Norton Junction to Milton Keynes

Sun 6^th October  Norton Junction to Nether Heyford

The first boat to pass us this morning was the wooden boat Maid of Oak, recently sold by our friends Peter and Julie.

Maid of Oak

A little later, we were starting to get ready, when a hire boat came from behind. We asked to share the locks, and we went down the first lock with them. They were Swedish. On arrival at the second lock, we saw that there was one boat going in, and the working pair we had seen yesterday was moored on the piling behind them. We didn’t want to jump the queue, so we stopped and waited for the swedes to join the other boat, a single hander.  It turned out that the pair were also waiting their turn, so we let them go next. BY then another boat had arrived, so we shared with Ruby Louise.

The pair

Sharing with Ruby Louise

We were held up a while when we discovered that two scout boats were coming up, and they had set two locks in front. We were waiting by one lock which was set against us, surrounded by scouts, while their boats had not even reached the next lock down, where the pair were also held up. It added 45 minutes to our journey time.

Scout boats

The ivy was in full flower, and we spotted several butterflies.

Red Admiral

Comma

Last lock of the day

Ruby Louise with Julie and Martin

We parted company with Martin and Julie on Ruby Louise, after the final lock by Whilton Marina. We carried on, hoping to find somewhere away from the sound of the M1.  We saw that the new bridge at Weedon was now open. It crosses the canal and the adjacent railway. We passed the boatyard at Weedon where we have arranged to have our boat painted in spring 2021.

Weedon bypass bridge

The boatyard

Sunshine on the trees.

There was a boat by Weedon Wharf using the winding hole to turn, and then they travelled in front of us on tickover. They should have let us pass while they were still in the winding hole. We had intended to stop for fuel at Rugby Boats, but there was nowhere to moor, and there seemed to be a queue, so we carried on. The boat in front of us finally pulled over to moor, and we passed them, and moored with a pleasant view near Nether Heyford. Ruby Louise went past later.

Following a slow boat

Moored near Nether Heyford

7 locks, 6 miles. Dep 0910, arr 1345.


Mon 7^th October Nether Heyford to Stoke Bruerne

We had a wet boat this morning, and we dried off the cover as best we could before we set off for Stoke Bruerne. 

Container ship

Warehouse at Blisworth

Blisworth Tunnel

Inside the tunnel, meeting a boat.

Emerging

We passed Ruby Louise moored up, and found our own mooring just before the disabled bollards. We walked forward to find Kathryn reversing to her mooring on Sculptor. She was involved in some filming for Channel 5’s Barging Round Britain.

Stoke Bruerne

Kathryn on Sculptor

We sat out some rain, and in the afternoon we noticed the film crew were out again.

Film crew

Bill Oddy

Jenny Bond

Anne Diamond

Pete Waterman

Kathryn came on board for a meal later and told us all the gossip.

0 locks, 9 miles, 1 tunnel. Dep 1035, arr 1410.

Tue 8^th October Stoke Bruerne to Cosgrove

A hire boat went past heading for the locks, much too early for us. We followed a little later, and waited at the top lock, hoping for another boat to share with. Julie was out walking the dog, and said that Martin would be bringing their boat down very soon. So once again, we were sharing with Ruby Louise.

Stoke Bruerne Top Lock

Waiting for another boat to share with.

Sharing with Ruby Louise

Once again we were held up, this time by a solo boater who had set several locks in front. He also would not accept help, insisting on getting off the boat and hauling it into the lock.

Passing the solo boater

We parted company with Martin and Julie and the foot of the locks, and we carried on, stopping for lunch at the Navigation Inn, as we had never visited before. We thought it would be fairly empty on a midweek lunchtime, but were amazed to find that most of the tables had been booked, not by boaters from the adjacent marina, but by business people, and well-dressed ladies who lunch. It is a notch or two up from the average pub grub, and we had a very pleasant meal.

We moved on to Cosgrove where we moored on rings for a peaceful night before Milton Keynes tomorrow.

Arriving in Cosgrove

Ivy is beautiful

Moored in Cosgrove

7 locks, 6 miles. Dep 0925 into top lock, 1045 out of Bottom lock. 1210 arr Navigation Inn. 1325 dep, arr 1345 Cosgrove.

Wed 9^th October  Cosgrove to Giffard Park

Last night we happened to watch “Building Britain’s Canals”, which featured Blisworth Tunnel, Kathryn on Sculptor, Stoke Bruerne, The Cosgrove Aqueduct, and the old railway bridge at Wolverton, all in our recent and imminent cruising plan.

The boat covers were completely dry this morning. No mopping up to do. We left Cosgrove and cruised gently down to the lock, which was in our favour. There was no-one to share with.

Cosgrove church and converted barns

Into Cosgrove Lock

Once through the lock, we could see a breasted up pair approaching. It transpired that it was Joules Fuels, pausing at various boats, so we closed the lock gates.  We needed to wait for them as they were refueling a boat, opposite a wide one, and there was not enough room to pass. No problem, as we were not in a hurry.

Narrow gap

Then we crossed the Cosgrove Iron Trunk Aqueduct, built in 1811, along the lines of Pontcysyllte, with a no-barrier drop to the River Great Ouse below.

Iron Trunk Aqueduct

A long way down

At Wolverton we passed under the 1838 Stephenson railway bridge, also featured in last night’s TV programme. They could have made more of the fascinating history of railway train building at Wolverton. We moored on rings at Wolverton Park, and went to visit Tesco and Asda.

Stephenson’s Bridge

Moored at Wolverton Park to dry the washing

Memorial to railway engine and carriage building

“Reaching Forward” commemorating cycling

Railway mural

We set off once more through the outskirts of Milton Keynes, stopping for the day near Giffard Park. No sign yet of Tudor on Out and About, who is usually around here.

Grafton Street Aqueduct

Across the road

New Inn, New Bradwell

The Black Horse

32 miles from Braunston

Moored near Giffard Park

1 lock, 5 miles. Dep 1020, arr 1120 Wolverton. Dep 1300, arr 1415 Giffard Park.

Next: moving to Peartree Bridge tomorrow, and venturing by bus into MK for shopping. On Friday we catch a train to Suffolk, returning with our car on Sunday. On Monday we drive to Aylesbury to leave the car, returning to MK and the boat by bus, before cruising further south.

Atherstone to Norton Junction

Wed 2^nd October  Atherstone to Sringwood Haven

Today was good boating weather. Instead of setting off, we had decided to stay for the singaround in the Red Lion, and we had a few chores to do first.

James trundled a cassette to the facilities by the top lock, while Hazel ran the engine and did a load of washing, hanging it out to dry in the sunshine.

Meanwhile, we took our instruments and went for lunch at the Red Lion, followed by the singaround. Another three couples had done the same, so the pub gains from having the event here. There were eight acts, and we went round the room three times. We sang Fremantle Bay, Antiques and Long Way Down.  Eric and Sally were there, as were the people from Chyandour (the other one). There were some very good performers in the group. It ended at 4pm.

Folk at the Red Lion

We made a quick getaway, departing from our spot opposite the old hat factory, and passing Eric and Sally’s boat Cherie as we left.

Hat Factory

Cherie

We were soon out into the countryside, as the canal here winds along a contour on the side of the hills, with amazing views to the left over the Anker Valley.

Open hillside

Alpacas

We spotted BCF boat Firoza, but there was no sign of Derek and Judy. It started to get chilly as we passed the Canal and River Trust historic workshops at Hartshill, and we decided to stop before Nuneaton. We found a pleasant mooring just before Springwood Haven.

Hartshill workshops

Moored near Springwood Haven

Evening light over the Anker Valley

0 locks, 3 miles. Dep 1620, arr 1725


Thu 3^rd October  Springwood Haven to Brinklow

Morning ligtt

A boat passed just as we were undoing the ropes, so we thought we might be held up, but he went at a good pace, and we followed two or three minutes behind him.

A rural scene

That telegraph pole again

Thoughtless mooring causing congestion

We picked up something on the prop in Nuneaton and had to stop to clear it. It was something red and woolly. Lots of things lurk under the water.

Red thing on the propeller

We passed the junction with the Ashby, and we went past Chris and Terry’s house without contacting them (Sorry Chris and Terry!) as we were trying to get to our destination before the rain. Then we arrived at Hawkesbury Junction and our only lock of the day, where there was a short queue.

Marston Junction, where the Ashby Canal joins the Coventry Canal

Approaching Hawkesbury Junction

The Greyhound Pub, where we had originally planned to eat last night

The stop lock

The first part of the North Oxford Canal has a large electricity substation with associated pylons, and the M6 and the M69 motorways making a lot of traffic noise, so it is not a place we choose to stay. The Elephant and Castle pub seems to have become offices, although the Rose and Castle at Ansty looks active.  We saw some swallows just before the entrance to Coventry Cruising Club. We wonder whether these will be the last of the year.

Electric Sub-station

Swallow

Coventry Cruising Club

We passed Maranatha, previously Sandra and Ernie’s boat (BCF and Canal Ministries)

Maranatha

We found a mooring at Brinklow, just where we wanted to be to meet Clare and Craig. As we stopped, we picked up something else on the propeller. It was a shopping bag, but not just any shopping bag…

M&S bag on the prop

Moored at Brinklow

Sadly, Craig couldn’t make it due to pressure of work, but Clare duly arrived, and she drove us to the next village, Easenhall, where we had a lovely meal at the Golden Lion.

With Clare at the Golden Lion

1 lock, 15 miles, 1 swingbridge. Dep 0850, arr 1410


Fri 4^th October  Brinklow to Wise’s Bridge

The first part of the journey today was through beautiful green woods, where squirrels were very active, hiding acorns. Along this canal are a series of iron footbridges on the towpath, made by the Horseley Iron Works in Birmingham in 1828. They were put in when the Oxford Canal was straightened out with embankments and cuttings, avoiding extravagant contour loops.

Iron Bridges

Newbold Tunnel

Emerging

Medieval field system

We stopped at Brownsover for provisions from Tesco, lunch on board, and the use of facilities. There is a new water point, there are new mooring rings, and there is a wheelie bin in the car park. We discovered that the Elsan point, which for years has been closed due to vandalism, is now open again, although it still has red and white tape across the door.

The water point at Brownsover

Closed?

Open!

We left with everything filled or emptied as appropriate, and picked the last plum from the overhanging tree soon after Clifton Cruisers.

There is now a new bridge across the canal which we think will lead to a large housing development.

The new bridge

When we reached Hillmorton Locks we found we were third in a queue, as two of the paired locks were out of action.

Hillmorton lock queue.

We passed through the three locks and carried on to get ourselves clear of the railway noise, followed by the M45 noise. We found a peaceful mooring south of bridge 80, where we were treated to a lovely rainbow over sunlit fields. We noticed that boats coming after us were wet, so we had escaped a downpour.

Rainbow.

3 locks, 11 miles. Dep 0925, arr Brownsover 1155. Dep 1345, arr Wise’s Bridge 1640.


Sat 5^th October  Wise’s Bridge to Norton Junction

Furrowed Skies

Our plan today was to go the short distance into Braunston, and attend church there in the morning. But plans are there to be changed…….

We had a leisurely departure, and very soon passed the new marina, Dunchurch Pools, with a modern version of the iron footbridge at the entrance. An old railway follows the route of the canal along this section, and there is an occasional reminder such as an old signal at the edge of a field. We soon caught sight of the landmark church spire at Braunston.

Dunchurch Pools

Old Railway signal

Braunston Church

We were surprised to see a wide beam on the Oxford Canal

We stopped opposite Braunston Turn, where we visited Midland Chandlers. They didn’t have what we wanted, which was One-Chem toilet blue, so we ordered some online to be sent to Aylesbury.

Braunston Turn

Braunston Marina iron footbridge.

We stopped between the two marina entrances for access to the village in the morning. A nicely kept working pair went past.

Working pair

We thought we would check the time of the service at the church. We discovered that the service was celebrating the Harvest Festival, and was not in the church, but at Bragborough Hall Farm. No post code was given.  Looking at the map, we found two possible places: Bragborough Hall, and also Bragborough Farm. Both locations were more than walking distance, so we decided we would have to forgo church on this occasion. The weather forecast showed rain tomorrow and again on Monday, so we decided to move on as far as we could today.

We joined a lock queue, which was complicated as Union Canal Carriers had hire boats all over the place as their base is at the foot of the locks.

Lock queue

We ended up sharing with Dawn Mist, which we noticed had an interesting stern deck.

Sharing with Dawn Mist

Dawn Mist decking

Braunston Tunnel

Emerging

We moored just after Norton Junction on the visitor moorings.

6 locks, 7 miles. Dep 1020 arr 1155 Braunston. Dep 1425, arr 1730 Norton Junction


Next: moving on down the Grand Union as the weather allows. We need to be in Milton Keynes by Thursday evening.