Marsworth to Leighton Buzzard

Thu 4^th June

A cloudy day today. James went via back roads and a footpath to lock 6 on the Aylesbury Arm, and he set 6, 7, and 8 in favour of Kairos coming up. He met Kairos at the footbridge in Wilstone, accompanied by Ian McLellan from our church, on a bicycle, armed with a windlass. With Chris and Sally, plus Ian and James, we made good time up to Marsworth Junction.

Kairos at Wilstone

Chris and Sally

James had another chat with the lady at Black Jack’s lock, and we saw Tony and Sue returning to their boat, Euston 73.

Kairos moored behind Gabriel, and we put some chairs out and recovered over a drink and some excellent flapjacks that Sally had produced. Then Ian was appointed as cameraman while we shot a short video to be shown on Sunday during the Broughton Church Facebook service.

Chris Sally Ian Hazel

After Ian departed back to Aylesbury, the two boats set off through the first two main line locks, following another narrowboat. After the second, we left one gate open for a single hander coming up. He was followed by a widebeam. There is more traffic than we expected.

Gabriel and Kairos sharing locks

Synchronised boating

Through the swing bridge

We stopped after the first Seabrook lock, sitting out for drinks later, despite a rain shower.

A little shower is not going to stop us

Moored at Seabrook

3 locks, 2 miles, 1 swing bridge.  Dep 1305, arr 1415.

Fri 5^th June

Rain had been forecast for the morning, so we had agreed to leave early afternoon, after the rain had passed. As it turned out, it was overcast, but not raining in the morning, and we departed at lunchtime.

We hadn’t seen a single boat, but as soon we said we would go, a narrowboat came past and used the lock in front of us that had been in our favour. They were taking a boat from Cowroast to Whilton Marina to sell.

We followed through the last two Seabrook Locks, and then the two Ivinghoe Locks. It was very windy, and we needed to tie the boats up while getting the locks ready.

Stormy skies at Ivinghoe

Horton Lock

We saw several duck families at various stages, and we saw our first cygnets of the season, and they appeared to be about two weeks old. We also saw a mallard drake with a broken lower beak which must have made eating difficult.

Swan family

Cygnet

Duck with damaged beak

At Slapton Lock we saw some heavy black clouds heading our way, and we had decided to take the boats out of the lock, close the very heavy gates, and take shelter in our boats in the lock channel until the rain had passed. We were back on board when a boat came into sight from round the corner ahead of us, so we couldn’t stay where we were. As we headed for the lock bollards, the people on the other boat tooted their horn, and were suggesting we should have left the gates open. They hadn’t been in sight when we closed the gates. Of course we would have left the gates open if they had been. Sally got off Kairos and went to try to open a gate for them, but leakage had occurred, and she couldn’t shift it. Chris went back to help after he had moored Kairos.

We tied on the lock bollards and hurriedly put up our hoods as heavy rain and hail began to fall. We put the kettle on. It was all over in 15 minutes, and we set off again when we had finished our drinks. BY then the sun was out, and there was a lot of water weiring over the bottom gates of the lock.

Weiring at Slapton Lock

Water art

We had good views of the Whipsnade Lion along this stretch to Church Lock. The Zoo is sadly closed due to the Corona Virus restrictions, and they are in financial difficulties.

Whipsnade Lion

The Grand Union is wide and deep, and good progress can be made on the longer pounds if there are no moored boats.

Open cruising

At Grove Lock we met some boaters who had purchased their boat just four days earlier and were heading to London. We have heard that before a few times. London is getting very crowded with boats.

Soon after Grove Lock, we moored at Peace Meadow. There was only one space, so Kairos breasted up against Gabriel. Tudor and Flo walked past, and we had a chat. Their boat Out and About was just up ahead. We often see them in Milton Keynes.

Tudor and Flo

We walked along a new footpath to a new retail park which includes Aldi and M&S foods. Sadly, the gate between the path and the road was locked, so James climbed the adjacent wooden railings, but Hazel went back to the boat. After some socially distanced queuing, James bought a few things in M&S but forgot to get the milk. He didn’t want to queue again and planned to get some more tomorrow in Leighton Buzzard.

On returning to the boat we discovered that there was a maintenance issue with the top lock at Three Locks, and nothing would be done until Monday. So, we’ll be here for two more days at least. Fortunately, Simon and Pat on Daedalus were already through there, as they have a boat safety examination in Milton Keynes on Monday.

8 locks, 6 miles. Dep 1245, arr 1505 at Slapton for hailstorm. Dep 1530, arr 1700.

Sat 6^th June

Chris and Sally were heading for M&S so James went along to visit Aldi for some more things.  We then moved the boats just round the corner, where we could moor one behind the other. Tudor thought we were leaving.

There was a thunderstorm later, and Chris and Sally were out for a walk at the time. They found some shelter in a bird hide.

Threatening sky

Water art

Heavy rain

0 locks, 1 furlong

Sun 7^th June

We set off early to visit the facilities in Leighton Buzzard, emptying three cassettes, and filling the water tank. We noticed that the overhanging will tree was no longer there. We turned around in the winding hole, and cruised back to Grove Lock, where we turned again and returned to our mooring behind Kairos, having another chat with Tudor on Out n’ About

as we passed.

Water point with no willow tree.

Out n’ About

Then, with Chris and Sally, we followed the Broughton Church Facebook broadcast which included our film clip from Marsworth. James was speaking, and started a new series from the Gospel of Mark. It was very good.

Sunday communion service

Then we had breakfast, and walked back into town via the old railway bridge which is now a footpath. We found a few things in Poundstretcher, and some more things in Waitrose, particularly some raspberries and strawberries, reduced to a very low price, too good to pass by.

Then we bought some cream in Aldi, and noticed that they had Wifi. Perhaps tomorrow James will finally get the blog posted online.

We walked back along the towpath, getting slightly wet in some fine drizzle.

Our walk

Meanwhile, Chris had been to see the top lock at Three Locks, which was padlocked, although it looks as though it is useable.

A chilly evening, so no sitting out.

0 locks, 2 miles.

Next: Hopefully sitting on a chair outside Aldi to use their Wi-Fi to post this. Then setting off to try to get through Three Locks and head into Milton Keynes.