Traffic, Trains, Planes & Fire!

Monday 2^nd June

Traffic and Trains

B9 Norton Junction to B29 Weedon Bec

5.25 miles, 7 locks

Just round the bend today were the 7 Buckby and once again many boats were moving.

At the last lock we met nb Tagula Blue

They had been waiting to go onto the Nene with the intention of crossing The Wash from Wisbech to Boston with the intention of visiting friends in Lincoln.  They had given up waiting for the red boards to come down and are going the other way round – we may meet them on their way back.  The name intrigued me – apparently it is a race horse (they resorted to the Sporting pages when trying to think of a name), however the advice is not to put money on him/her (I did not catch the gender) as it has three legs and you will lose your money!!  Good name though and I hope you make it.

Our constant companions day were the thunder of traffic along the M1 

and the roar of trains on the other side of the cut 

An interesting snippet of conversation was overheard as we passed a moored boat where the owner was busy painting - his comment to the passing boat went as follows ‘I am painting and you are moving – it has to rain’!  Behind him the local bovine population seem to agree with him

I am glad to say they were wrong.

There were retail opportunities today at the Canal Shop, Lock 2 on the Buckby Flight (2 canal plaques – Braunston Locks and Norton Junction, were purchased), the pottery shop at Whilton (not visited) 

The  Chandlery at Whilton (Chris had fun!) and finally the Boatwif and I went into Weedon Bec for supplies and what a charming village it is with a very good One Stop Shop, Chemist, Greengrocer and Post Office.  It is also a village of 3 hairdressers (they seem to be shut on Mondays!).

St Peters Church

A window with a difference

A charming welcome to the 'Little Piglets Day Nursery'

 I would never have found this exit off the towpath to Weedon Bec without guidance from Boatwif.  The dog box marks the spot.

The views at the top of the steps down are worth popping through the gap even if you don't need to shop

We finally moved along a short way before mooring for the night with this rather contented neighbour across the cut.

Tuesday 3^rd June

Planes and Fire

B29 Weedon Bec to just Blisworth

7.25 miles, 0 locks

No photos of the planes but two Spitfires and a Dakota were spotted today.  Two happy chaps!

No point in rushing anywhere as we cannot get onto the Nene – we found out late in the day that  the river is open today, but a lot of rain is expected tomorrow, so we reckon it is likely to shut again.  The journey to Northampton is on hold.

A morning walk with Monty came across this rather lovely working boat

Some stunning properties

I hope the party is not for tomorrow or they might need more shelter

Diesel was purchased at Heyford Wharf Bridge and we then set off for Gayton Junction.

Just a few miles down the cut Cleddau pulled over.  Why we wondered – were there shops that could not be missed?  No – they had a fire!  Thankfully nothing too serious, but I am sure more details can be found on Boatwif's blog.  We set off again to head for Gayton Junction for rubbish and composting loo disposal and the replenishment of water – I can report a very efficient elsan and a tap with a good strong flow.  Such different things to concern oneself with than when we are at home.

 En route I had to wonder:

Who lives here?

 and which one is real?

Our mooring for tonight is near Blisworth,  near Candle Bridge. 

Our nearest neighbour - a canal Cheese Shop

and not just any old cheese!

Which to have - so far none at all.  I am not sure how much you get for your 3 for £11!

Boatwif, Monty and I took ourselves into the village in search of supplies and found yet another charming village with some wonderful buildings with a predominance of Northampton Stone and more thatched roofs.

Christmas Cottage - one has to wonder why?

 The Smithy

 

The plan for tomorrow – coffee on board Tentatrice at 10:30 to review the weather and make decisions.  We may just stay put – we shall see.

The Cleddau/Tentatrice 2014 Cruise begins

Braunston to B9 Norton Junction

4.5 miles, 6 locks

At last we were treated to sunshine.  I hope this augers well for our summer cruise.    I have to say that I have never seen so many moving boats and being the first moored boat after the turn we saw a lot of action and a fair amount of engine revving this morning.  At one point it was so extreme I popped out to have a look to see a boat bearing down on us trying to avoid another boat.  Chris had his head down mopping the bilges, so I was at least able to warn him to hang on!   With some judicious fending off disaster was avoided.  We headed off after a leisurely morning.

On our rubbish disposal run this morning The Captain and I stopped to say hello to Bruce and Sheila on nb Sanity Again.  Wonderful to meet you both after reading your blog for a couple of years. I am just sorry that we were not able to meet  Jan and Tom on NB Waiouru – so near and yet so far.  Next time maybe.

After a leisurely morning we were off

There were boats everywhere

I noticed a VLK (voluntary lock keeper) making notes in a small notebook - probably boat names.  We get excited if we get 6 and overwhelmed if we get 10 boats in our 4 hour shift at Stoke Prior - they must 10 every hour round here!

Tentatrice and Cleddau is their second lock together – there will be many more before we are done.

As we were mooring these lads came through the bridge – having a great time – just messing about in a boat!  I am not so sure that the oarsman was having quite such a good time as the other three.

Moored up

With this as our view – can’t be bad. 

Once we were all secure it was time for the Pimms.  I am not going to count how many of those we consume over the next few months!  It was so good to be able to sit on the tow path in the sun and just chill.   

When we weren’t looking Monty found the dregs in Boatwif’s cup of tea and decided as it was on the floor, it must be for him!

Monty and I headed off down the Leicester Arm on a long walk.  We heard this before we saw it, but we were eventually rewarded with this wonderful sight to go with the evocative sound. 

It was a very rural walk - where is the dog?

Nearly there - just under that bridge and supper awaits - well for Monty at least.

The problem started when we got back to the boat – we are aground, so need to use the gangplank, but Monty was having none of it!  Chris had to carry him in the end.  I guess he will be keener to get off, but some training is required – maybe we should have gone to agility classes.

We have made it!

A catch up again due to no internet at Long Itchington.

Friday 30^th May

At last no rain!

Leamington Spa to B24 Long Itchington

6.5 locks, 10 locks

A fairly leisurely start and a day with no rain – bliss.  We managed to pair up for most of the locks, so a good journey. 

Approaching the staircase locks 15 & 14

A moment of excitement for us – at Fosse Wharf we passed nb Ferndale – the first boat to recognise we are fellow bloggers and say hello.  Thank you and we hope to meet you properly one day! 

At the last corner coming up to B24 at Long Itchington we encountered a traffic jam of four boats - a ‘moored’ boat  had come adrift and was across the cut.  

Apparently the ground is very soft here at the top and then like cement further down, so we were advised to moor on rings, not mooring pins, which we did – two boats behind the boat (nb Iolanthe) that accompanied us most of the way today. 

We are both heading off at 10 am tomorrow to the Cuttle and Stockton Locks.  We will be at Braunston tomorrow where we will meet up with nb Cleddau and hopefully the crew of nb Jannock will be meeting us all for dinner.  I need to get rid of a lot of mud tomorrow!!

Once we had moored we went for a wander into Long Itchington which looks to be a lovely village with some fabulous properties both old

and new

 It is green and leafy

With a village pond

 A lovely church 

This looks like a church, but is called the New School House

We missed the festival!

But we found 5 of the 6 pubs. 

 We patronised this one

If you do stop here it is a fair trog to the village centre – turn left after the village pond, go past the church and you will be rewarded with a fairly well stocked Co-op.

We have never seen 'Big Pink Lorries' before, but in this small little village we came across three of them. .  You cannot miss them and the two that we came closest to had very considerate drivers.  The first moved across to the middle of the road to give us good space on the fairly narrow path and the second stopped to let us across a zebra crossing with a big smile on his face. Such a pleasing change from so many motorists attitudes, so many thanks to them.

Saturday 31^st May 2014

We made it!

B24 Long Itchington to Braunston Turn

9.25 miles, 13 locks

Running total since leaving Droitwich 55 miles, 111 locks.

As planned we headed off at 10am with nb Iolanthe 

and had a very pleasant trip up the first 10 locks – the weather was warm and dry and the company excellent.  We hope to meet you all again one day, Dave, Patsy and the dogs Jazz, Trigger and Pixie.  Thank you for your help and making our lives a lot easier.  We bade them farewell at the top of the Stockton flight as they had planned to stop before Calcutt.  As ever things change and they didn’t, so we joined them again for the first two of the Calcutt flight – we then stopped to get diesel.  I wonder if anyone leaves their rubbish here?

Heading for the last lock

before the run to Braunston.  I busied myself and‘de-mudded’ the inside of the boat!  The going was slow (good for me as it gave me more time!) – we have never seen to many boats on the move.  At first we thought this swan was protecting his new family, but there was no hissing or aggression, so I think he was just after algae. 

Soon enough we got to Braunston Turn and there was Boatwif (nb Cleddau) waving to us from the bridge – what a welcome sight.  

Round the bend and lo and behold the Captain and Cleddau.

With a mooring space right behind them just big enough for us

Tea and cake were consumed, then a quick wash, brush up and change and Brenda and Graham (nb Jannock) arrived armed with a plate of savoury Chelsea buns.  We are looking forward to those for lunch today. Thank you Brenda and thank you both for driving over to join us for the evening which we all enjoyed very much.  And so to The Boathouse for what was a surprisingly good dinner at a very reasonable price - 2 mains for the price of one!  

Having seen the amount of boat movements today I think we were very lucky to find one mooring, never mind two!  I hope this good fortune follows us the rest of the way.

So the main part of this summer’s cruise begins.