Fine and chilly.

1 lock and 7 miles. Now moored at Cosgrove

Yesterday we awoke to find a full rubbish bag in the water up against the boat. Well, being a tidy Kiwi I pulled it out only to find that the contents had come from the Milton Keynes City council 'Tut, Tut'. The bag contained envelopes addressed to "The Householder". Inside each envelope was a letter explaining the rubbish collections for the holiday period and 2 extra plastic rubbish bags. There must have been the best part of 100 envelopes so can you imagine what would have happened had all those plastic bags got loose, many boaters down weed hatches in freezing cold water muttering curses. Anybody want any rubbish bags?

Novel way of using recycling materials spotted along the towpath

Our 48 hours had been and gone at Campbell park so it was time to move on. The weather was fine but chilly and with a threat of snow tomorrow we wanted to get closer to Stoke Bruerne to beat the stoppage next Monday. At Great Linford we found diesel n/b's Beverley and Ascot so we stopped and topped up the fuel tank, another 38 litre's. There were a few other boats on the move also but we had a quiet trip up to Cosgrove where we are moored just above the lock.

The skyline is changing alongside the old Wolverton Railway workshops.

Tomorrow Tim Garland from Garland Hoods will collect our cratch cover to replace a zip which was damaged whilst locking. While it is away being repaired we will investigate what there is of the disused Buckingham Arm which has strong links with my family. Several Number 1 boatmen,coal merchants, farmers and several births are all part of my families connection with this part of the 'Cut' dating back to 1842. About 1 mile from the junction with the Grand Junction (GU) canal was 'Canvins Wharf' where one family member was a coal merchant. The villages of Lechhamstead, Passenham and Deanshanger are also mentioned in the family tree which is being collated by Phyl & George Barber . Phyl is a cousin 2 or 3 times removed.

What with the birth of 2 female members of the family at 'Lady Capels Wharf' near Watford my connection with the 'Cut' gets deeper and deeper.

870 locks, 1180 miles, 33 Tunnels, 40 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006