Milton Keynes

We has a spare week so decided to go to Milton Keynes. As well as allowing us to explore the canal beyond Stoke Bruerne (new ground for us) this also lets Jane see where Ric was working on his last contract.

Thursday 21st June 2007

Down the Buckby flight

We actually came out to the boat yesterday, but were delayed in setting out by one of Ric's clients, who needed a web site update, so just took on water, moored outside the marina and ran the engine for a bit to charge the batteries. We also pumped a significant amount of water out of the bilges.

Spent some time this morning fitting new rear-cabin benches (Ric hadn't allowed quite enough space for the trunking on the walls). Set out about 10:15 with Jane on the helm down to Norton Junction and the Buckby flight. The junction was quite confused with four boats but none of the others was going down the flight. However, we passed a dredger between the junction and the top lock and waited for them so we had someone to lock through the wide flight with. We took until about 12:30 to get down the flight so moored for lunch and a visit to the chandlery just past the bottom lock.

Steady but wet progress during the afternoon through intermittent but often heavy rain. We managed to establish that rain water from most of the starboard side of the roof runs across the rear deck, some of it going straight into the engine compartment.

There is a new marina, Heyford Marina, being built between bridges 34 and 35, still at the 'hole in the ground with pilings' stage. Wildlife keeping a low profile but saw terns fishing between bridges 42 and 43, just before we moored at a quarter past five between bridges 44 and 45. Fed some rather draggled-looking swans after mooring, then fitted new shelf in galley - looks good and saves space on the working surface. Dodged the rain to try out the new companionway trays. They fit either side of the companionway hatch to give a level surface and protect the coachroof from lock handles, mooring stakes and the like. The sky cleared later and Ric wondered if he should have put some paint on the boat.

Totals for both days : engine on 6 hrs, 13 miles, 7 locks.

Friday 22nd June 2007

Through Stoke Bruerne.

Ric glad he didn't paint - poured with rain overnight.

Ric spent most of morning fitting pull-switch in loo because Jane can't reach the built-in switch on the 'best' light.

Weather cleared a bit later so engine on 11:20, down to Gayton junction and turned for Gayton marina. Borrowed some colour swatches and decided to replace 'prunus' red (no longer available) with 'alfa' red. Bought some paint and a Nene key for later in the year.

Back to the main line and on down to the tunnel. The new marina near Gayton, Blissworth marina, is now open for business. Stopped briefly at Stoke Bruerne but a following boat, "Sunseeker", overtook us. Since they were locking down at least the first couple of locks, we decided to share locks. They picked up extra crew at the pub between the locks so we reached the bottom of the flight in good order before half-past five. We stopped at the bottom of the flight in the rain for water but then pressed on until just after six. Heard lots of yellowhammers around bridge 56. We moored just past the bridge, rural, with grass trying to get into the windows. Need to bring shears...

Engine on 4 hours 30, 6 miles, 7 locks.

Saturday 23rd June 2007

To Milton Keynes.

Broken night so a slow start, weather dry but threatening.

Under way just after 09:30. Jane spotted the first kingfisher of the trip just after bridge 57, and a green woodpecker just after that. Terns fishing just north of Cosgrove lock, which we reached about 11:30. Lots of traffic around the lock.

Passed the (impressive) Great Ouse aqueduct about ten minutes after leaving the lock. We're seeing more broad beam boats now we're further down the canal.

The area round the station is being redeveloped with lots of red hoardings and cranes. Despite our friend Linda's tales of a heron in every broken window, we haven't seen one yet. However, the murals she told us about (between bridges 71 and 71A) have been repainted, in 2005.

Saw the first heron of the trip just before mooring for lunch at bridge 75. Since the weather looked settled, we decided to stay there, and Ric put some more Hammerite on the hull sides whilst Jane walked the towpath. Of course, the heavens then opened...

Engine on 3 hours 25 minutes, 8 miles, 1 lock.

Sunday 24th June 2007

Back to the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight.

Weather no better today and three counties radio gives no hope for the immediate future. Decided to press on south for shopping then head north again as fast as possible in case the weather improves later. On our way at a quarter to ten. Stopped at bridge 78 for Lo-cost shop about twenty past ten. Not impressed by their stock but adequate.

Saw another heron between bridges 79B and 80A. Jane wound the boat just before bridge 83, and we started the return leg of the trip. Saw a heron again, and pulled some floating weed out of the canal.

Stopped for lunch between bridges 78B and 78. The drizzle was letting up a bit by now. On again just after half-past one. This time there was a heron in a window of the disused factory! Saw a yellowhammer just after, then a robin (unusually absent from this trip).

Jane helmed the boat through Cosgrove lock past a crowd of gongoozlers, then we carried on north, driving round a mauve boat that seemed to be winding (as far as we could tell from their antics) just past Thrupp wharf. Just after that we saw a vole or shrew swimming across the canal.

Saw the second kingfisher of the trip skipping ahead of the boat about 20 minutes before we moored near bridge 56, just south of the Stoke Bruerne flight. Ric tried to get a bit of paint on the boat but as usual it rained.

Engine on 5 hours, 15 miles, 1 lock.

Monday 25th June 2007

Back past Gayton.

Ric put a bit of paint on bits of the boat before we started (more in optimism than expectation) so under way about half-past ten. Quickly up to the first lock and went into it alone, where we were banged all over the chamber by a young couple working a pair south. They opened the top paddles all the way before we'd even closed the bottom gates - "They're there to be wound up, that's what they're for". Ho, hum. They were returning from a working-boat meeting over the last weekend.

Passed the rest of the flight more slowly with a couple from Manchester. Top lock was crowded with gongoozlers. Moored for lunch before the tunnel whilst the Mancunians went on.

Stopped briefly at bridge 51 to go into Blissworth for supplies. When we got back there was a boat across the cut. They had discovered that their headlight wasn't working and were trying to fix it before reaching Blisworth tunnel. We then pressed on north to bridge 43 after Gayton junction. Not our finest hour - Jane had a bit of backing and filling to do after meeting an oncoming boat under a bridge and Ric ran gently into a moored boat on a bend after a lapse of concentration whilst mopping rain. But there were a kingfisher and a heron on the last stretch.

Engine on 4 hours 20 minutes, 7 miles, 7 locks.

Tuesday 26th June 2007

Back to Norton Junction.

Not actually raining today, which is a considerable improvement. Got under way about ten. Far fewer boats today, though still a fair number of working boats going south. Spotted a kestrel just before we passed the new Heyford Fields marina again.

After lunch, pressed on to Buckby flight. Jane held boat whilst Ric went into the excellent chandlery. By the time he was back another boat had arrived to share the locks. Steady and unhurried progress with relaxed boaters coming the other way. The crew locking up with us were on the way to the Caldon and hoping to get to Braunston tonight, though boats coming the other way say it's still very crowded.

Stopped just onto the Leicester section and moored on a good low section of pilings. Ric set to repainting the bow flashes and sanding off and painting out the original "Wrenbury Mill" signwriting on the starboard coach side.

Engine on 6 hours, 12 miles, 7 locks.

Wednesday 27th June 2007

Back to the marina.

Weather started OK so Ric put more undercoat on bow flashes. Decided against any more topcoat, which was just as well as it started to rain quite soon!

Ran up to Watford locks and back, then got a pump-out and topped up the fuel before returning boat to mooring, packing and going home.

Engine on 1 hour 40 minutes, 3 miles, no locks.