Monday morning, bikes off the roof of the boat and assembled in less than 15mins, Rog is getting fast! A 15min cycle to Bletchley Park, as we got free tickets as part of the “national heritage days out” scheme, where heritage sites give away free tickets for a week every September (Bletchley Park is usually £21 each, so £42 saved)
We were expecting a bit of a dusty museum for World War II buffs and geeks, however we both agreed that it was extremely well done, very engaging, using multi-media (the hand-held guides were great) it explained the tricky subject of the German codes (Enigma, Lorenz machine, which was classified until 1983) and the cracking of them, without dumbing down to much. They also showed the human element of the people who worked at Bletchley Park, outside they played audio of rounders matches, bicycle bells, and conversations, as if being overhead, this really brought the place alive. Well worth the £21 each we did not pay!
After returning to the boat, we cruised for a few hours, before mooring up in time for online drinks with friends, who, last time we met, had given us a bottle of wine. They opened a bottle of the same wine, so we chatted and enjoyed the same wine, which was lovely (Thanks – you know who you are!)
Tuesday, we continued heading north on the Grand Union Canal doing 11 miles and 1 lock.
Wednesday, we cruised 12 miles, 7 locks and the Blisworth tunnel (3,076 yards), including filling up with diesel at the same yard we had used on the way south. We moored up in Weedon, so close to the railway line that we could see the bug splat on the windscreen, and the blood shot eyes of the drivers as the trains whizzed passed.
Thursday, we did the Buckley locks, we met a woman who had damaged her knee, so she hobbling painfully whilst driving, whilst her novice crew quickly learned how to lock. So, we helped them through. Then we did the Braunston tunnel (2,042 yards), just before we entered the tunnel we saw a couple of boats moored (one hire boat and one of a much older vintage) and the crew of the older boat were professing their great thanks on the hire boat crew. The tunnel was very smoggy, much worse than the last time we had been through, on exiting and speaking to the other boats queuing for the next lock, we learned that the older boat had broken down in the tunnel (engine and electrical failure – so no power or lights – scary) so the hire boat must have towed them out (you have to tow a boat in the direction it was going).
There was a queue of 5 boats at the Braunston locks, so we helped out were we could to get everyone through the locks, it helps everyone out, but from a selfish point of view, it also gets us through the locks quicker.
After retracing our steps since leaving London, first thing Friday morning we joined the Oxford Canal – South, new territory, back to a narrow canal, so goodbye to the wide beam boats and wide locks. Smaller locks are much quicker and easier to deal with. We did 11 miles and 9 locks, mooring up in Fenny Compton for the evening. We walked into the village to buy some supplies, quite a tricky walk, the foot path disappears as you get to a double railway bridge, and you see an ominous sign to motorists which says “Pedestrians on Road”, which you hope the motorists will see, given there are also signs which say “Road liable to flooding”, one giving the height restrictions and finally one telling them that the road is narrow! Thankfully we made it both ways under the double railway bridge with the needed supplies.
On Saturday, for the first time on our canal travels, we saw deer in a field by the canal (twice!) both times we saw a mother and fawn feeding, none of whom seemed bothered by the passing boat.
Sunday, saw another deer fawn on its own. We then ventured onto the river Cherwell, which we were not expecting as it only joins the canal between two locks, one of the locks being a strange octagonal shape which moved the boat only about 1ft. Lots of lift bridges today, thankfully all bar one are left raised, so we don’t have to do anything. The only remaining one was an electric lift bridge, so insert key and press a button which is easy, and it gives you the power to stop traffic. We moored just outside a village called Thrupp!
Amongst all the cruising this week, we have also managed to book an adventure to the Canary Islands for mid-January to mid-March next year.
| This Week | Total | |
| Locks | 55 | 673 |
| Miles Cruised (approx.) | 81 | 847 |
Travurple 