Winkwell Monday 8 August 2016

We were away at twenty past nine this morning, earlier than planned as we saw the boat we shared with yesterday come down the lock behind us so we thought we would share again today, wrong, they had cycled down last night and fancied where we were moored so were planning to moor behind us so we were Billy no mates all day.
As I had been warned about this short pound dropping overnight  we were not surprised to see it low when we went to bed, but by the time we were about CRT had let water down and all was fine. Dudswell bottom lock doesn’t seem to leak much so it must be the pound its self that loses water. On that point further down it looked like they were injecting spray foam into the towpath edge so I assume they are trying to stop a leak there.

I would imagine that this lock normally leaks empty as there is a healthy growth of weeds on the cill bumper. The Totem pole is still standing as we came into Berkhamsted, its been there quite some time now. We stopped at the water point in town opposite Waitrose and while we filled with water Diana got a couple of essentials from the shop. I don’t know if CRT waterpoints are metered, if they are this one is costing a few quid the way the water leaks from the base.
We locked down through Rising Sun Lock and moored on the offside for lunch, but due to the angle we were at as we slid on to the mud as soon as we had finished we changed to the towpath side. It was here that we were able to show Brian a breasted pair of working boats as Jules Fuels came towards us, not only that bit they stopped beside us to serve a boat coming the other way with gas.

After a short time fishing with only a couple of bites we moved on, this bear in a garden on the offside is keeping a close eye on things.

  On lots of the canals there are cast iron markers a set distance from the locks to show which boat had priority at the lock, on the Grand Union in this area they are cast concrete. We carried on to Winkwell, mooring for the night just above Bourne End Bottom Lock at about 5pm.

Today’s Journey  3¾ Miles 10 locks in 4½ hours

Dudswell Sunday 7 August 2016

Claire arrived at about 10am this morning with Brian our other Grandson and took George away home. This one is bigger and stronger so can work locks.

We slipped our moorings at 10 30 am and the pound had dropped about 10” overnight, we had hoped to fill with water but there were two boats already at the water point so we carried on to the Marsworth flight. The Chilton Branch of IWA where holding a lock ransom to raise money for the Wendover Arm restoration. A boat had just left the lock and they offered to wait at the next one for us, when we caught them up we had a good idea why the pound was down this morning. Yesterday evening a single handed wide beam came up, he was now ahead of us not only leaving the top gates open but also the paddles up. We continued up the flight meeting a few boats on the way, all the levels were good including the Tring summit. We both stopped for water just above the top of the flight, as we left the water point I caught my second fisherman of the week, he thought it would be OK just to dip the end of his rod in the water, wrong, he was soon paying out line before his tackle came free. We only went another 500mt before stopping for lunch.

I often hear of people having generators pinched ether off their boats or right beside them so as you can imagine I was quite surprised to see this site, it looks as if a boater has just moved off for some reason and left all their worldly goods laying there.

After lunch Brian drove and took us right through a fishing match, they were a friendly bunch which is unusual for match fishing.

We dropped through Cowroast lock alone but were lucking in a boat coming up as we left, at Dudswell top we had to wait for a community wide beam boat to come up before we dropped down and moored in the pound for the night.

Today’s Journey  5 miles, 9 locks in 4 hours

Marsworth Saturday 6 August 2016

I think the pound may have even been lower this morning and as you can see we were parallel parked last night.

We were away by half nine but a boat had gone by ahead of us but a boat came down behind them. We caught them up at Ivinghoe bottom as the boat they were sharing with caught up with another and left them. The were 2 Australian girls who moor at Cowroast and working to become live aboard’s at some point in the future. They were great to lock with and we went all the way to Seabrook Swing Bridge with them. The pound between Ivinghoe locks was barely 3 feet deep right in the centre of the channel.

This camp site looks quite inviting with its wooden huts for living in, better than canvas any day of the week. I think its known as Glamping.

We stopped for lunch just before Dunstable Boat Club where we found a space just long enough for us. After bit of a break and ice creams from Pitstone Wharf we carried on to the Marsworth pair where we were joined by another boat just out for the weekend. We only went as far as the start of the Marsworth moorings where there are rings to moor to. We will be here now until the Gandsons are changed round tomorrow morning sometime.

Today’s Journey  4 miles 9 locks in 3¾ hours

Slapton Friday 5 August 2016

We started a bit earlier this morning, that’s the problems with having guests, you are never sure when they will be ready to set off.

As we approached Stoke Hammond we spotted these sheep nibbling the hedge row with their feet on the fence, I don’t have a clue what variety they are. This lock was with us so a good start to the day unlike the Soulbury Three that were against us, but we did meet a boat after leaving the middle lock. Just as we rounded the bend to Leighton Lock nb Captain Hastings rounded the bend, so another with us. Captain Hastings use to be moored in the berth we took over at Kings Bromley and he left enough electricity on the meter to last us all year.

Wyvern had most of their fleet in for turn round, 20 in total and some moored 4 abreast but still room for two Narrowboats to pass by. They have some interesting vehicles parked there including a sign written Morris 1000 van and this car. 

We made the compulsory stop at Tesco to stock up with food ready for the second grandson who we are picking up an Marsworth. While we we moored there we also had lunch so may have overstayed our 2 hours buy a little bit, but for most of the time we were the only boat there and there was no one at all on the visitor moorings. We only moved a short way from here to fill with water.

Its good to see that some of the narrow gauge rail track remains on the towpath at the old loading wharfs,  I had expected it all to have disappeared under the tar and stone towpath surface. As we passed Grove Lock we spotted some gliders and this one being towed up, once he was released he gave us quite a display of stuns with loops, rolls and what looked like a spin, I have never seen gliders manoeuvring like that before. Later we had a second flying display, this time it was 3 Buzzards and a Red Kite.

It was then that I was caught by a fisherman, I almost took his rod away, when I said to his mate he could boast about catching an 18 tonner he didn’t see the funny side. Had I not have been going so slowly he would never have caught his rod before it went into the canal, as it was I stopped and drew back so he was able to retrieve his tackle.

We moored just below lock Grove Church Lock but were unable to get a TV picture and Diana had heard on the radio the Olympics start tonight, so we moved on.  Bridge 116 has the bridge number plate painted light blue, I thought the old BWB colour was a dark blue. Above the lock the water level was well down and often we went aground about ten feet from the bank, we did manage to get the bows near the piling at one point and the stern well out, lo and behold we even managed a TV picture after a lot of fiddling about and then discovered it was just a load of chat from 8-30 and the opening ceremony started about midnight until 4 am. so it was a waste of effort. With this in mined we freed ourselves from the clag and went a bit further, They were cutting the corn at one of the canal side fields and the canal was covered in a thick layer of dust. We finally moored just before Slapton Lock, still not near the side but we had to stop somewhere and the level continued to fall. Two boats came down Slapton lock and once they were passed the CRT work boat that was moored just below the lock moorings was now right across the cut, so armed with my pole I went and did my good deed for the day bringing it back alongside and securing it.

Today’s Journey 

9 miles,  7 Locks in 5¾ hours

Willowbridge Thursday 4 August 2016

We pushed off at half nine and dropped trough Cosgrove lock alone and then on to the aqueduct, on the way we passed this boat, I know my thought but will let you make your own minds up.

I will just say I thought I was approaching the stern, not the bow.

George took us across the aqueduct, well he took us all the way from the lock actually, he can steer quite well.

We chugged on in the sunshine to Wolverton where I looked a bit closer at the two sculptures. First the stainless steel one with cyclists along its arm.

The second is made of miniature railway lines with a train running down the arm.

   

The mural along the wall is holding out quite well but there are quite a few weed growing up in front of it. We continued south crossing the Grafton aqueduct where some joker has modified the finger post and now they all point in the same direction.

Last time we passed the Black Horse moorings there was a skeleton sitting in a canoe on the off side, the canoe has now rotted away and the skeleton has decided to wait for a bus instead.

While we were stopped for lunch a boat came by with a cry of “Brian”, I went out to find probably one of the longest followers of my blog, in fact he may even have followed my trip reports before I started Blogging, It was Barry, ex Fire fighter, ex Wimbledon steward. We have probably only met 3 times face to face in all that time and as he will be coming up the Thames we could yet meet again. After lunch we carried on, the weather cloudy at times but still holding. We had planned to moor at Water Eaton but the best moorings were pretty full and I don’t like mooring under trees for several reasons, one if it rains it drip, if the birds sit in them they poo on the boat and at the very worst they blow down in the wind, so because of this we finally moored a short way passed Willowbridge Marina where the canal and the road part company for a bit. The weather was still good so out came the BBQ, kiss of death, it just got hold with nice white coals and the sky’s opened. So I am sitting typing this with the cover on the BBQ waiting for the rain to stop.

Today’s Journey  14 miles, 2 locks in 6 hours

Cosgrove Wednesday 3 August 2016

As I said yesterday, everyone keeps telling me these moorings above Stoke Bruerne Locks are always empty now, wrong! There were 15 boats along here last night, there were 2 moored  in the first pound and there were as far down the second pound as we could see, a lot different from about 4 pm when there were about 6 above the lock.
We ate onboard with an Indian Takeaway from Spice of Bruerne whit was very nice, but one thing to take note of is that they charge a premium of 2% for credit card purchases.

We were off in quite good time and as we approached the lock the Volocky was setting it for us, I was all set to fill with water at the top and wait for a boat to join us but he said the boat ahead was waiting at the next lock, so off we went with his help. When we arrived at the second lock there was not one boat in the second lock waiting, but two, a tug with a small butty. For a while it reminded me of boating with Thorn and Persephone. We had a good run down the flight meeting boats at every lock except the bottom one, we had to wait sometimes for the upcoming boats but overall it made things much easier. One of the moorers in the second pound was the Narrowboat Trust with their boats Nuneaton and Brighton. 

We both stopped for water at the bottom of the flight, luckily there are three water points along here even if there was a hire boat at one stopped for coffee.

There was plenty of water coming in from the pump at the River Tove with its upturned outlet and cap to stop a fountain.

We stopped for lunch an bout an hour before Cosgrove just after passing the ice cream boat.Pushing on after lunch we moored on the first mooring south of Solomon’s  Bridge in Cosgrove went for a short walk, first to show George the horse tunnel under the canal and then on to the Aqueduct where after crossing the river we walked down towards the rive, I didn’t realise there was another horse tunnel under the canal here as well. The Aqueduct looks much more impressive from down here than it does the canal, maybe tomorrow we will have a photograph of Harnser crossing.

When we walked back to the boat the only other boats there was the pair we shared with earlier, all the rest had left. We moved forward a bit as we had been moored under the trees where we were, we may move again later as the pub sign the other side of the canal squeaks rather.

Today’s Journey   6½ miles, 7 Locks in 4 hours.

Stoke Bruerne Tuesday 2 August 2016

Well it rained most of the night and we have had over 5 mm of rain in the last 24 hours. It was fine, just when we set off this morning but we have had drizzle and light showers on and off all day.

I wonder when people will realise these bins are for dog poo, not beer cans and general waste. I will send a photo to CRT but its not their fault and in the end we pay for clearing it up.

There are two lots of old boats we passed that are waiting for someone to give them the care and attention they deserve.

We also passed another strange craft, I suppose you could call it a Container Ship, but this one is outboard powered.

We topped up with diesel at Rugby Boats who are situated at Stowe hill Wharf at 59.9 p/lt we should be OK now until we get to the Oxford canal.

We met the ex working boat Owl in one of the bridge holes, well we were in the bridge hole and he kept coming so I backed up, at least my bit was straight and the steerer did thank me, what he failed to do was tell me there was a motorised butty behind him who I met when I was half way through the hole, but we missed each other so that was fine.

My grandson tried his had at steering between the showers and did very well considering he is 9 and not been on a boat since last year, he needed a little help in seeing where he was going but did very well.

We Stopped for lunch just before Blisworth village and after setting off again wondered why there were no boats moored there. They have closed the moorings for 2 weeks for the Blisworth Festival

There was just one boat coming towards us in the tunnel, a Narrowboat but by the smell of it he had a petrol engine, ether that or a generator for his fairy lights. The tunnel was well foggy for the second half and we managed to miss the major water shoots. I still have not been able to find out what the culvert on the left is about 500 yards before you get to the Stoke Bruerne end as you can see light at the end of it. I was under the impression no one moors at Stoke Bruerne so we passed the trees that were dripping water only to find the moorings from here on almost full, we just pulled into one spot touching fenders with the boat each end of us. After visiting the museum we took a walk down a couple of locks and here the moorings looked chocker block.

Today’s Journey  11½ miles, 1 Junction, 1 Tunnel in 4½ hours

Weedon Monday 1 August 2016

Well things didn’t quite go to plan, last night my son should have brought my grandson to stay and we were all going to have dinner at the Boathouse. In the end it was just Diana and I who had dinner as my son’s car broke down and they all went home on an AA lorry. The meal in the Boathouse was way beyond expectation, I don’t expect much from 2 for 1 places but we had the carveries and they were first class.

This morning we got a call from my son saying Claire was bringing George over, so while we waited for them we went and filled with water and ordered a new Tipcat from Trade Line Fenders, the old one only lasted 15 years.

Claire and George arrived just before 11 and we set off straight way for Braunston locks, there were 3 boats ahead of us and we teamed up with a Wyvern Hire boat who were spot on, we met boats at every lock and had a good run, stopping at the top for lunch.

The repairs to the tow path between the top lock and the tunnel are a 50% success with half dry and half a quagmire. Where they raised the path level using an edge board it has worked well, as expected where they just kept the same level its a failure.

Dry

Raised Level

Awash

   After lunch we set off through the tunnel with a boat coming towards us, it turned out to be a small plastic cruiser with an outboard engine, the first I have ever met in a tunnel. As we approached Norton Junction there is about 100 meters of red safety fencing along the canal edge/tow path.

We arrived at Buckby top lock to find it almost full and no other boats in site, with the aid of the Volocky we were soon down meeting two boats shortly afterwards. When we arrived at the second lock there were two more boats just entering, so time for an ice cream from the little shop. As we locked down a boat arrived behind us, we had passed them moored at the top of the locks, so I waited for them just below the lock, by the time we both reached the next lock again we were meeting boats and this continued all the way to the last one which we had to turn.

The second lock down has taken quite a bash at some time snapping the beam that is there to stop boats getting their fenders on top of the gate. It looks as if someone did mange to get hung up at some time.As we made our way down the flight George was quite taken wit this in one of the offside gardens. 

Once clear of the flight we said goodbye to our second lot of locking friends of the day and made our way south finally mooring on the approach to Weedon, I think it was just as well we did as we have had a couple of boats reverse back and moor behind us. Needless to say by the time we moored  it was raining steadily.

Today’s Journey 

9 Miles, 13 Locks,  1 Tunnel and 1 junction in 5¾ Hours