Milton Keynes to Leighton Buzzard

Thu 20th Oct  Giffard Park to Water Eaton

We started with a full English breakfast at the Giffard Park, before continuing our journey through Milton Keynes.

There was beautiful blue sky in between the light clouds, and the sunshine picked out the autumn colours.

Milton Keynes Marina

Autumn Colours

 Virginia creeper

Sadly, Hazel was unwell and wasted her breakfast. She has made an appointment to see the doctor when we return to Aylesbury.

We said farewell to Tudor as we passed him painting his boat under a main road bridge.

We negotiated Fenny Stratford lock and swingbridge. It would be interesting to know how many times a vehicle crosses over each day, as I maintain that it should be kept open for boats unless needed for vehicles.

That swing bridge over the lock

Clouds started to gather, making spectacular sights in the sunshine.

Where are the cherubim?

We moored on piling at Water Eaton by a row of poplar trees, and had a rain shower later.

1 lock, 6 miles

Fri 21st Oct  Water Eaton to Leighton Buzzard

It was cloudy to start with as we left our mooring, and then sunny later.

Leaving Water Eaton

We had the locks to ourselves today – firstly Stoke Hammond Lock, and then Soulbury Three Locks.  There was a volunteer at the Three Locks, which sped up our progress as the locks were all ready for us.

Under the bridge by Stoke Hammond Lock

Stoke Hammond Lock

Three Locks at Soulbury

 The Globe Inn at Linslade

We moored above Leighton Lock by the park, where there is a hedge for Hugo. It is a pleasant walk from here via a riverside walk into the town.

We visited WH Smith to change our diary pages. No problem. However, they were a small store and had no printer ink.

We then looked at several of the many hairdressers and barbers in the town, and decided on Clippers, where we both had haircuts.  Then to a coffee shop called Ollie Vee’s.

We tried a different route back, via the Stag, where we had sung in March, and across the meadows.

5 locks, 6 miles

Sat 22nd Oct 

Lots of canoes came past early. Some went on below the lock, and others returned to their base.   Blue Iris (BCF) came past and tooted and waved before going down through the lock.  

Early canoes

Fuel barge Ascot came up through, and we hailed him to buy three bags of Homefire Ovals. That should be enough coal to see us through to Aylesbury.

Fuel Barge Ascot

We had a good music practice on board. Later we moved down to the shopping bollards to visit Aldi and Tesco for the heavier items like wine and cat food.

It is always amazing to see the vast number of ducks outside Tesco in Leighton Buzzard. They are fed by lots of people so they never go hungry.  We haven’t worked out where they all make their nests.

Leighton ducks

Then to the water point, the rubbish point and the “Visitor Moorings”.  There are no rings or bollards here, and the bank is a stone wall with a thin layer of grass covering it, so it is hard to get the mooring pins in.

There were fireworks going off somewhere, and in the flats opposite, a late party was taking place, with people chatting on the balcony until after midnight.

0 locks, 1 mile

Sun 23rd Oct  Leighton Buzzard

We found our way to New Life Church, which started at 0930 in a school. There was a worship band playing some very dated worship music, and an excellent speaker, on the subject of healing.  The proceedings started to wind down at around 1130, at which point we needed to depart.

 In search of New Life

We set off at a fast walk towards the light railway, which was running today. We had gone most of the way there when James discovered he had left behind his shoulder bag. Hazel carried on, and James returned. Thankfully it was still there.  That was an extra mile of unplanned exercise.

We had a bacon roll, a coffee and a piece of cake before going on the train. The line dates back to 1919, when it was built with war surplus equipment from WW1. It was originally used for moving sand from the quarries.

Going round the bend

Old stables and quarry trucks

 Engine sheds

Shunting

 Elf, built in 1936

Pedemoura, built in 1924

Carriage shed

We walked back towards Leighton Buzzard and stopped for a late lunch / early supper at Mevan, a Turkish restaurant. The food was excellent.

Back to the boat almost at dusk – days are getting shorter, and the clocks change next week.

No boating today.

Next: Continuing south to Marsworth, a diversion to Cowroast, the Wendover Arm and Bulbourne before our final return to Aylesbury.

Stoke Bruerne to Milton Keynes

Sun 16th Oct  Stoke Bruerne

The rain came early as promised by the weather forecasters. Fortunately by the time we wanted to walk along to Kathryn’s place it had mostly eased off.

A wet day in Stoke Bruerne

Drying out a bit

We had a pleasant time with Kathryn over coffee in her cottage, and thankfully we by the time we left the rain had stopped.

Mike had started on his trip boat, going up to the tunnel mouth and back time after time.

There was no service today in the local church, so we listened to a CD on Revelation by Paul Standley, which had been lent to us when we were in Barnoldswick earlier in the year.

We walked down past two locks to the long pound to see is there was anyone there that we knew. There were surprisingly few boats there, considering that every mooring was taken on the top pound.

Back to the boat for a music practice.

No boating today

Mon 17th Oct  Stoke Bruerne to Grafton Regis

We waited for the rain to pass before we set off.  We had to cruise up towards the tunnel and turn in the winding hole before heading for the locks.

Turning before Blisworth Tunnel

Assorted hardware

We knocked on Kathryn’s door but she was not in. We sent her a farewell text.

Outside Kathryn’s house

We shared locks with a young couple who had borrowed our hose connector at Yelvertoft. There was no name on their boat. It was evident that they were new to boating because they asked if two boats could fit in the lock.

Sharing with the hosepipe boat

We were following a single boater on a very slow boat called Sloth who wouldn’t accept any help.  He was sharing with a boat with three crew members, but he insisted on bow hauling his boat in and out of the locks, and doing the gates himself.

At lock 17, our two boats were ready to leave, but the next lock was not ready. As there was some breeze, the two boats stayed in the lock mouth, and the crews shut the gates behind them, and walked on down to the next lock, by the ugly road bridge. The two boats there were still in the lock, and when they left we had to wait for a single boat that was coming up.  We operated the lock for them, and they left the lock as our boats finally were able to leave their lock entrance.  As the guy went past Hazel he said “What’s that for?” “What do mean?” she said.  “Why did you shut the gate?” he said.   His boat had been two locks down and out of sight when we closed the gates.  His crew had not gone up to open the gates when she could have.  People need to be a little more relaxed and have patience when they are boating.

Synchronised boating with the ugly bridge in the background

We stopped to use the facilities at the foot of the locks, and we stopped for the day soon after bridge 57, near Grafton Regis. There were lots of tiny apples in the trees and on the ground, and we couldn’t walk without crunching them. 

Apples in profusion

James pit the crayfish traps out

7 locks, 2 miles

Tue 18th Oct  Grafton Regis to Giffard Park

There were 8 crayfish in the traps this morning.

Bright morning sunshine

We cruised on past Yardley Gobion.  Boats were moored just south of there, opposite a boat club, moored on a very narrow towpath with mooring pins.  Just the other side of the bridge there is piling and we wondered why they didn’t moor there instead?

Despite the sunshine, there were black clouds around and a strong breeze.

A weather front

We met Brighton and Nuneaton coming towards us. We always tuck into the side out of the way when we meet them as they look rather threatening! 

Brighton and Nuneaton

A new paint job?

Cosgrove looks interesting. One day we will stop there and explore.

Cosgrove

Converted industrial buildings in Cosgrove

Cosgrove Lock was being used by Sloth.  “You can get back on the boat now if you like, I’ll do the gate.”  “No, it’s alright, I’ll do it,” as he hauls the boat slowly out of the lock on a rope.  It would be much quicker and easier for everyone if single boaters would accept the help they are offered.

We crossed the iron trunk aqueduct at Cosgrove, and continued through Wolverton, where it was sad to see Brunel’s original railway bridge covered in graffiti.

Cosgrove Aqueduct

Brunel’s bridge in need of some TLC

As we started the long cruise around Milton Keynes, we saw lots of little apples on the ground, perhaps due to the wind, and some beautiful autumn colours.

Pommes de Terre

Autumn colours

 Is this really Milton Keynes?

We stopped at Giffard Park, and as we arrived we met Tudor on Out and About. He was just leaving. This is the fourth time we have met in the last three years, at Hillmorton, Ellesmere and Milton Keynes.

Dusk at Giffard Park

A bird had sat in the trees above the boat last night and left a deposit.  Probably a flock of pigeons, or several owls, or maybe a King Condor from the Andes judging by the pile!  James had to wash the roof, the plank, the boat hooks and the chairs.

We went for a meal at the Giffard Park sizzling pub and were pleasantly surprised. Good food for a very reasonable price.  We noticed that a pint bottle of Bulmer’s cider is no longer a pint but half a litre.

No longer a pint

Half a litre

1 lock, 9 miles

Wed 19th Oct  Giffard Park and CMK

Early morning at Giffard Park

Today was a shopping day. We caught the number 2 bus into central Milton Keynes, and went first to Music Kavern, a guitar shop in Xscape, for a new capo for James plus some guitar strings.  Then to WH Smith for next year’s diary pages (we later realised that we came away with the wrong ones!) and a till roll.  They don’t stock till rolls!

Then to Hotter shoes – they didn’t fit James and had the wrong colour for Hazel.

Then we went to Giraffe for lunch, followed by a visit to Krispy Creme Doughnuts for dessert and a coffee.

Then we went back on the bus to the boat at Giffard Park.  The bus stops here are very easy and we have found this to be the most convenient place for shopping in Central Milton Keynes.

No boating today

Next: to Leighton Buzzard for church and the light railway

Welford Junction to Stoke Bruerne

Wed 12th Oct  Welford Junction to Bridge 27

We had a pleasant sunny day for a gentle rural cruise through beautiful countryside. We went back under the A14 at one point.

Sunny cruise

 The A14

Wildlife sightings included a good view of a kingfisher in the sunlight, a buzzard, a green woodpecker, and about a dozen pheasants in a group.

We stopped at Bridge 22, where the towpath was south facing.

Moored near Yelvertoft

Crayfish time

James put out the crayfish traps once more

0 locks, 7 miles

Thu 13th Oct  Bridge 22 Haddon Road Bridge to Crick

Early morning near Yelvertoft

There were nine crayfish in the traps this morning, larger than the previous ones.

One of this morning’s catch

We had planned to stop near Crack’s Hill and walk to the top, but it was wet underfoot and we thought we would leave it until another time.

Crack’s Hill

We paused at the tap in Yelvertoft, and filled our water tank, and emptied our rubbish.

We moored opposite Andy Burnett boat sales, and went to The Moorings for lunch, where we got the last table, mainly due to the presence of a group of ten people from Atkins, and another group upstairs.  Hazel had smoked haddock and James had a chilli dog.  Both were good, washed down with a scrumpy cider.  Sadly their breakfast doesn’t start until 10am, too late for many, particularly if they have a few miles to make on the canals.

Hugo came in and miaowed at us. He had brought us a gift of a mouse, which James caught and released back into the undergrowth.

Hugo’s gift

In the evening we took our instruments, and wandered up first the Co-op for a few items, and then to the Royal Oak for FATO – Folk at the Oak, which happens on the second Thursday of the month.

There were lots of performers there so it was a packed programme. We sang Antiques, Santiano and Waterloo Road.  It wasn’t a singaround – everyone performed from in front of the fireplace. We sat in chairs right in front, feeling a bit like X Factor judges.  Jim and Jan were there with the musicians from the event in Yelvertoft, and they called themselves Canal Fever, singing waterways songs.

An assorted band at the Royal Oak

Canal Fever

Our turn

We tried Carling cider for the first time, and it wasn’t too bad. Less fizzy than expected.

Jan and Jim Lyon

0 locks, 3 miles, 1 mouse

Fri 14th Oct  Crick to Nether Heyford

There was a beautiful sunrise this morning in Crick

We reversed up to a sanitary station we had spotted at Crick Wharf, not marked in the Nicholson Guide, although it looks well established. 

Sanitary station in Crick

Having disposed of the rubbish and emptied a cassette, we lowered our chimney and made our way to Crick Tunnel. We realised we could have left the chimney up as the tunnel walls were quite high. Halfway through the tunnel we noticed another boat following us further back.

Crick Tunnel

Emerging

We were the first boat to Watford Locks, and they were ready for us, so we started down immediately, completing all seven locks in just 35 minutes.

Approaching Watford Locks

Top Lock at Watford

The side pond

The staircase

The bottom of the staircase

Entering Watford Bottom Lock

A sunny conclusion to Watford Locks

Autumn Colours

A boat pulled out of the marina in front of us by Balls Bridge, and we followed them to Norton Junction. They also turned left, as we did, and we ended up sharing the Buckby Locks with them.  Two brothers, Graham and Les on Foxy. The seven locks took 1 hour and 25 minutes.  15 minutes of this was taken up two hire boats who claimed the lock too early, and then took ages to get organised and complete the manoeuvre.

Norton Junction

Sharing Buckby Locks with Foxy

Bottom Lock by Whilton Marina

At Whilton marina, there was only one mooring space, so we tied alongside Foxy, and we all four went to the cafe for lunch. We also bought some stove glass cleaner from the chandlery.

We set off first, and paused at Weedon  to visit Tesco – just 35 minutes stopover. We stopped again at Stowe Hill Wharf, where we filled up our fuel tank – 61p per litre.  We moored at Nether Heyford where there were no houses in sight.

A pair of boats at Weedon

The crayfish traps went out when it got dark.  Hugo brought us a mouse as a present, unfortunately one that could no longer move.

14 locks, 11 miles, 1 mouse.

Sat 15th Oct  Nether Heyford to Stoke Bruerne

The view from our mooring at Nether Heyford

There were 4 crayfish in the traps this morning, one in each trap.  We had no locks today, just a twisty canal and a long tunnel.

We departed at just after 10am, and attempted to visit Heyford Fields Marina to discuss some work to be done on Gabriel. We couldn’t get in to the visitor mooring as it was shallow.  We were debating whether to go in and moor up, when a man came and asked us if he could help us. We told him what we were there for, and suggested we might bring the boat in, but he said we weren’t allowed to do that!  A bit odd as they have a diesel pontoon. He went to see if there was anyone from the engineering dept, and returned to say they weren’t in on Saturdays. They had been recommended by the Axiom propeller people.

 Strange container boat

We continued on our journey and just round the corner we came across Inchy, so we had a chat with Roberta and Tim.  They told us they are planning to leave the boat and live in a house fairly soon.

Inchy

Nothing to add

Eye of Horus, seen first in Nottingham this year

The turnover bridge near Gayton Junction

We stopped at Gayton Junction to empty a cassette and dispose of rubbish. Water stocks were OK so we carried on through Blisworth.

Blisworth

We entered Blisworth Tunnel and met no boats.  This is a long tunnel, and we were most of the way through when we saw a boat with a tunnel light at the entrance.  The light was very bright, and we had to slow down to tick over as we couldn’t see anything else except the dazzling light, and we assumed the boat was coming towards us.  It turned out it was the trip boat, with Mike at the helm with Kathryn keeping him company at the stern.  They turned round and went back towards Stoke Bruerne, and we were following about six boat lengths behind. 

Blisworth Tunnel

Making an exit

We saw Graham and Les on Foxy, moored up halfway along the visitor moorings.

The moorings were nearly all taken, and we turned, with inches to spare, above the locks by the Boat Inn.  We invited Kathryn for a meal before we returned to the first mooring slot, by the woodland walk.

James cooked the crayfish we had caught

Crayfish

Kathryn came along at 6pm, and we had an enjoyable catch up.

0 locks, 9 miles, 1 tunnel

Next:  Continuing south towards Milton Keynes