The Magnet Still Exists!

Tuesday 26^th September 2017
Grove Lock Marina to Below the Three Locks at Soulbury
6.5 miles, 5 locks

First, briefly to the weekend which was a great success.  It was lovely to see our daughter and her youngest son, Jamie aged 5 on Friday.  George (9) was out with his Daddy at a gymnastics class.  They arrived home as we left, so it was a hurried 'hello' and 'goodbye'.  Shoes were bought, so we now both have dry feet, appointments kept, we spent Friday night in the house (our house insurance insists we spend one night there every 60 days) and we were off to Bedford on Saturday.  At 4pm we, along with around 40 other friends and family of the birthday pair, boarded The John Bunyan boat for a cruise along the River Great Ouse.

Complete with a very talented jazz trio

and a cream tea - the scones were really good.

Why were we there?  To celebrate a double 70th birthday - Sue (Boatwif from nb Cleddau)

and Ken (The Captain)

The trip took us all to a place called Danish Camp


Where we disembarked and made our way up to the terrace for a good view of the boat (see first photo)

Before we went inside for a dinner which was followed by dancing before a coach took us all back to Priory Marina.  A fantastic day and many thanks to them both.

After a good nights sleep we headed all the way back to Bromsgrove to collect Monty and then went back to Grove Lock Marina. Chris drove just over 400 miles in the three days, but it was worth it.

We had intended moving across to the other side of the canal on Monday, but it was pouring with rain and we did not feel like doing battle with the reeds, so we paid our money and stayed in the marina making good use of the electric hook up to get the washing done.  To be honest we were both tired and were glad to have a day off.

What a difference a day makes - this morning the sun shone and it was delightfully warm.  Before we set off, Martin, a resident cat, thought it would be a good idea to visit our boat, until he saw Monty!  I have to say that Monty has learnt not to chase cats, but he can give them a good evil eye.  At one point Martin had his front paws on the button fender in an attempt to board,

but he did eventually decide that discretion was the better part of valour and he retreated

 As we got to the lock by the marina who should come along the towpath on their bikes but Darryl

and Pam - our companions from last week.  Thank you both for your help today and safe travels when you move on.

As we progressed along the canal we were taken back to memories of France last summer - Le Somail was one of our favourite places on the Canal du Midi

After a quick stop at Leighton Buzzard to pop into Tesco for the paper we went down one more lock and came to The Globe only to find that the magnet is still there under the water level

and it pulled Tentatrice in - Chris assures me he did not have the power to stop her, especially as there was a Tentatrice sized hole on rings right outside the pub!  Years ago, Sue and Ken had nb Cleddau moored on this canal and we did quite a few trips with them and it was always when Chris was steering that the magnet at the Globe drew Cleddau in.  We stopped here two years ago when the two boats were travelling together only to find the place was not what it used to be.  We thought we should give it another go and I am glad to report we both had a really good sandwich for our lunch.

Monty and I walked for a while when we set off again - autumn colours are beginning to become apparent


The views were rural and it was utterly peaceful - no traffic, just birds singing in the trees, the boat engine turning over, the water rippling under the bow and the occasional train way in the distance - bliss

They are certainly doing a lot of dredging along this canal.

There are three locks at Soulbury and it is good to see that the Pumping Station

is being restored

There were boats coming up as well as us and a hire boat with a crew from Vancouver Island, Canada going down.  That is one of the real pleasures of this way of life - meeting people from all over the world and having brief conversations before you go your separate ways.

How's this for a paint job?  I love it

and this is the other side

Just below the locks are moorings with rings with just enough room for us.

Another Great Day

Wednesday 20^th September 2017

Bluebell Tearooms, Tring Reservoirs to Opposite Grove Lock Marina

6.75 mile, 11 locks, 1 swingbridge

The original plan for today was to travel about 4 miles and go through 8 locks as we are not due to arrive at Grove Lock Marina until Thursday, however we had agreed with Pam and Darryl (our travelling companions from Tuesday on nb Isadora) that we would travel together again today.  When you have a good team it makes sense to keep on going, so we did!  The sun was shining and despite being a much longer day than we usually do, time just flew by.  

We set off first and did the first lock solo as just after that you pass the Aylesbury Arm

and then these new houses where there is a service point at the far end that we wanted to use.

Two years ago these were brand new

and the service area was under construction.  It is a clean and tidy area, but once again along this canal there is no recycling.

Right on cue as we were about to untie nb Isadora arrived and we completed the other 10 locks together.  Pam, Monty and I walked quite a few stretches, so we had plenty of time to chat.

Just the one swingbridge, which Pam kindly operated for both boats

This stretch of canal is the most scenic since we left the Thames - it opens out with some wonderful far reaching views

On the side of this boat is a sign of how things used to be way back when

a four digit telephone number with the town name in front was all you needed to remember!  When Chris and I moved to the north of Scotland in 1977 we had a three digit number and had to wait about 6 months for a line to become vacant!  Now we all carry a phone about our persons and rarely remember any numbers as the phone does that for us!!

We saw a few boats moving today and a couple of times we crossed at a lock which is always helpful.

We spotted these nestled in a field and assumed they were 'Glamping Abodes'

But it would appear they are Wigwams - not quite the shape I expect a wigwam to be!  They are certainly all mod cons and popular - see see here for full information

Your neighbours are their flock of Wiltshire Horn Sheep, apparently one of the oldest flocks in the country.

The canal  is very shallow in places, so it is good to see dredging going on

We ended up following a load being taken along for removal - the helmsman was kind enough to pull over and let both boats through.

Our last lock of the day was Church Lock with, not surprisingly, a church right beside it. Two years ago it was for sale which we assume must have been successful

I took a sneaky peak through the back gate - I love the conservatory and the window frames are just perfect

What a view - from the bridge at Church Lock

Hidden behind the trees is a livery stable?

Complete with horse exercise area - knowing nothing about horses we are assuming that is what this is for.  Possibly for rehabilitation??

Then the last stretch to find two moorings opposite Grove Lock Marina.

A good mooring for the stern

but a bit more challenging at the bow!  Thank you Pam for fighting the reeds to get us moored.


So what do you do at the end of a long day travelling with great companions - you go to the pub for a drink, of course!

Thursday 21^st to Monday 25^th September 2017

Grove Lock Marina

We moved across around midday, filled with diesel and collected a couple of bags of coal before mooring up in a new home for Tentatrice for the next 4 nights.  Tomorrow we collect a hire car and head for home for a very busy weekend.  We have invited ourselves for dinner at our daughter's as there is nothing in the fridge at home, but more importantly it will be our only chance to see her and her family.  We have a couple of appointments to keep, a trip to an outdoor shop for shoes for both of us - the only pair of shoes Chris has been able to wear since his bunion op have fallen apart and my walking shoes have decided that they are no longer even damp proof, never mind waterproof.  

Monty is going to the dog sitter on Saturday and we are heading back to Bedford for a very important event - the second part of Sue and Ken's (nb Cleddau) 70th birthday bash. We know we will be meeting up with several friends from over the years - these include Jaq from nb Valerie - someone I know a lot of you boaters know well.  Back home on Sunday morning to collect the dog and back to Grove Lock to return the car first thing Monday.  We will be in need of a rest by then, so we will just push across to the other side of the canal before heading off on the final leg of our journey home on Tuesday.  

So until we resume, I will sign off and wish you all a thoroughly good weekend.