Grove Lock to Water Eaton

 Wed 8^th Jun  Grove Lock to The Globe Inn

Today was forecast to be fine, but there was a strong wind. We set off before Spirit, as we both needed the facilities, and didn’t want to queue.

We passed a boatyard where a narrowboat with a stern mounted paddle wheel was up on hard standing.

Paddle wheeled canal boat

When we arrived at the water point, there was a boat already filling up, so we moored up on the bollards just before and waited for them to finish. Soon another boat joined the queue near us. Half an hour later, when the first boat indicated that they were moving off, we cast off to take their place, but found a hire boat had arrived from the other direction and got there first! Apparently, they had been waiting just as long beyond the bridge. They took half an hour, and then it was our turn. One of our cassettes seems to have problems with the aperture mechanism, but thankfully we managed to remove the cassette and empty it. We will try to sort that out another time.

Waiting for water

Spirit came past, and decided to use the water point later at Three Locks. They found a mooring by Tesco, where there seemed to be a lot of boats already moored. We tied alongside when we finally arrived there, and we went shopping. Sue Ryder charity shop, Wilko, Poundstretcher, Superdrug, Waitrose, Aldi and Tesco. It took a while to stow everything away.

Full moorings at Tesco

We had a sandwich on board, and then set off, followed ten minutes later by Spirit. We were surprised to see a shelduck among the usual mallards by Tesco.

Shelduck

We were looking out for Ken on Ayup, but the boat was absent. Likewise, we haven’t seen Out ‘ n About yet.

As we were working through Leighton Lock, dark clouds gathered, and as we left the lock, the rain started.

Leighton Lock

Stormy weather brewing

It was quite heavy, so when we saw some moorings available by the Globe Inn, we gratefully tied up on rings.

Heavy rain

When the sun came out, we considered moving on, but decided to stay for the night. Soon after that it really rained hard.

Raining hard

Roger and Jo brought a delicious home-made lasagne to share with us this evening, and Hazel made a salad. Roger also contributed some French onion soup. We all joined in with the Canal Ministries Zoom. Some of the team are already in place at Water Eaton. We had to organise ourselves like a bus to see and be seen.

Zoom

Wildlife highlights: A shelduck among the mallards in Leighton Buzzard. Also, the sound of a deer barking in the evening near the Globe Inn. More families of mallards and swans.

Swan family

Cygnet

1 lock, 2 miles. Dep 0955, arr LB 1155. Dep 1505 arr Leighton Lock 1525. Dep 1535, arr 1600 Globe Inn.

Thu 9^th Jun   Globe Inn to Water Eaton

Moored at the Globe

We had breakfast on Gabriel with Roger and Jo, before setting off. Avocado and bacon on toast followed by almond croissants.

Bridge 110 at Old Linslade

On one of the sharp bends, we encountered two Jules Fuels boats, so we slowed to a stop to give them room. Spirit needed fuel, so we waited for a while, and then moved slowly on.

Fuel boat Bideford stopping to refuel Spirit

We saw an elephant by the side of the canal, and then we passed Ichthus, a boat that used to belong to BCF friends Malcolm and Muriel Wild

Elephant

Ichthus

Mandarin duck

Mandarin duckling

We arrived at the top of Three Locks. There was a boat coming up, and by the time they cleared the top lock, Spirit had arrived, so we went in and started our journey down. There were lots of volunteers around, so the locks were all set for us.

The first of three

Working well together

We made use of the rubbish bins and glass recycling, just one lock down. There were two boats coming up in the final lock. Hazel steered Gabriel to the right, so they could come through between Gabriel and Spirit.

The changeover

The third of three

As we emerged from the bottom lock, there was a wide beam waiting to come up, blocking our access to the water point, so we went past the wide beam to allow him to access the lock, and then the wind took Spirit across to the other side. We finally managed to get Spirit onto the water point, with Gabriel alongside. The pressure was good, and it didn’t take long to top up both boats.

By the water point

Roger was on a long phone call, so we set off slowly, saying to Jo that they might catch us up as we might see someone we know, and have a chat. Just round the corner, we came across Tudor and Flo on Out ‘n About, so our prediction came true. Spirit went past, and we had a chat before moving on.

Out ‘n About

Stoke Hammond Lock was our last one. We left first and soon arrived at Water Eaton, where we moored nose on to Springwater, as instructed. Spirit was a long time coming and we wondered if they had had a problem, but it turned out that Roger had had another important phone call, and had stopped to switch off the engine for a while.

Stoke Hammond Lock

We said hello to other team members – Andy and Sue (Springwater), John and Jan Halford (Jubilee), Paul and Sue (Ten Thousand Reasons).

We then caught a bus to Leighton Buzzard, where we had a coffee in a café before catching another bus to Aylesbury.

We had various errands to complete, including collecting four wine glasses, as we had forgotten to bring any. James had a shower to save water on our boat, and we returned by car to Water Eaton.

We went for a curry with Roger and Jo.

Curry House leaflet

When we returned to the boat, we discovered that we had some wine glasses after all; we had both forgotten where we kept them, in plain sight! We had looked in all the cupboards, but not on the wall. We laugh at our absent-mindedness.

Wine glasses

Sadly, we learnt that Joyce, the elderly lady that had intended to travel with us on Monday, was now in hospital and had developed pneumonia.

Wildlife today included a nesting swan, mandarin duck family, swifts, and our first swallows.

Nesting swan

Sunset at Water Eaton

4 locks, 5 miles. Dep 1000, arr 1310

Next: a day off and a return visit to Aylesbury by car before the mission starts on Sunday.

Aylesbury to Grove Lock

Mon 6^th Jun  Aylesbury to Marsworth

After a busy weekend celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we had packed the final items onto Gabriel, and spent a night on board.

We had arranged to depart at 1100, and the weather forecast had been changeable, with rain forecast. Today we found that the rain had happened in the night, and the storm was now over the North Sea. Thank you, Lord.

Ready for departure

Our crew arrived – Jack and Eric, with Roger as a last minute addition as he had wanted to move his car, and had driven from his boat in Wilstone. Sadly, Joyce couldn’t come as she was unwell. She had been looking forward to the trip for several weeks.

Eric lifted the lift bridge for us as we made our way out of the basin, and we set off up the Aylesbury Arm, saying farewell to John and Ruzenka as we passed.  Jack and Eric worked the locks to start with. At the first one, we gave out “How do Locks work?” to a lady who we discovered lives in Provis Wharf.  Jack had a go on the helm and later on Roger took a turn.

Jack steering

Redhouse Bridge

Eric and Jack at Redhouse Lock

Eric and Roger in charge

Roger at the helm

Gudgeon Stream Lock

We let Roger off near his boat, and he and Jo soon started after us on Spirit. We left Eric at the next lock to help them up the rest of the locks. There was very long grass on the lock sides, which was wet from the overnight rain, so we mostly ended up with wet trousers.

Overgrown locks

At the top of the arm, we turned left and used the facilities point to empty a cassette. Sandra had arrived by car, and she joined us as we pulled across to the other side to make room for Spirit.  We had a time of prayer on board while Spirit took on some much needed water supplies.

Spirit at the waterpoint

We moved off again to find a mooring, and thankfully found a long enough length for both Gabriel and Spirit on the mooring rings after bridge 130.

Moored in Marsworth with Spirit

We had seen two boats crossing our path from right to left as we emerged from the Aylesbury Arm. Later a hire boat came past from Leighton Buzzard and moored further back. They were the only moving boats we had seen all day. Roger and Jo came aboard for a meal, and then James accompanied them to the Red Lion for a drink and some pub games. Hazel stayed with the boat as she had painful feet.

Red Lion

Roger and Jo trying to outsmart one another

Wildlife today: skylark, cormorant, kingfisher, lapwing, red kites, a family of swans, tufted ducks.

Swan family

14 locks, 6 miles, 1 lift bridge. Dep 1100, arr Marsworth 1505. Dep 1545 arr rings 1600.

Tue 7^th Jun   Marsworth to Grove Lock

In the morning our boat was covered in tiny elder flowers, from the bush above our boat

Elder flowers on the gunwale

It was warm and sunny today as we made our way north, sharing locks with Spirit. James and Jo wielded windlasses and pushed gates, while Hazel and Roger steered the boats.

Leaving Marsworth

The first double lock of the year

Roger, Hazel, and two dogs

Pitstone Wharf

Seabrook Swing Bridge had two walkers sitting there having a picnic. They needed to move out of the way. James operated the bridge, which was heavy to push. No windlass or key needed. After Gabriel had passed through, a Braunston hire boat came the other way, and then it was the turn of Spirit.

Seabrook Swing Bridge

Spirit through the swing bridge

We spotted the Whipsnade chalk lion on the hillside. They should have taken the opportunity to put red, white and blue items there to form a union flag.

Whipsnade Lion

We had heard that the moorings in Leighton Buzzard were being refurbished, and were out of use, so, after Slapton Lock, we decided to look for suitable moorings. We ended up passing through Church Lock, where Jo wanted to buy the church, now being used as a house. A boat was coming up through the lock here, so we waited a few minutes.

Meeting a boat at Church Lock

We also went down through Grove Lock, and thankfully, a boat had just left a mooring below, leaving enough space for both our boats. We moored up and went for a drink and some nibbles in the pub. When we first came through here in 1999, the building was still a lock cottage.

Grove Lock and pub.

Moored below Grove Lock with Spirit.

In the Grove Lock Pub with Roger and Jo

Todays wildlife: House martins, swifts, terns, black-headed gulls, Egyptian geese. Several families of ducks.

Later we went on board Spirit for a lovely meal with Roger and Jo.

11 locks, 6 miles, 1 swing bridge. Dep 0930, arr 1420.

Next: continuing our Journey to Water Eaton, near Fenny Stratford, for a week-long boating mission, starting this Sunday.

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.