Circus Field Basin to Aylesbury Town Wharf and back

Sat 30^th May  Aylesbury Canal Society to Aylesbury Town Wharf.

We had a beautiful sunny day for our “shakedown” cruise – the first outing for us since September last year. It was a Canal Society event, going down to the town for one night, and returning the next day.

The boat was in remarkably good condition, considering it had not been used for a while, although we have run the engine from time to time. There was a fair bit of cleaning to do, removing Sahara dust, and spider webs, but no mould or damp.

Matt kindly opened the lift bridge for us as we left. No photos of this, as a lot of concentration is needed to get the boat out into the canal through the narrow entrance.

No fishing is allowed in Circus Field Basin, but there were two fishermen by the entrance, hoping to catch the large carp that live there. We told them that they needed to be kind to the fish, as they all had names.

Leaving Circus Field Basin

Sunny day

It was a leisurely cruise down to Lock 15, which was against us. This one has Yale type vandal proof locks. On the Aylesbury Arm, the locks don’t have walking boards to the side of the gates, so you can’t just step across from one gate to the other as we do on most of the narrow canals. James therefore had to walk round the lock twice, once to open the gates, and again to close them.

Lock 15 and the aqueduct over the Bear Brook

We trimmed off a bit of the excess vegetation on the offside as we went, and we soon came to Spirit, moored by Tesco. We had a chat with Roger and Jo, who are now active members of our church.

Offside vegetation

Roger and Jo

We passed through Lock 16, which was also against us, and negotiated the very narrow road bridge, made more difficult by the boat which is permanently moored just below the bridge. It must get hit by passing boats quite frequently, as it is hard to avoid. We managed, with the help of our bow thruster. No photos due to concentration.

Next came the unusually shaped Highbridge, a footpath over the canal, with a plaque to commend its design.

Highbridge

Arriving at the end of the arm, we decided to reverse into a space on the pontoons. This was partly to enable a quick getaway the next day, but also because our main access is at the stern, and we sleep in the bows, away from any noise from the quayside.

James had a chat with Neil, on the old working boat Argus. He also has a Bantam Tug, no 67. He also talked to the lady on the Little Trip Boat, who looks out for Neil to make sure he is OK.

Bantam Tug

Waiouru was next to us – we saw them pass yesterday. The boat has changed hands since we last met them. Then it was Tom and Jane, and we met them on the Shroppie, in Wakefield, and we shared Cowley Lock. Now it is Mark and his wife.

Next to us on the other side, on the same pontoon as us, was a green hulled cruiser, owned by a young man named Izzy.

Gabriel next to Waiouru

Izzy’s boat

Daybreak was also there, but Ian was absent, apparently on holiday somewhere. He is often here busking. James had been hoping to have a jam session with him.

We went for a wander round the town, buying some good value produce on the market, including some very edible samosas, which we consumed later. We had a drink in the Rockwood, a pleasant pub we have not discovered until now.

Back at the boat, we found that Ian and Maureen had arrived on Tamora, and a little later, Adam and Michael arrived on Lily May.

The line up: Argus and the Bantam Tug, Tamora, Izzy’s Boat, Gabriel, Waiouru, the Little Trip Boat, Daybreak, Lily May

The end of the arm

We all wandered off to El Halal for a curry at 7pm, and were joined by three others from ACS. It was a good meal, and very reasonable, partly because it was BYOB. We took a flagon of Old Rosie Cider we had found in Waitrose.

We slept very well, overnight on the boat for the first time since September last year.

Aylesbury by night

2 locks, 1 mile, 1 lift bridge. Dep 1040, arr 1125

Sun 1^st Jun  Aylesbury Town Wharf to Aylesbury Canal Society

We started by having breakfast together at the Travelodge. They have a restaurant overlooking the canal, which they tend to keep secret – certainly we did not know about it, and we have been in Aylesbury for 8 years. It is open to non-residents, and they charge £8.99 for breakfast – eat as much as you like, including unlimited teas and coffees. Cereals, fruit salad, croissants, toast, plus most of the usual hot items to make a full English. It was very good.

Travelodge dining room

Travelodge

Early start

We made an early getaway, going up through lock 16 (against us!!). It was sad to see two lads under the tree by the lock, obviously out of their heads, presumably having taken some substance or other.

Under the tree

As we drew alongside Spirit, we offered a lift to Roger and Jo to go to our church in Circus Field Basin. This was helpful, as they then operated the next lock for us. We were surprised to see a boat coming down through the lock towards us. Above the lock they spoke to a guy who was walking past, and invited him to church with us. They had met him a few times before, but the timing of this meeting was providential. He came on board with us and came to the service.

Approaching Spirit

Meeting another boat at Lock 15

Roger and Jo at Lock 15

Rentacrew

When we arrived at Circus Field Basin, we stopped on the bollards outside, as we were late, and we rushed into the church service. It was a together service, with all the families included.

Afterwards, we went to retrieve the boat and return to our mooring, this time with our friend Chris on board, who said he had never been on a narrowboat before. We wanted to reverse in, so it took a little time.

2 locks, 1 mile, 1 lift bridge. Dep 0945, arr 1030, plus 20 minutes fiddling around to get moored up.

Next: perhaps after the Queens Jubilee in June.