towards Braunston instead of left towards home.  There were no boats stirring at the junction, or on the run down to the tunnel.  At the tunnel, there was a kingfisher sitting on a branch right at the tunnel mouth; you can just make him out if you zoom right in.

As we came through the tunnel I could see a light behind us, so I was pretty sure we’d have a partner down the locks.  We passed one boat inside, right at the Braunston end; if I’d been them, I’d have waited outside for us to come out.  At the top lock, a couple of volunteer lock keepers had been running water down to a low pound a bit further down, but then filled the lock for us.  By the time that was done, the boat behind had arrived and we shared the locks down.

We made excellent progress down the locks, meeting uphill boats at a couple of them.  The shop at the bottom lock has a window full of slightly frightening Royal portraits.

A boat had gone into the dry dock next to the bottom lock, and they began to drain the water as we came down the lock, so that by the time we needed to leave there was quite a jet of water across the exit.

We’d wondered whether we’d find space to moor in Braunston, but in fact there was loads of space.  We opted for the first mooring after the marina entrance (the one with the wooden bridge over it).  It’s a nice open spot, and the only one by the other marina entrance was under a tree; a few minutes later, the two boats moored down that way left, meaning we were one of only two boats here.  It’s filled up since, though, and is now full.

We walked up to the butcher in the village so I could get food for the next few days, and I also managed to sort out a boat test for tomorrow.  Later in the afternoon, Adrian got changed into his uniform and headed off to work — his car having been left here on Saturday.

I washed the roof of the boat. While I was doing that, I saw an example of why sounding your horn is no substitute for a lookout.  A share boat came steaming out of the marina, and only narrowly missed a hire boat coming down from the locks.  It had given a warning, but there were spare crew who could have been on lookout duty, and there was no need to be exiting that fast either.  

5 miles, 6 locks.  (44 miles, 34 locks)

Crick Show: Day 4

There was tremendous rain in the night, but it actually hasn’t rained as much as we’d feared it might during the day.  We had a lazy start, and then wandered over to the show ground mid morning.  It was fairly quiet, but we still managed to spend quite a lot of time talking to people such as Tim Tyler, and Adrian went and looked at a couple of boats.  Later on we also had a chat with Robbie Cumming from the Canal Boat Diaries.  This afternoon, the announcement was made of the winners of the favourite boat votes, with Oakums winning the narrowboat category, with Braidbar second and Weston third.

Finesse won the favourite widebeam, with Bespoke Boats second and Thames Solar third.

The presentation was done earlier than usual, so we were able to set off by 3pm.  When we got to Watford Locks, there were no boats waiting, one was just coming up the top lock, and the lock keeper said we could go in a straight down.  Sometimes on the final day of the show we have waited a couple of hours.

At the bottom of the staircase, we crossed with a hire boat which had come up the bottom two locks.

We carried on to a nice spot just beyond Bridge 3, where we slotted into a space between two other boats.

4 miles, 7 locks.  (39 miles, 28 locks)

Crick Show: Day 3

We set off from our mooring at about 8.30, and stopped shortly afterwards at the water point at Yelvertoft to get another wash load under way, as Adrian needed work shirts for next week. We got back to our mooring at Crick before 10, with the boat now facing the right way for our escape tomorrow.

We went up to the show ground a couple of times and wandered round — spending time mostly chatting to people we bumped into, including the Momentous crew, and Del and Al. By mid afternoon the crowds had really thinned out.

My cousin Catherine and family are coming for dinner this evening, so it will be great to catch up with them. No photos on the blog today, partly because I haven’t really taken any, and partly because I’ve had to come up the path to the top of the embankment just to get enough signal to post this!

4 miles, 0 locks. (35 miles, 21 locks)

Crick Show: Day 2

We had a pretty relaxed start to the morning, and then I spent a couple of hours writing up some of the mini boat reviews.  Adrian walked into Crick for a visit to the Co-op.  Before lunch, we went over to the show ground for a look around the stands and marquees.  Once again we saw people we knew, and I also had a text from Amanda from Caxton — which I then didn’t have enough signal even to respond to.  We eventually met up with Amanda and David almost by accident, and spent quite a while catching up with them.

In the afternoon, we decided we’d head out into the countryside for a night, so set off from our mooring.  First stop was the water point, where we got a load of washing going and filled the tank.  Then we crept past all the moored boats, went through Yelvertoft, and turned at the winding hole (which is marked on Waterway Routes but not our other maps) between bridges 23 and 24.  We returned to a spot just before Bridge 22.  Just before we moored, almost all the cows in a field opposite were laying down.

Sure enough, just as the cows predicted, no sooner had we moored than it began to rain.

4 miles, 0 locks.  (31 miles, 21 locks)

Crick Show: Day 1

It seemed the show’s preview day wasn’t due to open until 12, but Andy the photographer arrived at 9.30 and we got in ok.  During the day we managed to look at 19 new boats.  We also saw a lot of people we knew and had plenty of good chats.  What’s more, it was sunny and warm.

Adrian arrived mid afternoon from work, and later we wandered up to the towpath and got him into the show ground at about 5.30 (his weekend only really valid from 6pm).  We tagged along with the Braidbar crew to get a free drink in the evening in the VIP marquee, and then moved on to the food court, where options were rather limited.  Later we walked along the towpath to Crack’s Hill where the beacon was being lit for the Jubilee.  It was rather underwhelming.

0 miles, 0 locks.  (27 miles, 21 locks)

To Crick: Day 3

I was up early again this morning, and left my mooring just after 7, immediately making the turn onto the Leicester Line.  It’s lush and green everywhere at the moment, and it was a real pleasure to be on the water.  I arrived at the bottom of Watford Locks at almost exactly 8am, when they open — just beating Liz and Austin on Just Siviting, whom I passed as they were about to set off from a mooring very close to the locks.  We both expected there to be a queue already, but there wasn’t, and the lock keeper said we should head straight up.  I emptied the bottom lock while she went to change the signs to say lock keepers were on duty, and then I could go in.

There’s a very awkward turn from the second lock to the staircase, but I’m pleased to say I did it without touching the sides.

The lock keepers stayed with me all the way up as I was single handing, and they were both excellent.  I was at the top in a little over 45 minutes.  I didn’t want to get to Crick too early, partly because I’ll be there long enough, and partly to try ensure that the boat I’m due to be breasted up to was already there.  So I moored up between Bridges 9 and 10, having passed Jubilee on the way.  I went for a walk, taking the lane from Bridge 8 into the little village of Watford, which is very up-market and has a sizeable church.

I then took a path across the fields, which had an unusual stile and bridge over a stream, and then a tunnel under the M1.

The path comes out at the locks, so I chatted to the lock keeper who’d helped me earlier, and spent some time opening gates to repay the favour.  Then I walked back along the towpath to the boat.  I didn’t set off again until gone 2pm, and soon reached the tunnel (which as usual is dry for the first four-fifths of its length and then very wet) and the show moorings.  I knew I was in number 6, where there was no other boat — in fact it turns out there won’t be another boat because they’ve gone into the marina, which will make things a lot easier.  I wandered up the towpath chatting to various people including Chris and Steve from Amy Jo, and then over to the show ground, where there was plenty of last minute activity.

Tomorrow, the show begins.

5 miles, 7 locks.  (27 miles, 21 locks)

To Crick: Day 2

There was a lot of rain yesterday evening, but it was dry by this morning.  We were up early, and set off at 7am, Adrian driving the boat and me working the locks.  The bottom one was empty with a bottom gate open, but we had to turn all the rest as they were full.  A little way up, a man in a hi-vis jacket appeared — it was Mike from the trip boat, Charlie.  He stayed with us all the way up, pushing gates and winding paddles, and it was really nice to have a good chat with him.

Towards the top, we used the footpath on the offside, as there are some cygnets with very protective parents.

The locks took a little under the usual hour-and-a-half, thanks to Mike’s help and there being no-one else around (until we were joined by a boat for the final two).  Adrian then jumped off to go back to his car, while I took over steering, heading for Buckby locks.  I passed one boat in Blisworth Tunnel, and I thought there tended to be fewer moored boats than in recent times along the whole route.  It soon began to rain and was quite heavy for a time; but later the sun came out, although it still seemed a bit chilly.  The house by Standing Barn Bridge has one hell of a molehill in its lawn.

Meanwhile, Adrian drove to Crick and identified where our mooring is for the show, and also helped Sheila on Salodin find her mooring and get secure. After a coffee with Sheila, he drove to Tesco in Daventry for a few store cupboard items we realised we were short of.  He then parked at the CRT car park at Buckby Top lock and walked down the flight to meet me, still a couple of bridges away from the locks.  A bit nearer, some ducks were making good use of the weir arches.

At the locks, the were three boats in front of us in the queue, and more going up ahead.  It had taken exactly the predicted five hours to get there from Stoke Bruerne.  In contrast, people coming down the locks said it had been a very slow passage, some taking four hours.  We waited about half an hour before it was our turn to start going up.

Even with people coming down the flight, we ended up having to wait at every lock — smooth operation not helped by one of them, about three up maybe, which has only one bottom paddle working.  One of the downhill boats had an interesting arrangement at the stern: he was busy telling people that it was cheaper than a canvas pram hood.

During the afternoon we had rain and sunshine, sometimes both at the same time.  Coats went on and off frequently.  We eventually made it to the top, the whole thing (including the wait at the bottom) taking three hours, so double a normal passage.  Fortunately there was a nice mooring space immediately after the water point, although for some reason there’s no ring for the stern so I have had to bang a pin in.  Also fortunately, the hose pipe reaches from the tap to our tank, so I have been able to top up.  Adrian headed off in the car to London for work tomorrow, while I’ll be turning the corner and heading for Watford Locks.

17 miles, 14 locks.  (22 miles, 14 locks)