Leighton Buzzard and Environs

Leighton Buzzard Market Square

The Globe

Surprise! Surprise

6 Locks, 6 Miles. Now moored at Leighton Buzzard.

First thing this morning I was having a doze while Dot was busying herself for the day when I was abruptly awoken by Dot conversing with the crew of a passing boat. It was Narrowboat Helen Louise with John and Elizabeth Bolton from Blenheim, New Zealand aboard. John had contacted me back in NZ for information about narrow boats as he was looking into buying a boat. He forwarded some pictures of boats he was interested in and his son in the UK was going to have a look at them. I must say that the boat he bought looks very nice. Well,after about a half hour John and Elizabeth had to push on as they had a fair way to travel so we did a quick photo shoot and said farewell. Next time hopefully we can spend more time together catching up.

John and Elizabeth Bolton on N/b Helen Louise

While Dot had good Internet reception this morning she did a few jobs on the computer that had been needing attention. In the meantime I made the most of the delayed start with some window cleaning and a spot of fishing. Talk about luck of the devil, first cast and I hooked this large Bream. Now my landing net is 17 inches across and this fella would have been a good 16 inches in length, shame I don't have any scales to weigh my catch with. Perhaps I should write to Santa as it's getting towards that time of year again.

Derek's catch of the day

As we had no travelling companions the Soulbury flight were slow going but we got there in the long run. On arrival at Leighton Buzzard we just managed to squeeze into the Tesco shopping mooring without upsetting the usual fishermen who persist on fishing in this location. They even park their cars in the Tesco car park so they don't have to walk too far. Talk about laziness! After replenishing the larder we cruised about half a mile and moored up opposite a new block of 2 bedroom apartments which were only in the final construction stage when we passed through here last February. They all appear occupied now with new scaffolding being erected just to the south ready for another block to be built.

Tonight we received an email from Keith and Dave from nb Tanzanite who we passed near Stoke Hammond lock with us heading south and them towards Fenny Stratford. Sorry we missed you and glad you enjoy our blog. Hopefully we meet up again, give us a shout earlier.

Total of 628 locks, 848 miles, 25 Tunnels, 37 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Fait Accompli at last

0 Locks, 6 Miles. Now moored at Fenny Stratford Lock.

Fenny Stratford lock and the Red Lion Pub

We stayed on this morning at Great Linford so that I could finish the rest of the painting on the roof. First thing was to wash off all the sticky goo from the willow tree and when the moored boat behind us left we moved back away from the tree. Once it was all clean and dry it took just on an hour to complete the job. I originally started to paint the roof back in May but with the fickle weather I was unable to complete the job until now. Next job is the sides time and weather permitting.

After lunch we slipped our moorings and headed off with a stop at Pear Tree bridge for water and a call into Milton Keynes marina for a new gas tank. Getting in and out of this marina takes all your skills to negotiate turning and mooring in the visitor area.

I have been out picking some more blackberries but they are not as succulent as previous pickings we had around Rugby.

Total of 622 locks, 842 miles, 25 Tunnels, 37 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

What no water - Oh Dear

8 Locks, 12½ Miles, 1 Tunnel. Now moored at Great Linford.
622 locks, 836 miles, 25 Tunnels, 37 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

It was a chilly 7deg C this morning when we set off for the Blisworth tunnel at 7am dressed in wet weather gear as we know what this tunnel is like. It leaks like a sieve from above. All went well taking only half an hour to get through the tunnel. When we arrived at Stoke Bruerne our progress came to a sudden halt due to us finding that the top lock was empty, so empty that you could see the bottom. That was not the worst of it, the pound below the lock was also completely empty due to some prat leaving the top gates open on the second lock. After securing that lock we then set about letting water down to fill everything up again. It was too early to ring BW and we knew what was required anyway.

Empty pound below Stoke Bruerne top lock this morning.

While waiting for the pound to fill we found the diesel boat "Jubilee" moored opposite and enquired if he was open for business. His reply was that "If I am here I am open".

After about half an hour we were under way again. As we left the second lock another moored boat joined us down through the rest of the locks.The only problem we now had was that the lower pounds were over full with water flooding over the tow path causing us problems opening the top gates requiring us to waste water to get the top gates to open. While we were in the last lock 2 BW workers arrived as somebody behind us had rung them complaining about us holding them up. Apparently there were 6 boats behind us. There's no pleasing some people. Little did they know if it wasn't for us they would still be sitting at the top lock because the BW guys had come from Rugby which took the best part of an hour.

Another Kiwi boat "Tane Mahuta" ( Lord of the Forest) spotted today near Great Linford

After a longer than normal trip today we found the mooring we were hoping for at Great Linford was available which meant I could do some more painting on the starboard side. I was only able to get half the painting done due to the metal being too hot to start off with and the willow tree over the bow of the boat was weeping all over the roof making it all wet and sticky. Never mind I will finish it off before we leave here tomorrow.

Archeological site at Great Linford

First hint of Autumn.

0 Locks, 8½ Miles. Now moored at Bridge 50 GU.
614 locks, 823½ miles, 23 Tunnels, 37 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Sunday was spent with my cousin Pam and some of her family who drove over from Peterborough for the day. After a very nice roast dinner at the Narrow Boat Inn we went for a little cruise between the winding holes on either side of the village.

After a pleasant week-end at Weedon we set off this morning for Blisworth. As we were about to leave, we were passed by another boat with who else but Dr Bones herself on the back. Boy does she get around, "Keeping up with the Jones" she was, after quick shouted greetings we were off.

At Gayton Junction we pulled in to water up and get rid of some rubbish. There were 3 boats already on the water point so we had to wait for a wee while until they had finished their chores.

Just as we were leaving the junction Dot spotted another narrowboat (Camrose II) flying the NZ flag. We pulled alongside and spoke to Tony and Brenda from Auckland. They have been narrowboating for 6 years with regular visits back to NZ and they are also friends of Charles and Annie Scones on n/b Watergipsy. It’s a small world as we also know the Scones.

We are now moored just short of the Blisworth tunnel which we will navigate first thing in the morning the same as when we navigated the Braunston tunnel a few days ago.

Grannys View

This photo was taken from the same angle as Granny's.
To view his photo taken 12 months ago click here

Been there, done that.

7 Locks, 8 Miles, 1 Tunnel. Now moored at Bridge 26 GU.
614 locks, 815 miles, 23 Tunnels, 37 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

We left Braunston top lock early on Thursday morning to get through the Braunston tunnel before too many other boats started to move. We succeeded by getting through the tunnel all on our lonesome, it was lovely to breath in cool clean crisp air.

Thursday night we moored at the bottom of the Buckby flight but this is a bit noisy with the railway on one side and the motorway on the other.

"Oh dear"

The Buckby flight locks were just the same as they were when we were travelling north, hard to open even though the water was cascading over the bottom gates as the water behind the top gates were still not level. I see they are on the forthcoming winter stoppages again so let’s hope something is done to rectify the problem.

Friday night was spent at the aquaduct just north of Weedon wharf. Saturday morning and we have moved down to bridge 26 for water and found a suitable mooring to be able to meet my cousin and family who are coming over from Peterborough tomorrow morning. As there will be 8 of us in total we are going to have lunch at the Narrow boat Inn just above the bridge as it could be a bit crowded on the boat.

Just been speaking to Brent (son in New Zealand) concerning my mention and photos of Narrowboat Tui Mark 3. Well how’s this for a coincidence? My son has a workmate in New Zealand whose parents live on a Narrowboat called Tui with a beer logo on the boat. Couldn’t be more than one could there? He has sent me their email address so I will email them and let you know the outcome.

Once we get to London there will be plenty to blog about as we will try and cover the whole London ring including the rivers Lee and Stort before heading north again straight after christmas to avoid the planned stoppages.