Thu 10th Jun Stanton Low to Water Eaton
James managed to get a photo of the reed warbler this morning, partly obscured by reeds.
Reed warbler
Today was much cooler, and cloudy. Many people had taken advantage of the weather and were painting their boats. Sadly, it meant that we failed to see the partial solar eclipse that was happening during the late morning.
We had planned to fill up with water at Giffard Park, but shortly before getting there, we found ourselves behind a putterer, crawling along at tickover, even on sections with no moored boats. We decided to stop at the facilities if they carried on, or to carry on if they stopped. They pulled over to let us pass, so we decided to carry on, otherwise we would be behind then again.
We noticed more and more boats seemingly permanently moored, and very few moving boats apart from hire boats. There are an increasing number of wide beam boats, mostly used as floating homes rather than as boats.
Campbell Wharf looked full as we passed, and we noticed a large community boat opposite that looks as though it is wheelchair accessible.
Campbell Wharf
Boat for disabled
An unusual boat
Canada Goose family
Heron
We stopped at Peartree Bridge where there are two water points. One had the tap removed so we could not use it. The other one was further back, so we needed two hoses to reach it. We were just under half full, but it was extremely low pressure, and we took a full hour to top up the tank. James thought he would mop the gunwales with the new mop bought at Asda yesterday. He managed to do about a metre of it, before the thing fell apart, with long loops of fibres festooning everywhere. It ended up in the bins at Fenny Stratford. At £3.50 it is not worth taking it back to complain.
Just near here was a burnt-out cruiser. Fuel boats Beverly and Ascot passed by.
Burnt-out boat
Beverly and Ascot
We found it hard to get into the side at Fenny Stratford as it was a bit silted up. James visited the weed hatch, but there were only a few bits on the propeller. While he was doing this, Hazel managed to swing the swing bridge and set the lock.
Hazel on the locks
Fenny Stratford Lock and Swingbridge
We emptied a cassette and disposed of rubbish, before finding our way to the mission site at Bridge 98a, where we moored with team. John and Jan Halford (Jubilee), and John and Gill Speight (Faithful) were there. Kairos was also there, but Chris and Sally had gone to Folkestone.
The strimmers had been at work to cut the grass, but there was a lot of loose grass around, so James found our short rake, and raked an area to one side of the bridge, where we all sat around to discuss toilets and batteries, as boaters seem to do.
There were three extra boats on our line: one was a wide beam which had broken down (or so his notice read). The others were narrowboats that looked as though they had been there for ages. While we were preparing a meal, we heard an awful kerfuffle with yelping and barking going on. We came outside to witness five dogs being attacked by a tabby cat! The owners of the five dogs came on past, quite shocked by it. The cat we think belonged to the boat behind.
Faithful, Gabriel, and another boat with a kamikaze cat.
1 lock, 8 miles, 1 swingbridge. Dep 0955, arr Peartree Bridge 1155. Dep 1255 arr 1505.
Fri 11th Jun Water Eaton
James took three buses to collect our car from Weedon Bec, changing at Milton Keynes Railway Station, and Northampton. He drove back to Water Eaton via Tesco for fuel.
A wild rose
We then both went to Aylesbury, encountering busy traffic on the way. We decided to find a different route back. We had sorted out some clothes and wanted to leave them in the apartment.
In the apartment, we found that the water mains tap had been leaking, and we had a stain on the wall inside the cupboard. We tightened everything up as best we could, and put a plastic bag over the tap to catch the drips.
The stained wall
We had a meal in an Indian Restaurant in Pitstone. Attentive staff and delicious food. It was a quieter route back. We went to Tesco Extra for some provisions, and bought a new mop head to replace the one that had fallen apart.
Back to the mission moorings, where there is parking in Phelps Road.
No boating on Gabriel today.
Sat 12th
Jun Water Eaton
James left at 7.30am in Chris’s car with John Halford and Andy Smith to drive to Marsworth to join John and Barbara Froggatt with Beacon. A team of four from Broughton Church had brought the boat up from the canal basin yesterday (Will and Anne, plus Tim and Jackie).
Beacon at Marsworth
Chris, Barbara and James went to Aylesbury to fix the leak. Well, it was Chris who fixed the leak, while Barbara and James watched. Sorted. Thank you, Chris.
Chris drove back via Ivinghoe, where he set James down to join the crew on Beacon, which he did at Seabrook no 3 (lock 34).
Meanwhile, Hazel walked to Bletchley with the ladies for coffee at Wetherspoons. (Sue Smith, Jan Halford, Gill Speight, Hazel, Kim, Barbara, Sally.
Journey with Beacon:
As James arrived at Seabrook lock 34, two boats were just leaving. James helped to close the bottom gates, and then he filled the lock. Very soon John Halford on his bike came round the corner into sight, followed by Beacon – with no boat to share with. We followed the two boats through the two Ivinghoe Locks, plus Horton, Slapton, and Grove Locks. We filled the water tank at Slapton.
John at the helm
Canoe training
Moorhen family
The two boats we were following included Sally on Whodathoughtit II, daughter of ACS members Pauline and Ray, from a boat called Jula. Jula is now moored at Grove Lock marina, and Pauline was at Grove lock to see her daughter through.
After Grove Lock, one of the two boats stopped, Sally went on, and another boat pulled out into the gap. The man on this boat remembered a BCF person laying on a hand of blessing and praying for him several years ago. He suggested we went with Whodathoughtit II, as he was going to be stopping.
Out of the lock, we went first, and soon pulled away, past the Globe Inn and following the sharp bends of the canal. We passed Out ‘n About, and James managed to speak to Tudor and Flo, and asked them to send him a text so he now has their phone number. Last time we met, we exchanged phone numbers, and then James lost his phone in Soulbury 3 Locks.
Arriving at Soulbury, we discovered a family fishing on the lock bollards. We also found that all the three locks were against us, with bottom gates open. A volunteer asked us to wait, as a boat was due to come up from the bottom, and they didn’t want to waste water. John Halford went down to see what was going on, and discovered that the boat owner was in the pub having a meal. After jumping to some wrong conclusions, we found out that he had been asked to wait until another boat came along to share the locks. He thought he would have a meal while he waited.
Meanwhile Sally had arrived behind us, as well as the other boat, and the volunteer had to ask the fishing family to move off the bollards, as there was nowhere to tie up.
After a wait of twenty minutes, the volunteers agreed that we could turn the locks and proceed down the flight. As soon as we started filling the locks, another boat appeared round the corner at the bottom! Timing not good.
Beacon sharing with Whodathoughtit II at Three Locks.
We shared with Sally on Whodathoughtit II, and were soon through the locks, as there were lots of crew. We went through Leighton Lock on our own, as Sally seems to know everyone, and pauses for a chat.
We paused at Willowbridge Marina for fuel and ice creams, except that they didn’t have any ice creams.
Mission boats as we arrived on Beacon.
We had our first team meeting at 7pm on the grassy area near the bridge. We led a worship song, Chris spoke, and this was followed by some practical things and some prayer. Elaine and Sandra phoned to say that they had left their campervan and walked in the wrong direction, so James went by car to collect them. Eric and Sue kindly offered to be songbook monitors. We decided it was a bit too cramped there, so future meetings were held in the park.
The first meeting
Aerial view
No boating on Gabriel today. 12 locks and 12 miles on Beacon.
Sun 13th June Water Eaton
At 9am we met in the park for a team meeting. It was lovely to worship together in the sunshine, and hear the birds singing.
Worship in the park
Some people went to the Church Centre to follow a service on a screen. We joined our church in Aylesbury online.
Some people went prayer walking around the local housing estates, and had some good conversations with people.
We had a gathering in the park in the evening when we led four songs, and Sue spoke about heaven. At least three couples had lost sons or daughters, and at least three people had lost husbands or wives. We closed with a song called Endless Hallelujah. It was a special moment, and everyone was quiet for a while afterwards.
It was good to have Paul and Kim Hutchinson with us on Somag. This was their maiden voyage, they are new to BCF, and this was an excellent way to introduce them to a few people.
No boating on Gabriel today.
Mon 14th June Water Eaton
9am meeting in the park, with Peter speaking. followed by some Beacon trips. The tables and chairs were out, and teas and coffees were being served. Lots of chatting going on.
Paul at the helm on Beacon.
Others were prayer walking on the housing estate again.
It was sunny and hot.
No boating on Gabriel today.
Tue 15th June Water Eaton
Again, we had a 9am meeting, with Paul talking about Bezalel and Oholiab, and the craftsmanship inspired by the Holy Spirit.
We had run our engine during the meeting – the first time since we arrived on Thursday. The new solar panels are proving effective, particularly in the June sunshine. However, we have a shady mooring, so if we were in the open, they might keep the batteries topped up.
We had no early booked boat trips today, so we took Beacon to Fenny Stratford for a facilities run. We disposed of rubbish, although the bins were overflowing. We emptied many cassettes, and filled Beacon’s water tank. Although Beacon is essentially a day boat, Paul and Sue have been living on board for the mission.
Overflowing bins at Fenny Stratford
Mission boats Faithful, Gabriel, Remus, Chyandour.
Meanwhile Hazel drove to Tesco for some shopping.
A number of us went to Wetherspoons for lunch, where the service was excellent, and they even had Black Dragon cider. We gave a lift back to Eric and Sue.
The afternoon was extremely hot, and we retired to the boat.
At 4pm, boat trips started again, so we had lots of conversations. Hazel dressed in her boater’s costume. James couldn’t get into his, as it is several years since we last used it, winning prizes at Little Venice.
A trip on Beacon
Jan showed James how the BirdNet app worked, and he went for a walk along the river to test it out. Brilliant! Various species identified from their song, including a yellowhammer. The river walk is lovely. He spotted a family of mute swans with nine cygnets. He walked back along the avenue of poplars in the sunshine.
The view across the meadows
Poplar trees
We noticed that the narrowboat with the fighting cat had departed.
No boating on Gabriel today.
Wed 16th June Water Eaton
We saw a rat on the bank opposite this morning.
Rat
9am gathering in the park with Peter speaking.
A group of walkers stopped by for refreshments, and were engaged in conversation. Then there were boat trips on Beacon, plus conversations.
The group of walkers receiving refreshment
Sally was suffering with vertigo, just like Jack from our church in Aylesbury. Apparently, there is a virus going around.
The weather has been hot and humid. The boats are covered in sticky sap, seeds and fluff from the trees, and lots of ants. Heavy rain is forecast, and hopefully that will solve some of these things.
Water art
No boating on Gabriel today.
Thu 17th June Water Eaton
Today’s talk was by Sue Standley, and the songs we had chosen fitted her theme exactly, without consultation.
Thankfully, it was a slightly cooler day, as we dressed up in boaters costume for some videos that were being made. Our outfits are very warm winter wear. James had grown out of his trousers and his embroidered belt, so he gave those to Chris.
Three ladies in boaters costume – L-R Sue Lewis, Hazel, Sue Smith.
We have three Sues and three Johns on the mission.
Again, a lot of chatting and helping with boat trips. Fish and chips at lunch time, which James fetched by car from Fenny Stratford, accompanied by Eric.
No boating on Gabriel today.
Fri 18th June Water Eaton
We had heavy rain for a lot of the day. The morning meeting was held in a huddle under the bridge, with no songs or talks.
A wet prayer group under the bridge
Heavy rain
Beacon made a facilities run, with James on board to help with cassettes.
Sue Standley had prepared a quantity of soup for everyone who wanted some. It is something they do most Wednesdays from their boat on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It was really nice, wholesome and substantial soup.
When the rain eased for a while, we went shopping to Tesco and Aldi as there may not be time tomorrow.
There were just two boat trips late in the afternoon.
No boating on Gabriel today.
Sat 19th June Water Eaton
9am meeting again, with worship, prayer and a talk. Today was overcast and a little chilly. There were boat trips all day.
James set up our gas BBQ to use later.
We took our car back to Aylesbury to leave it there for the summer. We checked a few things out as Sandra’s Mum is going to be staying there for a while as her accommodation has had a plumbing leak.
Phil and Anne, our church leaders, collected us from there and took us back to the Mission, where they went on a boat trip on Beacon (Phil had done a lot of the fitting out), and then they chatted to a few people, and joined in a barbecue in the evening. It was good to see them. I think they were pleased to see the boat being used in that way.
Phil and Anne on Beacon
We noticed that the “broken down” wide beam boat had started his engine and departed.
No boating on Gabriel today.
Next: The final mission event and the start
of the journey south towards the Thames.
