Water conservation.

Now moored at Stoke Bruerne. 7 Locks/ 5^1/₂ Miles

Total of 159 locks and 131^1/₂ miles since 5th Nov 2006

Sign reads elderly ducks crossing

Woke up this morning feeling strange, we couldn’t walk upright as the boat had a distinct list to starboard, we were moored overlooking the River Tove that was in full flood. Several sheep had succumbed to the floodwaters as the land is so lowlying. When we moored last night we had plenty of water beneath us but overnight the flood waters had receded and left us sitting on a ledge. We managed to get off OK and started cruising towards Stoke Bruerne where we had been told that lock 19 had been closed and was not scheduled to re-open until 5pm.

When we arrived at Lock 20 we moored up and went for a walk to see what was happening only to find n/b Gwyniad about to depart lock 19 for lock 18. What happened to the stoppage BW had told us about? Who knows, completed earlier or didn’t do it or what? Anyway as Gwyniad was a solo boatman we asked that if he cared to wait for us to catch him up we could lock through together which he jumped at the opportunity. By the time we had “Gypsy Rover” in lock 20 the gentleman on “Gwyniad” had set lock 19 for us and we were away racing. Between the 3 of us the Stoke Bruerne flight was a piece of cake. Upon arrival in the village we both moored up for lunch.

As the afternoon was still young we went along to the canal museum and took the self guided tour with the supplied personal portable commentary machines and thoroughly enjoyed it. The commentary was very informative and well done.

As we walked back to the museum from the Blisworth tunnel entrance we saw n/b Gwyniad again and the gentleman told us he was off through the Tunnel and was going to moor in Blisworth overnight . We wished him well.
(We will be following tomorrow after our morning walk)

A walk around the village was the next priority and a closer look at the thatching being done on “The Boatman Inn”. This Inn has been owned by the same family since 1877. There are also still quite a few thatched properties in the village.
Tonight we cannot believe how quiet it is here as everywhere else we have been you could always hear the traffic noise even if you couldn’t see it.

Photo shows a metal sculpture on the tramway at Stoke Bruerne
built by a David Gosling and his son Adam in 2002.

Real minature daffodils spotted at Stoke Bruene
compare the sizes with the snowdrops with them.