Linslade

Monday 29 September 2014 – Linslade, Grand Union Canal

I stayed at Fenny Stratford and this morning had a late start.  No excitement like Saturday just a run to here with locks at Stoke Hammond (which has to be left empty), the Soulbury Three (the pub was having its sewage system overhauled and was a bit smelly – just like a pump-out) and Leighton to break the journey.

I moored on the Tesco moorings (2 hours only) but the visitor moorings were occupied by one of the Hotel widebeam boats so after a brief trip into town I continued to the moorings after bridge 114.  I managed to get a mooring chain between two of the rails along the bank for the stern but the one for the bow went in then coiled up on itself.  Fortunately there was a rope loop I could fix to but was unable to remove the bow chain in spite of a couple of hours pulling which did free some of the links.

Fenny Stratford

Saturday 27 September 2014 – Fenny Stratford, Grand Union Canal

This is getting to be routine – cloudy morning then sunny afternoons, but I’m not complaining.

I headed off at 08:00 on what turned out to be an interesting run.  On the way I passed the non Braidbar ‘Marmite’ and later a plastic, I hope, skeleton sitting in some bushes apparently fishing.  Later I came across a beautiful piece of artwork showing the view from a spacecraft heading towards Earth and the Moon (also inscribed ‘for EW’).  This was spoilt by the underpass of the bridge which in the past had been improved by paintings of butterflies which are now almost obliterated by the tagging the gets done.  There was a ‘breasted-up’ pair that allowed me to overtake as they were just moving house and then I came across a hire boat on a blind bend and my side of the canal who had stopped to pick some fruit from the roof of their boat.  I managed to miss them and got an apology but as they headed off they went into the bank.

On this stretch there are locks at Cosgrove which is the last one down from Norton Junction and Fenny Stratford, the start of the climb to Tring Summit.

Stoke Bruerne

Friday 26 September 2014 – Stoke Bruerne, Grand Union Canal

I started from Wilton Marina at 08:00, having again prepared the boat for a tunnel, and met only a few moving boats.  One was “Paws 4 Thought” which I met with at Crick way back in May, they were also heading for their home mooring.  By 11:30 I was at Blisworth and headed into the tunnel, I am still impressed with my new spotlight which enables me to keep away from the walls, but I turned it off as boats came within 100 metres as it must be bright looking towards it.  At the Stoke Bruerne Top Lock there were two boats coming up (they were just entering) and by the time they were through another single-hander (nb Pendennis) was approaching so we went down the flight together.  After we had passed the third lock there was another boat pair coming up and they had left the gates open for the rest of the flight which made for a reasonably easy run.

The weather at the start of the day was windy and very overcast, which gradually broke to give some blue patches but once through Blisworth Tunnel it has been warm and sunny with no wind.  What is it about weather changes as you travel through tunnels?

I have now moored for the day and will head for Milton Keynes tomorrow.

Wilton Marina

Thursday 25 September 2014 – Wilton Marina, Grand Union Canal

A non-seasonal start to the day, the clouds were just like snowstorm clouds and it felt so cold after the fine weather we have had that at one stage I seriously thought of digging out winter gloves.  It was still cold when I reached Braunston where I stopped to go to the fender shop for some rope side fenders and to ask about their adjustable fixing bracket.  Unfortunately the bracket is no longer made so I will have to keep looking.  As I was cold I went to the ‘Gongoozlers’ Rest’ café boat for some hot food.

The meal obviously worked as blue skies started to appear as I went up the Braunston locks in company, there were boats coming down at each of the locks which made it easier.  At the top I continued through the Braunston tunnel and then started on the Buckby locks on my own.  There were no boats moving on the flight and all the locks were only half full (possibly due to leaks in either the top or bottom gates).  I had forgotten how heavy the wide gates were – some I almost couldn’t move, but eventually I got here and have moored for the night

Hilmorton

Wednesday 24 September 2014 – Hilmorton, Oxford Canal

Awoke this morning to the sound of rain drumming on the roof and was prepared for a wet journey.  When I started at 08:00 it had stopped and there have been blue skies with dark cloud patches all day, but the rain has held off although it has been a bit windy.

There has been a steady stream of boats going the other way (including Bessie Surtees, Braidbar No 92) and also a few going in my direction, so there has been company.

The run to Rugby was uneventful but at the Willow Wren Arm there was a dredger blocking the canal with a sign saying up to 30 minute delays.  As I approached he stopped dredging and moved all the gear out of the way so I didn’t even need to stop.  I moored at Master’s Bridge to nip in to Tesco, and just after I had resumed travelling came across a boat completely adrift with boats coming the other way.  I pulled alongside just as a boater from one of the other moored boats came to help.

At Hilmorton Locks only one of each of the pairs were operational so I decided to go up today rather than wait for the morning.  It turned out that a refurbishment and fitting new gates were being done to Lock 5 (one of the top pair) and C&RT had closed the other locks to prevent congestion.

Those who have seen Ice Breaker in the last year will know that when moored up I have been flying the Westmoreland County flag (Yellow Teazle on a background of Red and White horizontal stripes) but I have now changed to the Cumbrian flag (Green top half with three white five point flowers and a wavy blue and white bottom half).