Peartree Bridge, Grand Union Canal – Tuesday 15 May 2012
Another easy day as my plan is to get to the Wolverton station (suburb of Milton Keynes) by Thursday.  Today started out at 09:15, it had been raining during the night but this had been replaced with a cold wind.  Only one lock today, at Fenny Stratford with a drop of 1 foot.  Normally these small stop locks are where Canal Companies would ‘stop’ boats so that the lock-keeper could collect the toll due from the passing traffic, apparently this one was inserted to break an 11 mile pound to assist in controlling the loss of water.  I had just finished filling the lock and opening the swing bridge which goes across it when I saw a Wyvern Shipping boat ‘Poppy’ approaching, I waited while they filled up with water and then we shared the lock and I sent them on their way while I closed the bridge and lock.  The gates swung open immediately in the wind so I left them.  After another couple of miles I moored upfor the day.  Out came the sun and I thought that would be it for the day, but no, that has been followed by heavy rain, more sun and hail which is bouncing into the boat through the brass mushrooms on the roof!  No-one should get bored with British weather!

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