Leighton Buzzard to Milton Keynes

Mon 8^th June

Another cloudy day today. We left our mooring behind Kairos, and cruised into Leighton Buzzard, where we were pleased to find a space on the 14-day moorings.

Hazel put the washing out to dry, and then we went on a search for an internet solution. Tesco  Mobile was open, but they didn’t seem to know about Mifi devices, and said that phone sims could not be used in a Mifi. Oliver confirmed this later saying we need a data sim. The Mifi device is almost certainly locked to Three, so one solution would be to get it unlocked, and then get a pay as you go data sim.

James walked the full length of Leighton Buzzard, and found two phone shops, both closed. Even Argos was closed and therefore their EE store. There is a market tomorrow and perhaps there may be a phone stall that might help. Otherwise Milton Keynes is not far away, and there are several phone stalls in the market there.

Later we learned that Three Locks had been opened again, and we saw several boats coming through in the late afternoon. So tomorrow, the plan is for a visit to the market and some last minute shopping, then off through Three Locks towards Milton Keynes.

We found a fish and chip shop open in Linslade so we had a takeaway. Most places are insisting on contactless payment at the moment, because of the risk of infection, but this place was cash only. Very nice haddock.

Moored in Leighton Buzzard

0 locks, 1 mile. Dep 1050, arr 1115

Tue 9^th June

As we were about to set off to the market to find a phone stall, Kairos appeared and Chris said they were mooring for a short while to do some shopping.

We went into the high street, and discovered that there was no market after all. So we popped into Wilko and Asda for a few things and returned to the boat.

We set off past lots of moored boats, including the Wyvern hire boat fleet, presumably locked down at present.

Hire boat fleet not being used

Our first lock was Leighton Lock. Here, a man had just emptied the lock and opened the bottom gate, but he was on his boat below, chatting to two ladies on the towpath. He came in when we asked him – he had got sidetracked. The ladies were commenting about Canal Ministries, so when they reached Hazel, they were given Canal Ministries leaflets.

The zig zag route alongside the railway was very pleasant, although there were lots of moored boats, so progress was slow. There was only one train – there must be a reduced service at present.

Globe Inn at Linslade

At Three Locks, we found the top lock empty with a bottom gate open. The middle lock had a boat going down in front of us, and the bottom lock had a boat coming up. Rather than reverse the top lock, we waited for the boat coming up, which took a while.

Starting down Three Locks

When the boat in front left the bottom lock, they left the gates open for a boat wanting to come up, but they took a long time to set off from the lock bollards. When they were in the bottom lock, we asked the lady how much paddle she wanted, and she said “Give him the lot. It serves him right for taking too long! I’ve had enough of looking at the same tree, the same boat, and the same husband!”

Three Locks

Red kite

Slowing down for fishermen

Mandarin duck

Stoke Hammond Lock was the last of the day for us, and we moored by bridge 98a, where we would have been on mission right now if the virus hadn’t happened.

Moored at Water Eaton

We enjoyed a BBQ in the sun with Chris and Sally, and were pleased that the equipment was working well after we had replaced the gas regulator.

5 locks, 6 miles. Dep 1050, arr 1435

Wed 10^th June

Today had been forecast wet, but it was mainly overcast, with a few minor drops here and there.  We set off to our only lock of the day – Fenny Stratford. We disposed of rubbish and emptied a cassette, before swinging the swingbridge and opening the lock.

Fenny Stratford

James had a nice chat with a gentleman in one of the cottages. Then Hazel shouted that there was something on the prop. Sure enough, there was a pipe fender on a length of rope. We gave it to Chris, as we don’t use them.

Again, there were lots of moored boats, so our speed was often down to tickover. We spotted several herons. And a large brood of nine good sized ducklings, as well as Canada Goose families and swans with cygnets.

Heron

Family of ducks

We came across a springer called Poleidon that needed a tow, so we let Chris go past as we tied his line to our stern.

Towing Poleidon

Then, up ahead, we saw Kairos pull into the side, and Chris signalled to us to stop. Stopping quickly is not easy when you are towing, and it all became a bit chaotic. There was a deep-drafted boat stuck under a bridge. There was another boat held up behind, and then came Kairos, Gabriel and Poleidon.  A bridge queue! Carl from Poleidon went to help, wielding a long boat pole. Meanwhile James was having difficulty controlling the two boats in mid-stream.

The bridge queue

Trying to manoeuvre Poleidon

Eventually the lady on the stuck boat was persuaded to go into reverse, and the boat was immediately freed, so she went on her way. Kairos went next, and we followed with Poleidon on tow, leaving the other boat to bring up the rear as he was turning off into the new marina just around the corner.

We delivered Poleidon to a mooring place by bridge 82 and left him with a Canal Ministries leaflet and a new testament. As we arrived at Campbell Park, we saw that Kairos had found a 48-hour mooring with rings, and there was space for us immediately behind. The Lord provides!

A little later, the rain started. We had remained dry for our boating.

Moored at Campbell Park

1 lock, 5 miles. Dep 0905, arr 1205.

Next: A walk into Milton Keynes Centre to see if any phone shops or market stalls are open. Then round towards Wolverton and up to Stoke Bruerne.