Stoke Bruerne to Milton Keynes

2017 45  Stoke Bruerne to Milton Keynes

Fri 20th Oct   Stoke Bruerne

James walked to the “Canal Shop” to see what they were selling. It was closed, and there was no sign with opening times.  Peering in the window they seem to sell craft items – painted teapots, crocheted cuddly toys, candles, tea cosies, model canal boats etc.  Nothing useful like fire lighters or milk.

A coal boat came past (Southern Cross), and we flagged him down for 3 bags of Excel coal.

We had lunch on board, and then Kathryn came for a tea and a chat.  Apparently she is going to be interviewed for Country File on 12^th November. We should have got her autograph.

Kathryn

As tomorrow is forecast to be very windy later, we wanted to get going early. We therefore decided to save time tomorrow by filling up with water today, and going down two locks to the “Long Pound”. 

Into Stoke Bruerne

The museum and cottages

Southern Cross coal boat.

As we went down the locks, we had plenty of Gongoozlers, and two willing helpers at the second lock.  We noticed that it was considerably quieter than above the lock, where there were people passing by frequently with dogs or children.

Passing the Navigation Inn

The second lock down

The long pound

We walked back to the Boat Inn as it was getting dark. Both pubs were illuminated.

The Navigation Inn

The Boat Inn

We were there to meet Allen and Angela, ex neighbours from Weybridge, who now live near Northampton.  We had a pleasant meal with them, which was interrupted by some live music at the open mic night. We hadn’t known it was happening, or we might have been tempted to bring our instruments, but it was not our sort of music, so we kept our heads down.

Allen, Angela, Hazel

2 locks, ½ mile

Sat 21st Oct   Stoke Bruerne to Wolverton

We crept away quietly soon after 7am this morning, as we were hoping to avoid the high winds that were forecast for later in the day.  We had to do the remaining five locks of the Stoke Bruerne Flight.

An early start

First lock of the day

No shortage of water

Coal boats Towcester and Bideford beneath the locks

We had some good sunshine although the wind got stronger as the day progressed.

Sunny fields

Grafton Regis

Pollarded willow

Straw bales

Solomon’s Bridge in Cosgrove.

As we approached the lock in Cosgrove, we saw that another boat waiting. We hadn’t seen any other boats moving today, and yet here there two in the lock going down, and another waiting. It transpired that all three were travelling together, so we shared the lock.

Sharing Cosgrove Lock

The two that had been in the lock were tied together, and crabbing along very slowly.  After the Cosgrove Aqueduct, they pulled over to let us pass.  This aqueduct is also known as the Iron Trunk Aqueduct, and it is a forerunner of the famous one on the Llangollen. It crosses the Great Ouse.

Iron Trunk Aqueduct

Over the Great Ouse

We had hoped to moor opposite the Galleon, but the mooring was full of boats, including a CRT vessel that was moored at the stern, and sticking out into the channel.

CRT boat sticking out

We moved on past, and stopped just beyond Bridge 69, where there was some piling.  The three boats that we had passed came along later and moored up nearby.

6 locks, 6 ½  miles

Sun 22nd Oct  Wolverton

We had a finely timed day today. How do we fit in breakfast, church, lunch, and a music session in the Vaults Bar in Stony Stratford? Last time we were here, we went to church in Wolverton, and were late for the music session.  This time we decided to go to a church in Stony Stratford, and we chose Stony Stratford Community Church, who meet at 1015.

We took bus number 6 from the end of the path that leads up from Bridge 69. This brought us in to S.S. just after 9am, and we walked up the High Street to the Bull Inn, where we had seen breakfast advertised on their website, with the public allowed in from 0900. When we got there we could see people in there having breakfast, but all the doors were locked. We phone the place and asked to be let in. The guy on duty said they don’t open until 11am so we told him it was advertised on their website, and we had come for breakfast by bus from Wolverton.  He let us in although he was not convinced.  We  looked at the website again and we were definitely right.  Breakfast finishes at 11am.

We had a continental breakfast which we thought would be quicker, and it was very good value.  We were allowed to leave our instruments in a corner, as our music session was to be in the same establishment later, in the Vaults Bar.

We walked back down the High Street to the church, which used to be called the Baptist Church.  We had a warm welcome, and we spotted a notice about Noel and Tricia coming to sing there later.

Stony Stratford Community Church

Noel and Tricia notice

Part of the worship band

The service included communion, and the talk was about spiritual warfare.  We stayed for a coffee after the service, but had to make our apologies and rush off to the Vaults Bar.  We timed it well, as we managed to get seats with a table for our drinks and song files. The session was excellent, with many talented musicians, plus a band from Norway who sang Dubliners songs.   We sang six songs.  It finished at around 3.45pm.

Session at the Vaults Bar

We then went into the Bull Inn restaurant, where they had advertised a Sunday Roast until 6pm, and we were told there was no more Sunday Roast. So went for plan B, and went to the Passage to India restaurant where they were serving a buffet.

We caught a bus back to Wolverton and returned to the boat.

No boating today

Mon 23rd Oct  Wolverton to Water Eaton

The plan for today was get some shopping in Tesco in Wolverton, and then Hazel was to take a bus to Pets at Home for some cat biscuits, and James would take the boat round Milton Keynes, and we would Meet up at Water Eaton later.

We set off fairly early, and Hazel put on the washing machine as we went. This way it is powered by the generator, and not through the inverter. We only had a short distance to travel, through the interesting train building village of Wolverton, mooring up on rings in Wolverton Park.

Dawn in Wolverton

Robert Stephenson Bridge

Wolverton Train building sheds

Moored in Wolverton Park

We were looking at James laptop, checking out possible suppliers of Hugo’s cat biscuits (Hills Science Plan). Suddenly it crashed, due to low battery power. As it was plugged into the 240v circuit, this shouldn’t have happened. Then we realised that we had no lights and there were no indicator lights on the inverter. We also had no power for the water pump to work the taps.

We rang Milton Keynes Marina and Willowbridge Marina to see if they had a boat electrician who could help, but they both said no.  Our usual engineer Ed Boden was on holiday from tomorrow (it’s half term). We emailed some friends who were local to ask if they knew anyone who might be able to sort us out.  We put out a question on the Canal Ministries Whats App group to see what the cause might be. We have some knowledgeable people in Canal Ministries. 

James checked various things such as cable connections and fuses but could not identify the source of the problem.

We decided to do our local chores anyway, so James went to Wolverton Station to collect our pre-ordered tickets to Suffolk. He then went to various possible pet food suppliers, with no luck. He went to Tesco where Hazel had already started the grocery shopping.

From there Hazel took the bus to Pets at Home where she bought the cat biscuits. She then took another bus to Westfield Retail Park where she had learned there was a Poundland which does the new clothing range. Then to Central MK where she picked up a new bus timetable.

Meanwhile  James returned to the boat with the shopping, and packed away the cold stuff before setting off on the boat.  The battery charge warning bleeper stayed on instead of going off after a few seconds, another symptom of our problem.  James moved the key to the “off” position to get rid of the noise.

A little while later he moved it back to the on position to check the gauges, and discovered that the warning noise had stopped.  He checked a light, and found it was working. Brilliant!  He emailed the two local people plus Ed Boden to say it was now working.

He continued the cruise around Milton Keynes, and the photos tell the story.

Grafton Street Aqueduct

Fluffy head ducks – a strange mutation?

The march of the new houses

Artistic paintwork on a boat (Gulliver)

Black Horse Pub

Linford Wharf

Plaque at Linford Wharf

He stopped at Giffard Park to empty a cassette and dispose of rubbish.  The water tank was fairly full so he didn’t bother with that.  As he left, he met Out and About coming the other way.  “Hi Tudor!” he said. “You got it!” Tudor said.  That’s all there was time for as we carried on in opposite directions.

Art under the bridge

 Autumn Colours

At Fenny Stratford, there was a boat just about to go in, so James was able to share the lock with them. They were heading for the sanitary station, which we didn’t need, so they said they would close the lock and swing the swing bridge, so James was able to leave without having to finish off.

Fenny Stratford Lock

Another lifeboat

He moored just past Bridge 97and phoned Hazel to find out where she was.  She was in a cafe, but said she would catch a bus. James went to where she was intending to get off, but we had misread the bus map, and she was at a different stop, not far from Bridge 98. We managed to find each other, and returned to the boat.

We discovered that the electrics had gone off again, and this time, when we started the engine, we still had no electrics.  We managed to check our Whats App messages, and the consensus was that our domestic battery isolator switch may have packed in.  We decided to go to Willowbridge Marina in the morning and persuade them to look at our electric problem.

That evening was difficult, as we were doing everything by torchlight.  We had gas, but no water power for taps, showers or loo flush. We couldn’t charge our phones, check emails or watch TV.  We went to bed at 9pm.

1 lock, 10 miles, 1 swing bridge

Next: Trying to get the electrics sorted out before heading further south, hoping for Aylesbury by Friday.

Braunston to Stoke Bruerne

2017 44  Braunston to Milton Keynes

Sun 15th Oct   Braunston

Moored in Braunston

The path up the hill

We followed the path up the hill from the bridge for the All Saints Church 11am service. We allowed plenty of time as the older we get the more puffed we get!  We’d rather arrive early and relaxed than late and out of breath.

We had a warm welcome and the place was well attended.  The service was more traditional than we are used to with a robed choir and hymn books, but the choir were good, and the service was conducted with meaning by Sarah, who was good at explaining the words of the hymns and prayers.  After the service we met Kim and Zephyr, who have a narrowboat in the Marina. We gave them a BCF leaflet.

Children’s work at All Saints

The choir depart

After the service

We walked a short distance down the street to the Old Plough where we enjoyed a Sunday roast. Several of the customers had also been at the church service.

Old Plough

We walked back to the boat after a short visit to the convenience store for some bits and pieces.

Autumn colours

Sunshine in Braunston

While we were watching Country File on TV, Hugo brought in a mouse and ate it. We didn’t notice it until we spotted the remains on the floor!

No boating today.  1 mouse

Mon 16th Oct   Braunston to Norton Junction

Hugo had brought in a small mouse as a present. It was unceremoniously given a watery grave.

We started the day with a visit to the floating cafe for a cooked breakfast.  Well, if people don’t support them they may go out of business, and we can’t have that!

Gongoozlers Cafe

Then we reversed a short way to the marina entrance, and took the boat in to buy a bottle of gas from the chandlery.  We passed between all the moored boats and left via the other entrance.

Braunston Marina

A Fox boat spotted in Braunston Marina

Leaving Braunston Marina

We turned right as we left the marina, and were soon at the first of the six locks that climb up from here towards Braunston Tunnel.  There were two volunteers helping through.

Braunston Bottom Lock

We waited in the next lock, as the volunteers had told us that another boat had come into view, and might be coming up the locks as well.  Meanwhile another volunteer arrived, but all three stayed at the bottom lock.

Waiting for another boat

When the boat arrived, it turned out to be pleasant Scottish fellow called Ian, on his own on a boat called Winzer Castle, which he had only just bought, and he was still on a learning curve.  At one point he suggested that James should steer his boat into the lock, while he went to set the next one.  It would have been helpful if one of the three volunteers had come up the flight with us, setting the locks for us.

Lock 3 with Winzer Castle

James steering Ian’s boat

We carried on along the summit pound, through Braunston Tunnel to Norton Junction. We were experiencing the remains of Hurricane Ophelia and there was an eerie atmosphere, with a pink sky due to Sahara sand, and smoke from fires in Portugal, carried on the wind.

Braunston Tunnel entrance

Braunston Tunnel plaque

Emerging from Braunston Tunnel

Autumn leaves in the cutting

Pink sky

We would have moored just before Bridge 10 but the moorings are still out of action, with orange netting marking the places where the towpath has large holes.  Instead, we turned into the Leicester Arm to moor by a hedge which we hoped would protect us a little from the forecast gales.  We didn’t want to be under trees, with high winds forecast.

Orange netting at Bridge 10

Into the Leicester section

A hopeful visitor

Ophelia certainly produced some wind overnight, rocking the boat at times.

6 locks, 4 miles, 1 mouse

Tue 17th Oct   Norton Junction to Bugbrooke

We debated whether to reverse out, as we were close to the junction.  We wanted to use the water point, and the position of the tap meant that it would be easier if we turned round, so we set off up to Ventnor Farm Marina where we were able to turn before coming back to the water point

Early departure from Norton Junction

Autumn leaves

Norton Junction Water Point

At Buckby Top Lock Hazel started filling the lock while James emptied cassettes and rubbish.  There seemed to be no other boats heading our way, so we started down the locks on our own.

Into Lock 1

Ophelia had made a lot of trees part with their leaves, and they were lying on the ground everywhere.

Leaves left by Ophelia

One field away from the M1

After the lock flight we passed Whilton Marina without a pause as we had no need for their cafe, chandlery or shop.  On the next section there are several interesting historic boats.

Historic boats

On the approach to Weedon we discovered some major works going on, where they appeared to be building a bridge on a sharp bend. Looking online later, it transpired that they were building a bypass for Weedon.

Weedon bypass works

We paused briefly in Weedon, and Hazel paid a visit to Tesco for some items we needed.  Meanwhile James had a look in the weed hatch as the engine had been struggling a bit.  He discovered that the stern gland needed tightening, as a lot of water had dripped in, filling to small compartment at the stern, and overflowing into the engine compartment and the two side compartments. He spent quite a time using a hand pump to empty the engine compartment into the stern section, which was then pumped out by the bilge pump. He tightened up the stern gland, and the dripping stopped. He was still down in the hole when Hazel returned from Tesco.

We continued our journey, and as we passed Rugby Boats at Stowe Hill, we noticed that they were open, despite it being a Tuesday when we thought they were closed. We had enough diesel to get us to Aylesbury, so we didn’t stop.

East of Bridge 33 we passed the Bugbrooke Badger Setts, and we could see that they were very active. One day we’ll stop here and set up our wildlife camera.

We moored opposite the Wharf Inn at Bugbrooke, where we intended to stay for two nights, as heavy rain was forecast all day tomorrow.

7 locks, 9 miles

Wed 18th Oct   Bugbrooke

Autumn leaves on the ground

Despite the very wet forecast, there was hardly any rain!!  We walked to the shop in Bugbrooke, and bought a lettuce, a bottle of milk, and some almond fingers. It came to more than a fiver. There was not much in stock except basics and booze.  We don’t plan to return here.

We took a different route back which took us past the church, which was open. We went inside and signed the visitor’s book, as it was there.

Bugbrooke Church

Inside the church

Moored in Bugbrooke

Tim Crooks came on board in the early evening having driven from his boat in the Barby / Braunston area.  James has known him since they were both 5 and went to the same school. It was good to catch up. We all went to the Wharf Inn opposite for a meal. The food was OK and the service was less than enthusiastic.

With Tim Crooks

No boating today

Thu 19th Oct   Bugbrooke to Stoke Bruerne

We set off early to avoid the rain that was forecast for later in the day. It was misty and damp.

Misty cruising weather

Turnover Bridge by Gayton Junction

We emptied cassettes and rubbish at Gayton Junction, but we didn’t need water. We took down the chimney and the hood in preparation for the tunnel.

Blisworth Marina

 The Mill at Blisworth

Blisworth Tunnel mouth

Ventilation shaft

We only met one boat in the tunnel. It was a cruiser, and it was so keen to keep into the side that the stern was sticking out.  James slowed right down to a standstill, keeping tight in to the side, but still the cruiser stern connected with our bows as they came crabbing towards us. That straightened them up a bit.

Emerging from the tunnel

 Cross section of the restored tunnel

There was plenty of mooring space as we came into Stoke Bruerne, and we moored just before the disabled bollards.  Hugo was keen to explore, and there was a gate into a field just alongside the boat.  A couple with a Dalmatian came along and Hugo was caught off guard in the open. The dog started barking at him, but his owners made no attempt to call him off, or put him on a lead. Hugo stood his ground for a while, but in the end he ran to the boat, and the dog gave chase. The owners laughed. Thankfully Hugo has a good turn of speed.

We walked down to meet Kathryn, and we had a coffee in the museum cafe. The Indian restaurant was closed despite their website saying they would be open, so we went for a light lunch at the Navigation.

Later we explored the woodland walk and visited the stained glass workshop, run by BCF member Martin.

Woodland walk sculptures

 Deer sculptures

The tunnel mouth

Moored in Stoke Bruerne

0 locks, 7 miles

Next: a meal in the Boat Inn  with Allen and Angela, ex Weybridge neighbours, then to Wolverton for a visit to Stony Stratford on Sunday, for church and a folk session.