As we still had the hire car, on Monday morning we did a grocery shopping run to the local Aldi to stock up on essentials, especially the heavier stuff, like milk, beer etc. Then after returning the hire car, we turned the boat around and headed back through the Hilmorton locks again (this being the 5th time through the first one – the first 3 times (once in reverse!) being back in March when we first picked up the boat)
On Tuesday, we cruised back to Braunston Junction to join the Grand Union Canal – Main Line – heading south, the next aim being Little Venice, London, as we have booked CRT moorings at Rembrandt Gardens in Paddington for the 4th & 5th of September, as we fancied cruising into central London …just because we can!
6 locks and 7 miles today, including the 2,043 yards of Braunston Tunnel –
a two-way tunnel with no tow paths, Nic had the pleasure of being at the tiller for this one.
First thing on Wednesday morning we sat and watch 2 wide beam boats emerge from the Braunston tunnel, the CRT close the tunnel to one-way traffic to allow the wide beams passage. One of the wide beams (12ft) is nearly twice as wide as Life in Slow Motion (6ft10’) – we are not sure how they manage to get through some of the bridges and around the moored boats. Thankfully they moored up just in front of us, so we only had to manoeuvre around them then cruise off, towards the Buckby locks (7 locks). We did the first couple of locks, on our own, before stopping for lunch, then completed the rest of the locks with a hire boater. It’s easier with two boats in the locks, and even easier when other boats are coming the other way, as you don’t have to re-set the locks (if you are going down and the lock is empty, you have to fill it before you can enter). At one of the locks two boats were about to enter, one was a large old commercial boat called, “Sculptor” with a 4ft draft (the bit below the water), which we later found out is usually moored outside the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum. Unfortunately, Sculptor was grounded on the bottom and unable to move, so we had to let water down through the lock, by opening the paddles, to re-float Sculptor.
Locks done, next job finding mooring for the night, however as the canal at this point is between the M1 motorway and a main railway line, finding somewhere quiet was impossible, so we finally moored nearer the railway, being slightly further away from the M1. Nic says the trains restarted at 6am, Roger was still asleep and didn’t notice!
Thursday time to re-fuel again, 140ish miles, 106.4 hrs of cruising (marine engines work in hours not miles/kilometres), and 6 weeks since the last fill up, this time was 99 ltr at a cost of £93, not a bad bill for transport and electricity for 6 weeks.
Friday brought another tunnel, Blisworth tunnel this time, 3,076 yrds two-way tunnel with no tow path, and Roger’s turn to be at the tiller, met 5 boats in the tunnel, so could have been worse. Moored up overnight in Stoke Bruerne.
Saturday went to the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne, where Sculptor should have been moored up, if it was not getting stuck near locks further north. Went for a walk and Nic got attacked by a gate, whilst opening it , blood and bruising on the back of the hand when the gate dropped, first aid administered, we think she’ll live (as Roger is typing this Nic is making biscuits – so it must be ok)
Sunday, we cruised to the outskirts of Milton Keynes, spotted a grey parrot at the top of a tree, making some very un-british countryside noises, we assume it have escaped from somewhere. Once moored we went for a walk around the Linford lakes, including meeting a group of teens sneaking out of a building site (we’ve all been there, just a very long time ago !)
| This Week | Total | |
| Locks | 24 | 450 |
| Miles Cruised (approx.) | 39 | 631 |
Travurple 