Fenny Stratford

Fenny Stratford, Grand Union Canal – Monday 6 May 2013

A very pleasant weekend.  Friday’s meeting in London went well, it was followed by Lunch in the Victory Services Club (near Marble Arch).  I have agreed to become Almoner for LTOCA which hopefully won’t be too onerous.  I also took the opportunity to do some window shopping along Oxford Street.  The return journey was on a train that had its first stop at Leighton Buzzard (journey time 29 minutes compared to my days of wanders!)

Saturday & Sunday were spent in Leighton doing shopping and disposing of unwanted stuff to charity shops and just hanging around enjoying the weather.   There still doesn’t seem to be many boats out.

Today I started out at 09:20 and have done 6 locks and 7 miles – the first day I’ve done more miles than locks.  The locks at Soulbury were being staffed by C&RT Volunteers so that was a lot easier than last year.  Passing Wyvern hire boats at Leighton there were 21 boats still moored so it did seem that there is a reduction in the number of hirers out.  Once past Soulbury though the boats became almost non-stop, Fenny Stratford lock was in almost constant use, in both directions, from 13:30 until 17:00, the locals must’ve got annoyed because there were so many boats passing that the swing bridge was just left open all the time.

The weather has been glorious – if you have a nervous disposition do not read the next bit – I have even taken my vest off!!