June weekend - Day 2

We spent some time this morning dozing in bed, so it was gone 9am before we set off.  It wasn't nearly as sunny as forecast -- in fact, it was cloudy and quite chilly.

We did the familiar plod through Wolverton, Great Linford, and Milton Keynes, meeting a few boats on the way.  At Fenny Compton Lock the gates were open but the bridge was across, so Adrian got off at the bow and swung the bridge, and then I took the stern to the other side of the lock so I could close that gate.

At Stoke Hammond Lock, a widebeam was just going up, so we had to turn the lock.  A couple of walkers sat on the grass and got their flask of coffee out while we rose.

We were still behind the widebeam at the Three Locks at Soulbury.  There were four people on board, but only two had windlasses.  The spare crew member was at the next lock up -- but only taking photos.  All in all they were pretty inefficient.  For the first time at these locks, there were people sitting outside the pub.  Other times we've been this way it's either been too early, or it's been raining.

Once up the locks we continued to Old Linslade, and moored just before Bridge 110.  It was before 4pm, so we washed and Bullet polished one side of the boat.  Then we turned in the wide bit of canal right there, moored back in the same place and washed and polished the other side.  When the sun came out, it was really quite warm.

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

June weekend - Day 1

With a weekend off and a good weather forecast, we decided the other day that we'd have a weekend on board.  I shopped this morning, then met Adrian at his office at 4pm.  The journey was surprisingly OK - we made the right decision to go through Bicester, because the M40 was at a standstill.

Unpacking the car took just a few minutes, and we were on the move at 6.40, heading out of the marina towards Cosgrove.  We're coming this way partly because the Russell Newbery rally is at Stoke Bruerne this weekend, so it's likely to be very busy up there.

It was busy with moored boats towards Cosgrove, although there was plenty of room in the village itself.  We headed for the lock, though, and Adrian jumped off at the narrows to work it.   It was full, so just needed a gate opening.

Below the lock the moorings looked busy, but in fact the was a space that was plenty big enough.  We've had a moussaka for dinner that I cooked this afternoon at home, and none we can just hear the birds singing and the occasional fish jumping out of the water.

1.5 miles, 1 lock.

More Heron Map photos

The latest new Heron Map is out, an it includes two of my photos.  One is of Debdale in the staircase locks at Stourport in May 2010

The other is of Briar Rose somewhere up the Tardebigge Locks in July 2011.

Sea Lock

We're both back at home now, so this morning we decided to have a walk by the sea.  We parked at Chichester marina, and walked down to West Itchenor.  Near the start of the walk, we crossed the sea lock at the end of the Chichester Ship Canal.  It hasn't been used for a very, very long time.  It was also low tide.

This part of the canal is used for static house boats.

Aston Marina

 

To Aston Marina on the Trent and Mersey today for a boat test.  It wasn't quite as sunny as forecast, and it was pretty windy -- as we found out particularly when we tried to get back into the berth in the marina.  Three boats that I've tested in the past were moored there: Easy All, Whitefield, and Caxton.  we cruised up to the Stone winding hole and back; I said hello to Elsie and Eric on Bendigedig -- but I don't think they recognised me as I was on a different boat!

Work again

A later start today, so before I left for work there was time to say hello to the marina swan, and top up the water tank.  I was also able to confirm that the boat test planned for tomorrow is going ahead, so I'll be back on board again tonight.

I couldn't face the drive down the M1 again, so decided to get the train from Wovlverton.  The route passes and crosses the Grand Union several times.  I saw it at Old Linslade, Grove Lock, and Berkhamsted among other places.

Work and lunch

It was already light when the alarm went off at 4.30 this morning.  I hoped the water pump and the shower pump didn't wake up the neighbours in the marina.  It was raining as I went to the car, and drove down the M1 to work.

But I still had a boating fix.  I'd arranged to meet Doug and James on Chance in order to take them some oil and air filters they'd asked us to buy for them at the Crick show, so in my lunch break I got on the tube to King's Cross, and found them moored up opposite King's Place, the home of The Guardian.

They'd laid on lunch, which was kind of them (photo nicked from their blog).  All too soon it was time to go back to work.

This evening I had a very slow and frustrating drive back to the marina.  There's work again tomorrow, and I'm not sure whether I'll be coming back here or going home afterwards.  It all depends on whether a boat test goes ahead on Saturday.