A short break

Have come back up to the boat for a few days. We arrived Easter Monday afternoon and, today, we pottered down to Gayton Junction, spun the boat round and moored for the afternoon about half a mile north of Gayton village. 

Spent the afternoon reading, chatting to passers by and cleaning some brass work.

Another lovely evening.

Last day's cruising - for now

 Friday, and the sun is shining, the wind's dropped and all is well with the world. 

A couple of hire boats went past us into the bottom lock and we thought, just our luck! Us, on our own for all seven of the Stroke Bruerne locks. But, luckily, along came a boat called Somang, which is Korean for Hope.

A couple, much like ourselves, but continuous cruisers and, much to the captain's delight, waterway chaplains to boot. 

We got the bottom lock ready and waited in there while they emptied the loo, took on water and disposed of rubbish. All this took place while the hire boats were clearing through the next lock up. Then there was a boat coming down, so we didn't really lose any time at all and it meant that we had a lock buddy. 

Now, I'm usually quite quiet going through locks, but this time we managed to talk nonstop from bottom to top of the flight. We got on so well that we all went for lunch in The Navigation. 

After lunch we set off through the tunnel and back to Bugbrook. 

Clear skies, for a change

Moored for lunch

Arrived at the marina just as the sky threatened to leak all over us. 

So, that's it for now. Tomorrow we close the boat up for a couple of weeks, hoping that we can come back for a few more days cruising. 

Blow, blow thou winter wind

Well, two days without a blog. I suppose that's not unusual for me but there has been a good reason for that. On Wednesday there wasn't enough time after we moored to write the blog, get supper and join the church Zoom meeting. And, today, we fought against the wind most of the day and collapsed for the afternoon just recovering. 

Wednesday morning and we were only a mile away from one of the largest shopping centres in Milton Keynes. So, we set off to go and sort out my phone since it has started playing up. The screen has taken on a mind of its own and keeps jumping around all over the place. We found the EE shop OK and were told that it was screen damage that was causing the problem. We then spent a good half hour trying to commit to spending as little money as possible on a new phone. That didn't work out as hoped but we still came away with a shiny new toy to play with. We also picked up a Bluetooth speaker for the computer to boost the volume. Yet another new toy. Who's a lucky boy? 

Back to the boat walking through the middle of Campbell Park. If you're in Milton Keynes, do visit the park, it's well worth it. Plenty to interest any family and a good day out. Anyway, we then set off up the canal. Usually, the captain takes the bow rope, unties it and then gives the boat a good push away from the bank. This time, the wind was so strong that by the time she had untied the rope the boat was already moving on its own accord and off we went. Normally we chug slowly past moored boats but today it was half ahead all engines, sorry, engine, I've only got one, as we tried not to drift into any of the moored boats on the other side of the canal. I must say that the weather has cleared a lot of boats off of the canal. Once again we had a fairly clear run up to the services at Giffard Park, near Great Linford. The usual, top up with water, empty the loo, get rid of the rubbish and a quick shop at Tesco for milk and nibbles. Off again heading straight into the wind. We skirted the top of Great Linford and then through the middle of New Bradwell. We had intended to go through the lock at Cosgrove but decided to stop where there were sheltered moorings available. And, as I said earlier, a quick supper, secure the boat for the night and then join the church Lent course. 

Thursday and the wind is making its presence felt. We fortified ourselves with bacon, eggs, toast, tea and coffee and then set off. The aim for the day had been to get up and through Stoke Bruerne for a quick trip on Friday back to the marina. 

We got through Cosgrove lock OK but had to fight against the wind to, once again, clear all the boats moored right where we didn't want to go. We only managed five miles and decided to stop at the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight. 

I must confess that it is quite challenging to battle against the wind but it is also quite exhilarating at the same time. When you're crabbing sideways along the canal and you're not 100% certain that you're not going to crash into the bank or the next bridge, then when you do clear both, whoopee! 

Anyway, safely moored up, fish dish in the oven, Prime video on the computer (with the new sound box in action), curtains pulled and fire alight. Forecast for tomorrow is much improved. 

You don't often get waves on the canal

Safe and warm inside Polgara

The Campbells are coming

 What on earth? The canal boat ahead of us has sprouted a huge crane from its hold. First it was extended across the canal and then across the towpath. What the ...?

Not a very good picture - taken through two windows

When we set off we found that it was a C&RT vessel and that the men had probably been working the equipment to make sure that it all still worked.

There it is, all folded up and back in place.

Not far from our overnight mooring is The Three Locks. A friend of ours in our village used to be landlady here, so we feel as if it is 'our pub.' 

As we got close to Milton Keynes we passed a very nice development complete with its own private moorings and lift bridge. It was good to see several boats moored up on the pontoons. 

We noticed today that there are fewer boats on the cut than when we came down on Saturday. Obviously, folk were making a long weekend of it but today we fairly sailed along, only slowing for the residential moorings. 

Below is a picture of the second lifeboat that we have seen on our journey this time. Probably difficult to sink, unlike another poor boat that was well down in the water. 

Well, tonight we have stopped at Campbell Park where there are mooring rings and nice views from the windows. 

As you can tell, we are now on our way back home but we've had a lovely time coming down this way. We would have liked to have gone further South but the weather was against us at the start. OK, we could have pressed on through the rain and snow but we wanted to enjoy our time away and not motor just for the sake of motoring. We did all that when we were much younger and enjoying our leisure time now takes precedence. 

See, a nice view from our window. 

A hasty turnaround

Woke up at about 4 o'clock this morning with the rain drumming down on the roof. Not a problem normally except that I hadn't put the coolie hat on the chimney which meant that water would be coming down the inside and making a right mess in the fire. So, out we go, perch on the edge of the boat to put the hat in place. It probably wouldn't have mattered too much but at least I could go back to sleep knowing that all was well. 

Still raining at breakfast time so we set off when it eased off a bit, through Leighton lock and then a long slow chug through Leighton Buzzard past a whole procession of moored boats. 

Our intention was to go as far as Grove Lock, have a look at the pub there and see if we wanted to stop for lunch. The pub looked OK from a distance but there was nowhere to moor, it was near to a main road and it all looked a bit scrubby. So, an amazing turn around (with no one around to applaud or witness this amazing feat of seamanship) and a return the way we had come. 

On the way down we had seen a hire boat stuck at the side of the canal where his engine had just stopped. So, having missed out on our pub lunch, we pulled up to see if we could help out. The captain did a magnificent job of getting us alongside while I nipped on board to have a nose around. The poor chap had got a boat canopy wrapped around the propeller but it was a bit more of a job than I could tackle. Anyway, we weren't far from the boat yard and they were sending someone out to sort it all out for them. Later in the day we saw them cheerily sailing past, so all's well that ends well. 

Another long slow chug back to where we had started and here's a picture of the captain steering the boat into Leighton Lock.

Unfortunately the boat nudged the other gate open so I had to push the back of the boat across the lock so that the captain could nip off and close it for me. 

We then went about 1/4 mile to The Globe Inn where, believe it or not, we stopped for lunch after all. No photos but we had a lovely Sea Bass risotto and in far nicer surroundings than before. 

After lunch we motored on another mile and stopped just short of Soulbury Three Locks for the night. A tad noisy on the mooring as we are close to a main road but, hey ho, can't be worse that rain at 4 in the morning. Can it? Perhaps it can, I've just heard a train go past as well! 

A lazy day

A lovely sunrise and, just as we were about to set off, along comes Magnus Mirificus, a smart looking boat, who were happy to wait for us at Soulbury Three Locks so that we could go through together. When we got to the lock, not that much behind them, there were hundreds of young people ready to work the locks for us. Well, perhaps not hundreds, but the family on the boat had children and cousins along with them who were only too eager to help out.

In the lock we kept smiling since there was a chap from Waterways World who kept taking pictures of the two boats. Who knows, we could be on the cover of WW next month! (Very much doubt it) 

Look, blue sky and it hasn't rained or snowed all day! 

Even the captain's smiling. 

We've seen several swan's nests on our trip but haven't seen any eggs yet. 

Have only travelled two miles today and have stopped just before Leighton Buzzard. Had a nice walk in the afternoon to visit Tesco for supplies. Almost in their car park is an Aldi store as well, so you are spoilt for choice. Found a post box nearby and a handy pub for the horse. 

The pub is, obviously, The White Horse. 

Walking back to the boat we pass the Wyvern Hire Boats, all freshly painted for the summer season. 

Well, that's it for now, see you all tomorrow. 

Catch me if you can

Exciting start to the day - emptying the loo and taking on water. We also managed to get rid of some rubbish, all of which made a good start for the day's trip.

Much of the time was taken by travelling down the eastern edge of Milton Keynes. Not as bad as it sounds since the developers included many open park spaces, many of which are alongside the canal. Several new estates have sprung up since we last came this way, but most tastefully designed. 

At Fenny Stratford the captain had problems with the swing bridge that is right across the lock. Fortunately there is a pub right on the lock side and several helping hands rushed to her aid. After that a pleasant trip along to Stoke Hammond, dodging rain clouds all the way. 

A beautiful sunset to round off the day. 

April showers

I should have mentioned yesterday that, when walking round Grafton Regis, there was a great cracking sound and a very tall conifer fell into the farmer's field. Luckily it fell that way and not across the A508, a very busy road. So busy in fact that we gave up trying to cross it to have a look at the site of The 17thC. Hermitage where Elizabeth Woodville secretly married Edward IV in 1464. 

Instead, we walked past The White Hart where a sign proclaimed that the chef had been shouting through a colander and thought that he had strained his voice. 

Anyway, on to today, Friday 1st April. A glorious start to the day with bright sunshine but also quite a heavy frost. Luckily for us the fire stayed in all night (as it always does) and we woke to a warm, cosy boat. 

About a mile along the canal we stopped at Baxter Boatyard, Yardley Gobion, to top up with fuel and gas. Our gas bottle ran out last night right in the middle of cooking supper. We always have a spare to hand but it did mean that supper was a little later than planned. Fuel and gas have always been a major expense but this year a little more so. After that, onwards in bright sunshine past Thrupp Wharf - for those who know the canals, not that Thrupp, the other one - and then on through Cosgrove. The canal then loops round the top of Milton Keynes and is a mixture of backs of house, old factory units, new estates and loads of moored boats. As we looped Northward we were heading straight into the wind which had been at our backs all morning. Purely by coincidence, the captain repaired below to start preparing supper. This was to be a chicken casserole cooked in our Eco Pot. The idea is that you brown off the chicken, pop it in the pot with celery, onion, peppers, red wine and carrots, boil it up for 15 minutes, slam on the lid and leave it to cook all afternoon in the thermal cooker. It's a bit like a slow cooker but without the constant need for gas or electricity - just what we need on the boat on a fast becoming cold day. Oh yes, and by now there were the April showers! Luckily the canal then ran East West until we arrived at our overnight mooring at Great Linford. 

Time for a breezy afternoon walk to the local Tesco shop (other stores are not available any closer) for milk and bread and then back to the boat for supper, rounding off the evening with 'Have I got News for You.' 

View from our mooring

looking over Linford Park

View along the canal