Stoke Bruerne to Milton Keynes

Mon 15th Oct  Stoke Bruerne

This morning was dull and wet, as had been forecast for the rest of the day. We sent a text to Kathryn who came along later to hello, and have a cuppa on board. It was good to catch up.

We went to explore the Boat Inn “shop”. This is a small room in the pub that holds some basics for boaters and perhaps locals as there is no proper shop in the village, and the bus only runs on Sundays.  We came away with a loaf of bread.

On the way back we looked in on Kathryn to see her new sports car, and then went for tea and cake in the cafe with her, before returning to the boat to catch up on a few things.

Stoke Bruerne on a wet day

We went for a meal at the Boat Inn in the evening. Chicken Bruerne was very good – chicken, bacon and goat’s cheese. The cod in parsley sauce was also good.

The Boat Inn

No boating today

Tue 16th Oct  Stoke Bruerne to Yardley Gobion

A misty start, although sunshine had been forecast for later.

Moored in Stoke Bruerne

Foggy dew

We set off to the top lock to say farewell to Kathryn before going down the locks.

Passing Sculptor on the way to the locks

Farewell to Kathryn

While we were there the boat moored next to us had got organised and came down ready to share the locks with us. This was Shadow, with Bridget and Denis. It turned out that they had been in the Boat Inn last night as well, and had witnessed the guy behind the bar writing a song with his guitar. They had been in a different part of the bar.

Sharing Top Lock with Shadow

The first two locks were in our favour.  In the Long Pound we spotted Kathryn’s old boat Leo 2, so we sent her a photo.

Leo 2

After this the locks were against us, and we spotted a boat going down three locks ahead. However, another boat appeared, coming up the locks towards us, and there was another boat two locks behind that, so locks were back in our favour.

Synchronised boating

We emptied a cassette and disposed of rubbish at the facilities at the foot of the locks, and left Shadow filling their water tank.

There were very few boats moving. We stopped just after Bridge 62 at Yardley Gobion, as this was furthest from the busy A508, and there were wide views across farmland.  After about thirty minutes, Shadow went past.

Rural mooring near Yardley Gobion

There was a footpath marked on the map, so we decided to explore Yardley Gobion, as we had never been before. The footpath led us from Bridge 62 up a hill beside a farm, and across a very cloggy field. Thankfully we were both wearing boots.  After kicking off the mud as best we could, we walked along the road into the village where we saw a nice looking pub called the Coffee Pot Tavern. We asked a local where the shop was and were directed through a housing estate to a NISA store where we bought a few items. We returned along a different road, through the old part of the village, which has picturesque thatched cottages.

Cottages in Yardley Gobion

The Coffee Pot Inn

We saw a couple doing some gardening in the churchyard, and it turned out that they were Rob and Helen, and he is a volunteer with Scorpio, the historic boat at the Canal Museum, with Kathryn.

We stopped at the pub for a very welcome coffee, before walking back to the boat.  We chose a different route to avoid the muddy field, walking down the hill towards the canal basin, and crossing the canal at Bridge 60. It was slightly further, but a lot easier.

On the towpath we found what was left of a crayfish. We wondered what might have caught and eaten it. Apparently otters eat them, but we don’t know what else. Herons? Mink?

It remained cloudy all day – we never did get the sunshine we had been promised – just a glimpse at sunset time.

Yardley Gobion sunset.

Hugo caught a mouse later, and we heard a tawny owl in the trees close by.

7 locks, 4 miles, 1 mouse

Wed 17th Oct  Yardley Gobion to Stanton Low Park

It was misty this morning, and it was late by the time we left our mooring.  As we did so, another boat came into view behind us, and they followed us almost all the way.

We passed the Navigation Inn at Thrupp Wharf – one day we will stop and eat here. We also passed through Cosgrove without stopping, and even passed the sanitary station as we didn’t need it.

Navigation Inn

Solomon’s Bridge at Cosgrove

A boat had just come out of Cosgrove lock, but there was one still in there, which wasn’t moving. A guy was on the opposite side of the lock and he started to close the lock gate. We said not to as there were two boats coming in. So he walked back round the lock ever so slowly to get on the boat with his mate, before they came out at snail speed.

So we went into the lock, and the other boat, Bishy Barny Bee, came in beside us. There was another boat waiting to come up (a diesel bug cleaning boat) and another waiting to come down by the time we left the lock.  The boat we shared with stopped before the Cosgrove Aqueduct, but we continued across the Great Ouse, and on as far as Wolverton, where we paused on the bollards.

Waiting for Cosgrove Lock

We saw a container ship!

Cosgrove Iron Trunk Aqueduct

Crossing the aqueduct

Looking down on the Great Ouse

Under the Brunel Railway bridge

Hazel went over the footbridge in the direction of Tesco, while James tried to get to the station by using the steps up to the road. He found they were sealed off, but there was a footpath to one side. That had a turnstile preventing entry from the canal, allowing only exit. He gave up and followed Hazel to Tesco for serious provisions. This was the first large shop since Leamington Spa.

The sealed off staircase

Trying to get back with the trolley was a challenge as there were lots of steps. There was a lift that we have used in the past, but it was out of order.  We managed it with difficulty, and then Hazel started unpacking, while James went back across the footbridge to gain access to the station by the road. Here he managed to obtain our pre-ordered rail tickets to Suffolk from the machine.

Back at the boat, we set off again, with some sunshine at last, having spent two hours altogether at this temporary stop.

The Wolverton Railway Mural

Grafton Street Aqueduct looking back

We cruised for another two miles, stopping at what we used to call Stantonbury Park, but it now seems to be called Stanton Low Park. It is possible that Stantonbury Park is on the south side of the canal, where Stantonbury Park Farm used to be, and Stanton Low Park is on the north side, where it slopes down towards the Great Ouse. It was here that James saw a cuckoo in the spring this year.

Stanton Low Park

Our mooring

Hugo ventured out, but was soon chased back in by two very fast dogs from a boat moored further up. 

We had some red sky later. Hugo ventured out again.

  

Sunset

1 lock, 5 miles

Next:  further round the perimeter of Milton Keynes, with a shopping break, and then up to Leighton Buzzard. (Down on the maps, i.e. further south, but up in terms of rising through the locks).  Aiming for Hockliffe Street Baptist Church for Sunday where David Allsop (a friend from Aylesbury) preached last week.

Weedon to Blisworth and Stoke Bruerne

Thu 11th Oct  Weedon to Bugbrooke

Moored in Weedon

It was very breezy today as we left our mooring in Weedon and cruised  past the workshop where our boat will be painted in 2021.  Steve gave is a wave as we passed.

Steve Furniss – boat painter

We had no need to stop at Stowehill Wharf for diesel as we had filled up at Calcutt. The price was the same – 83p.  We thought we should get some coal in case the weather turned cold, so we bought two bags at Bridge 32

Coal stop

At furnace Wharf we saw Fox boat Bedford, still under wraps as it has been for several years.  There also a dog looking very relaxed.

Fox boat Bedford

Comfortable dog

The badger sett near Bugbrooke looked very active. One day we will stop here and actually see them.

Bugbrooke badgers

Sunset near Bugbrooke

We stopped just after Heyford Fields Marina, where we were not under trees, as strong winds are forecast.  There is also a handy footpath to a bus stop here.

Hugo brought in a small mouse, and James rescued it.

Five minutes later Hugo had a larger one, which was not so fortunate.

0 locks, 4 miles, 2 mice

Fri 12th Oct  Bugbrooke (and Northampton)

With wet and windy weather forecast, we decided not to move the boat. Instead, we took a bus (D3) into Northampton for the day.

Hazel successfully bought a new cardigan, and we bought a few other bits. We stopped at a noodle bar for lunch, which was very nice.

Then we visited the Council offices to ask about open air music performance rules and venues. We didn’t get a sensible answer – just a very long form to complete. There is likely to be a BCF mission here next year, hence the question. The dates are still to be finalised.

Northampton Council Offices

We also found a pub that might make a good gig venue – the Mail Coach. We are not involved with organising the mission, but we have arranged our own gigs for the last two years, so we took the opportunity to do some research.  Later we saw online that the Malt Shovel might also be a good location.

The Mail Coach

We went to Morrisons for a few items, returning via All Saints Church, which looks lively and has a cafe, and overlooks a large square.

All Saints Church

We took the bus back to Blisworth and walked across the field again, back to the boat. Storm Callum had arrived, and there was a lot of wind. We moved loose items off the roof.

No boating today

Sat 13th Oct  Bugbrooke to Blisworth

Moored near Bugbrooke

It had been windy and wet overnight, and there had been a lot of noisy banging from a shed nearby which had a loose corrugated iron roof, flapping in the wind.

The rattling shed

Heavy skies

A wet morning near Bugbrooke

Then the weather changed, and we had bright sunshine by 10am.  It was still breezy but the wind was warm

As we cruised towards Gayton Junction, we spotted a good sized terrapin sunning itself.

Terrapin

Turnover Bridge 47

At Gayton Junction two boats had just arrived at the facilities before us, so we waited opposite until they had finished.  After we had been there for half an hour, another boat arrived from the Nene, and said they were desperate for the facilities, but then, realising there was a queue, they carried on out of sight.  Obviously not that desperate!.

Waiting to use facilities at Gayton Junction

When we had emptied and filled various things, we moved on a short way, and moored at Blisworth for church in the morning.  The moorings here are by the backs of houses and gardens, and there was only one space available.

Moored in Blisworth

Hazel had started a very heavy cold, and James went to the shop for some suitable remedy. He noticed that the Anglican Church was open, so he went inside, and discovered that an art exhibition was taking place. This church is confusingly called the church of St John the Baptist, Blisworth, as opposed to Blisworth Baptist Church.

St John the Baptist Church in Blisworth

Armed with milk and flu pills from the small shop there, he returned to the boat.

0 locks, 4 miles.

Sun 14th Oct  Blisworth to Stoke Bruerne

Hazel was a lot better this morning, but yesterday’s sunshine had been replaced by heavy rain today, so we took umbrellas as we walked up the hill to the village.

We went to the Baptist Church for the 1045 service, where we had a good welcome from a friendly bunch of people.  We discovered that Peter Atwill had preached here in the past.  The worship was led by a man on the organ for some songs, and a guy on guitar for others. There was also a very musical family group who sang a song and played a tune later on recorders.  The sermon was about thankfulness, using the example of the ten lepers, when only one returned to thank Jesus for his healing.

Blisworth Baptist Church

Inside

The musical family

We went for lunch at the Royal Oak just round the corner.  We had booked a table, but no-one else was eating when we arrived, although there were several locals enjoying a drink.  Another couple came to eat a little later. The food was very nice.

The shop was closed when we emerged. We hadn’t checked the opening hours. We walked back down the hill to the boat and set off during a lull in the rain.

The Mill at Blisworth

Cruising in the wet

When we entered Blisworth Tunnel, we put down the canopy in case it connected with the roof.  A boat came in 5 minutes behind us, and had  three headlights on, which lit up the whole tunnel, dazzling us from behind.  We put on some extra speed, and soon put some distance between the two boats.  We were nearly at the end of the tunnel when a warning buzzer sounded.  The engine had overheated. We slackened off for a minute or two, and the warning stopped.

Looking back at Blisworth Tunnel

We moored up just before the village. The other boat did not appear, so either they turned round in the winding hole and went back, or they moored up just after the tunnel.  There are new mooring rings all along here.

Moored in Stoke Bruerne

0 locks, 3 miles

Next: down the Stoke Bruerne Locks and round Milton Keynes to Leighton Buzzard for next Sunday.