Soulbury

Soulbury, Grand Union Canal – Friday 09 August 2013

The morning started with rain, but by 08:00 it had stopped so I headed off to start down the Marsworth flight – just about to shut the top lock when I was called by a pair of volunteer lock-keepers, they had another boat to go down (nb Octopus crewed by John & Trixie).  No-one was coming up and the volunteers were taking turns to go ahead and set the locks, so we were through the seven locks in less than an hour!!  After this we went on for a few more locks when Trixie decided it was lunch.  I carried on and stopped at Tesco in Leighton Buzzard to get bread and fruit, then on further.  Friday is the Wyvern shipping hire day and at Leighton lock I met with a boat with every-one in fancy dress.  When we got to the Soulbury Three locks there was a pair waiting as boats were coming up.  There were volunteers here as well (because of the Wyvern crews they work late on Fridays) and they took the pair through and we followed behind so we were quickly through this as well.  I then moored while the “Captain” (Full Navy whites with oodles of gold braid) and his crew continued to Fenny Stratford to pick up the latecomers.  About 11:00 the dark clouds went away and it has been sunny since.