Milton Keynes to Yelvertoft

Sun 3^rd Apr  St Peters Church to Old Wolverton

Early morning near St Peters Church

After a mild night we set off in time for a busy day. We had two miles to go before church, and we headed through Bradwell, and across the Grafton Street Aqueduct, built in 1991.

Crossing the Grafton Street Aqueduct

Wolverton Park, a development of apartments on the right and small businesses on the left, utilising one of the old railway carriage sheds.

Wolverton Park

We moored up on rings and walked across the new canal bridge to visit Kings Church. This must be the fifth time we have visited, over several years, and we get recognised now.  There was a good song we hadn’t heard before – Victor’s Crown, by Darlene Zschech and others.  In previous decades, a song used to be by one person, but these days it is usually a collaboration of several authors. 

The talk was all about our plans in relation to God’s plans, and how God sees the wider picture. When our plans get frustrated, there is usually a reason.  How appropriate this was for us after last week’s abandoned departure on Monday, and then we met Graham on Tuesday at the first lock. Because we didn’t have guests as we had planned, we were able to invite him on board, talk to him about the church in Aylesbury, and give him a leaflet. If our own plans had prevailed, that seed would not have been sown.

Kings Church

After the church service, which ended just after noon, we went to the bus stop and caught a number 6 to Stony Stratford, and found our way to the Vaults Bar at the Bull Hotel, where we had learned there was to be a “session”.  We arrived just on 1230 when the event was due to start, but we found it already in full swing.  We were made welcome, and shown to two seats right in the middle of things. Fiddles, concertinas, guitars, ukuleles, a hammered dulcimer and an auto harp. All great fun. We sang Low Bridge, Dorset Juggernaut, and the Banks of the Ohio, all well received.  The added bonus was Old Rosie Cider on draught.

 

Session in the Vaults Bar

It finished soon after 3pm, and by the time we had packed up our instruments we had to run for the bus at 3.29, which we just caught. This delivered us to Tesco in Wolverton in time for last minute shopping, before departing on the boat once more for a further mile to more open moorings in Old Wolverton by the Galleon.

0 locks, 3 miles.

Mon 4^th Apr   Wolverton to Grafton Regis

We had a lot of duck activity in the night.  At one point one was continually quacking about a hundred times a minute, regularly like a pump or a slow machine gun. Others were hammering their beaks against the side of the boat in an attempt to eat the green weed that is growing there at the waterline. Despite that we had a good night’s sleep.

Moored at Old Wolverton

The Iron Trunk Aqueduct

Looking down to the Great Ouse

The straight mile from Wolverton to Cosgrove

We crossed the iron trunk aqueduct at Cosgrove, and as we approached the lock we could see that there was a boat already going up in front of us. They were very slow. The guy was insisting on doing everything himself, even though the lady was keen to take a part.  They had one top gate open. Her: “Shall I untie the rope?”  Him: “No, not yet”, as he slowly wound down the paddles, and then untied the rope himself. Her: “Shall I put on some power to start moving the boat forward?”  Him: “No, not yet” as he started pulling the boat forward through the open gate, using the rope.  Me: “Don’t worry about closing the gate – I’ll do it”

They slowly puttered off and round the corner.  We hoped we wouldn’t catch them up. The time it took us to come up through the lock should give them a decent head start.

At the facilities block we found another boat filling up with water. When asked how long he was likely to be he said about half an hour, as his tank was nearly empty, and the tap was slow.  We decided to postpone the exercise until the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne locks. We emptied a cassette and the rubbish and were on our way again, under Solomon’s Bridge. Cosgrove village looks pleasant, with an old pub, and a horse tunnel under the canal. We have never stopped there, but maybe next time.

Cosgrove

Soon after Thrupp Wharf the canal felt very slow, there were a lot of trees encroaching on the off side, and a wave was cresting, indicating shallow water. We met a wide beam hotel boat, and had to wait while they passed, as there was bush sticking out from the towpath, and there wasn’t room for all of us.

Wide hotel boat

We had an uneventful but pleasant journey through open countryside, past Yardley Gobion until, just up ahead, a familiar sight appeared. The boat from the lock at Cosgrove!  Thankfully they decided to pull over for an early lunch and we passed them.  We didn’t go much further ourselves, mooring at Graft Regis, with lovely views across the valley, with sheep and lambs on both sides of the canal.

Moored at Grafton Regis

 Spring is here

We had woodpeckers drumming in the trees, and making their distinctive laughing calls as they flew. We also heard curlew down in the valley but we never saw them.

The forecast was for rain in the afternoon, and we didn’t want to be doing the Stoke Bruerne locks in the wet.  Sure enough we had some heavy downpours later. Tomorrow is forecast dry.

Rain

Heavy Rain

1 lock, 5 miles

Tue 5^th Apr  Grafton Regis to Stoke Bruerne

A beautiful view greeted us this morning as the sun rose. There was mist in the valley, and every blade of grass had a water jewel at its tip. The woodpeckers and curlew could still be heard, and we had two little egrets wading in one of the flooded fields.

Sheep

Mist in the valley

Bejewelled grass

Early morning at Grafton Regis

James released the ropes in both bows and stern, as Hazel was busy starting the washing machine.  A boat appeared behind us just we started to leave the bank.  In these circumstances it is always debatable whether to put on power and go, or to throttle back and let them pass. They seemed to be going slowly, so we set off at a pace, and soon realised that they were dawdling and the space between us grew.  We slackened off to normal speed and didn’t see them again.

We spotted a sparrow hawk, flying low above the towpath, following the hedge, hoping to catch small birds by surprise.

We were soon at the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne locks, where we stopped to fill our water tank, empty a cassette, and dispose of rubbish.  This took us half an hour, and James went forward to set the first lock. It was 80% full and there was a boat leaving the lock above, so he opened the top paddles to fill the lock for them.  By the time all this had been done, and the boat had gone through, there was another boat coming into view below, so we shared the locks with them.  Erigeron came from Berkhamsted. 

Stoke Bruerne Bottom Lock

 Weirs over the lock gates

When water is weiring over the gates it usually indicates that a boat is coming down the flight, emptying a lock higher up. There were indeed several other boats coming down, including an elderly couple who had come all the way from Scarisbrook Marina, between Liverpool and Wigan, in just two weeks.

Synchronised boating

Stoke Bruerne Top Lock

We completed all seven locks and moored up. Erigeron went on further.

We had a family gather round very excitedly because our boat is called Gabriel and so is their son. They took pictures and we gave them a leaflet.

Kathryn came to see us and told us all about her accident when she broke her hip. We invited her for a meal in the evening, when our discussion included boat toilets (of course!), aeroplane toilets, life after death and winding holes.

Kathryn

7 locks, 2 miles

Wed 6^th Apr   Stoke Bruerne to Weedon

In the morning there was evidence of mouse hunting success for Hugo on the floor. We spotted a Fox boat for Peter Ekins, who likes to keep his Fox Boat register up to date. The boats have a very distinctive bow.

Arctic Fox bows

We set off north, noticing the new visitor information signs, simulating lock gates that have recently been installed around Stoke Bruerne. Kathryn has had something to do with these. Then through Blisworth Tunnel, which was extremely wet following the heavy rain we have had recently.  We met one boat coming the other way.

New signs at Stoke Bruerne

Blisworth Tunnel South Portal

Emerging from the tunnel

Everything wet

Blisworth

We paused at Gayton Junction to use the facilities there, and just as we were about to leave, another boat, Lizzie Beth, pulled to do the same. They were going in same direction as us.

New buds

We continued with through very strong winds as far as Weedon, where we moored up just beyond Milly M, a boat belonging to Maffi, a friendly character well known to many on the canal system, whom we have met once before, in 2014 on the Oxford Canal.

The mooring here was slightly sheltered from the wind, but we had trains thundering past on the line just across the canal.  Lizzie Beth went past.

We went for a curry in the evening at Brinjol, which was excellent value – a starter, a main course, a side dish, and rice or nan for £9.95.  The food was good, efficiently served, and too much to eat, so we had a takeaway container at the end. Too good for a dog – we’ll have it ourselves.

We then visited Tesco to stock up the food cupboards.  On our return, Maffi was around on his boat so James had a chat.

0 locks, 11 miles, 1 tunnel, 1 mouse

Thu 7^th Apr  Weedon to Norton Junction

Too close to trains

Maffi’s boat Milly M

The weather forecast kept changing every time we took a look. Rain and showers were forecast, but early seemed better than late, so we set off early (7.25am!) in dry weather. We passed Lizzie Beth, moored up not far round the corner. By the time we reached Whilton Marina, there was a light shower. We stopped near the first lock to warm up, hoping another boat would appear. 

Hazel visited the chandlery, which has been re-organised and is very user-friendly.

The rain started to ease off, and Lizzie Beth arrived, so we agreed to share the seven locks together.

Sharing the locks with Lizzie Beth

The M1 runs alongside at this point and there were heavy lorries and cars, all moving slowly, as there was a 50mph speed limit. We met several boats coming down the locks, which helped, but the rain started again, and we were chilled and damp by the time we reached the top lock nearly two hours later.  Shelley and Gary on Lizzie Beth carried on towards Braunston, while we turned off onto the Leicester Arm at Norton Junction, and very soon found a mooring. It was well shielded by trees and bushes, so that the sound of the A5 and M1 were diminished somewhat.

Bridge 1 on the Leicester Arm

A shepherd’s hut at the junction.

Wide views across the valley. Lizzie Beth in the centre.

The sun came out in the afternoon. We timed it all wrong!

7 locks, 4 miles.

Fri 8^th Apr  Norton Junction to Crick

Moored at Norton Junction

Inchy

It was overcast but dry as we left our mooring. The next boat was Inchy, people we know from BCF, but Roberta wasn’t on board. There was a mile marker, no longer showing miles to Braunston, but the miles to Leicester.

Mile marker

We saw some large rabbits, and a green woodpecker in the fields. There was also a swan nesting.

Swans nest

 Roman Road, Canal, Railway, Motorway

It took 40 minutes to reach Watford Locks, and we reported to the lock keeper. He said there some boats coming down, and we could start going up when a boat called Sherry came through.  We had a 30 minute wait, and James set up his time lapse camera, hoping to have better success than last time. 

Waiting for Watford Locks

Then we discovered that it was not Sherry but Cherie with friends Eric and Sue Naylor at the helm. It was good to see them. They are on their way to Little Venice Cavalcade.

Eric and Sue

The Watford Locks consist of a staircase of four, with two singles at the bottom, and one at the top. It was good to be back on narrow locks, which are less heavy, and quicker to fill and empty.  Each of the staircase locks has a side pound, and the plan is to take water from there first to fill the lock, using the red paddle gear before emptying the lock above into the side pound, with the white paddle gear.  Red before White, you’re alright.  If you do it the other way round, you are in danger of making the side pounds overflow.

Entering the staircase

Emptying into the side pound

 Near the top

At the top we emptied a cassette and disposed of rubbish, but we planned to wait until Yelvertoft before filling the water tank.

Crick Tunnel

A mile further on was Crick Tunnel, which was damp, but not as wet as Blisworth. We moored just after bridge 11 at Crick.  We noticed that Large Marge was moored in front, with no-one aboard. We had lunch, and then Laura and Alison returned and knocked on the boat and we had a chat. They spent some time last winter in Circus Field Basin in Aylesbury, which was where we first met them. 

We went shopping in Crick, at the Co-op. Shops along this section are few and far between.

Large Marge went off to find somewhere more open, as they were having difficulty with internet, phone and TV signals.

We stayed where we were, as we only need to go two miles tomorrow, to Yelvertoft.

7 locks, 5 miles, 1 tunnel.

Sat 9^th Apr  Crick to Yelvertoft

Moored at Crick, looking back towards the tunnel

We didn’t have far to go today – just two miles to Yelvertoft.  It was sunny as we left Crick, and we noticed a strange item attached to bridge 12. Does anyone know what this is?

Crick Wharf

What is this?

The canal takes a turn round a notable feature called Crack’s Hill.  It looks a bit like Watership Down, and there seems to be a large rabbit warren there.

Crack’s Hill

We noticed some unusual brickwork on Bridge 16

Just past Yelvertoft Marina we saw two familiar boats: Maggie May, and Large Marge. We moored beyond them.  Laura and Alison went into the village to seek out the shop, and we renewed our acquaintance with Peter and Steph on Maggie May.  We last saw them on the River Wey before we left home.

Peter and Steph

Large Marge

We had some rain, and then, later, a couple knocked on the boat, asking about Canal Ministries. We invited them in for a cup of tea, and it turned out that they were from the Congregational Church we are going to in the morning. We discussed how we might work together on an event to bring a gospel message to people in the village.

0 locks, 2 miles.

Next week: Heading towards Leicester. Meeting Cousin Anabel. Sunday afternoon music session at Kings Lock Tea Rooms, Aylestone.