UK Canals - Journey reports

Progress South III - Arrival

The last few days have been quite busy, although the decision to delay return to Harefield until Friday has taken the pressure off somewhat.   Our meal at the Globe Inn was not quite up to expectations, though perfectly acceptable.   We were off early as usual on Wednesday and hit TESCO at Leighton Buzzard for a few essentials.  Moving on, the pound above Grove Lock was very low - our first real indication that water availability might be a problem.  A temporary large pipe seemed to emerge from the back of the pumping house at Church Lock filling the pound above, so no problem here, or indeed further up.  Some of the pounds in the Ivinghoe Flight are often low, so one could not read too much into that.   Traffic ahead was slowing us down by this stage, then opposite direction boats really held us up so that by the lower Marsworth Locks traffic behind caught us up and we had enjoyable company with two experienced boaters on "Goosamoor" for the rest of the Marsworth Flight.    There was plenty of water down to Berkhamsted where we spent the night.  The next morning, we continued down hill.   Below Sun Lock the pound was very low and the River Bulbourne feeding it, dry.   It turned out, however, that the level was down due to some metal stuck in the top gates of the lock below - now thankfully removed.   Progress was so good that we reached our planned overnight stop by 2 pm, so decided to continue on to Croxley (Cassio Lock).  Working boats Bletchley and Argos were in Cassiobury Locks when we arrived.   This pair were being worked by one helmsman, on cross straps out of the bottom Cassiobury Lock, then breasted out of Ironbridge Lock.   It explained why we had been running against open bottom gates for a while.  We stopped alongside him for diesel (49p) and coal at Cassio Lock, then left him behind.   No moorings there as hoped, so we stopped at Common Moor Lock instead and went up into Croxley Village for the pub.    Our last day, Friday, was a fast and uneventful run down to Harefield where we arrived at 10:30.

Progress South II

Starting early, we had Stoke Bruerne Locks to ourselves and were down in an hour and 5 mins where the boat stopped for a long drink of water.   Pat went to Lakeside Stores for a few odds & ends at Cosgrove, then we faced the long drag through Milton Keynes.   Passing Willowbridge Marina we noticed diesel at 48p/l.  Pity we had filled at Whilton (56p).  Making good progress on further up the three locks at Soulbury we decided that we deserved a treat, so have stopped at the Globe, Linslade.   Looks like our anticipated arrival at Harefield will now be Friday Midday.

Progress South

After a really enjoyable CUTWEB Rally at Napton, NUGGLER reached Stoke Bruerne last evening after a long day and a very slow passage of Buckby Locks have faced much opposite direction traffic (some crewed by the less able - to paraphrase Pat's comments). Today we aim for Leighton Buzzard.

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Last leg to Napton

It rained heavily in the night and was still raining early in the morning. So we set off to top up the water tank at the nearby water point and the rain stopped. Proceeding on we turned the corner after the first bridge and found ourselves behind a boat. Then gradually as we traversed the winding course of the canal, more and more boats appeared in front, so it was expected to find a queue at Marston Doles top lock. There were only four boats in front, but passage of the lock including waiting for opposite direction boats seemed very slow, so by the time our turn came there were over a dozen boats waiting. As we entered the second lock it became very dark and then we enjoyed a torrential rainstorm. A mooring was found for us below Napton top lock, the rain stopped and the sun came out.

The afternoon was spent erecting the marquee for our weekend entertainment.

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Nuggler reaches Fenny Compton

Having cleared Kings Sutton Lock promptly at 18:00 we spent last night above Grants Lock, guessing that moorings in Banbury would be hard to find. So setting off this morning at 7:20 we were surprised to find somewhere to stop close to the bridge by Morrisons. A mega shop followed. Then on to join the queue of boats for Banbury Lock. Wanting a pump-out we stopped at Sovereign Boats, but the functionary there was almost proud to say that he would not (could not) provide this service on the offside gunwhale as it is too risky. He said his heart was bleeding having to forgoe the £1 profit he would otherwise have made. So we made for Fenny Compton. Many lock queues later, we got there at around 17:45, having first telephoned the boatyard. Fenny has a DIY pumpout requiring a token. As the yard would be closed, a token was left under the bin for us to use (£12.50 in the letterbox). So hats off to the boatyard here, but I wont be using Banbury again.

nb Nuggler

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Stoppage at Kings Sutton

From time to time things go wrong on the waterways.  The thing is that being waterways, rectification is not always straightforward and delays can sometimes be counted in days.  We have known about the stoppage at Kings Sutton for two days, so it is no surprise.  The gate seal had failed and requires major repairs, so the lock has been drained down with stop planks in place.  We left at 8:00 leaving nb Ernest at Aynho and have now joined nb Minihaha in the queue at the lock.  Bill and Ann are fellow Cutwebbers, so if John & Margaret join us here we will be able to have a mini-gig.

Kings Sutton Lock

Fisher in Aynho

According to the Nicholson Guide 2000 edition, there are no villages with stores with easy access from the canal until Banbury.   Down to our last pint of milk I was dispatched on the unfolded bike at 7:30 am to search out a convenience store.  The trip was successful, so by 8:00 Nuggler was mobile (slowly).  First the half mile or so of moored boats, then the curiously shaped Shipton Weir Lock.  The river reach followed when normal speed could be resumed, but then progress slowed again.  Locking were not a problem.   Although there were quite a few boats about, they were evenly spaced and for the most part we only had to wait for boats coming down.   Now about ships stores: There is a good farm shop just above lock 39; There is allegedly a small shop selling milk, bread etc at Lower Heyford Wharf and similarly at Aynho Wharf.  So my earlier bike journey was unecessary (but interesting).   Our target was Aynho wharf and the Great Western Arms for an evening meal in company with nb Ernest John & Margaret.   They arrived about an hour after us having tales of their own adventures.

Thrupp - and more trauma

The mist this morning was much denser than yesterday.  Although we could see clear blue sky, it took 1 ½ hours for the mist to clear – just before Iffley Lock.   Abingdon was hand wound and Sandford Lock fortunately now has power.   By the time we reached Iffley Lock we were shivering cold, had donned warm clothes and lit the fire, then suddenly it was sunshine and shirt sleeves.  We didn’t stop in Oxford, but proceeded directly via Isis Lock to the Oxford Canal.  Progress slowed sharply, although was steady for the most part.  The bottom gate at Kidlington Green would not open cleanly and it needed a rush and full throttle to get into the lock.  At Thrupp we found the last mooring space waiting for us.  Just about to get the chairs out for a civilised cold beer etc. when Grannie slipped getting into the boat and injured her shin with screams and blood etc.  There was nothing for it but to call for an ambulance as I no longer have the kit for dealing with this injury.  However, John Radcliffe A&E were very kind and she was back with us, still rather shaken, by 7:15.  We settled her down and then shot off to the “Boat” for something to eat and were pleasantly surprised to be entertained by 10 or so musicians having fun with folk music.  One would start up a tune and the others would pick it up in the style of a jam session.  Great stuff.

Return to Beale Park

What a day!   Everything went wrong.   The aim was to get Grannie, two aged labradors and a mountain of luggage to Reading, mobilise the boat and then make for Wallingford if possible, although overnight mooring might have to be reviewed in the light of progress.   So a box of frozen dog food, two folding bags, a collapsible table, my computer case, one cabbage and ... were strapped to the luggage trolley.  Our plan was to take the tram to East Croydon and get the one direct train service per day to Reading.  It was a good idea to build a bit of extra time in to get the train, so we arrived 40 minutes early.   We might as well have not bothered.  The train had never left Brighton as Virgin was waiting for train crew, so we decided to cut our losses and take the train to Clapham Junction which meant a tiresome transfer with stairs (bad for Grannie) over to the Southwest Trains platform for the Reading train.  We just missed it.  Half an hour later we were nicely set up on the next service, but at Richmond the doors failed and after a 25 minute delay we were all detrained.  The next Reading train had been diverted in consequence, so we were told to get the next train to Staines and change again there.  This worked and 1 hour and 25 minutes late we got to Reading.  Pat, Grannie and dogs were to walk to Caversham Lock while I got a taxi to the marina to bring the boat round.  This all worked fine, but when I got to the boat I found that the 240volt circuit breaker had popped and there had obviously been no power all week.   Why I know not.  So we had no food and the whole point of paying £100 to have shore power was negated.   At least the batteries were fully charged, although with the solar panels, in the absence of mains use, they would have been anyway. Moored outside TESCO were our friends Terry & June on PLUTO.  So after picking up the girls, we returned to moor up next to them to catch up and go shopping to replace our spoiled food.

Now we were seriously later than expected, so pressed on and at 5 pm took the advantage of mooring up outside Beale Park.   Even this was not straightforward, for it took 4 attempts to find a mooring where some part of the boat was near enough to the bank to allow the dogs off. Supper of Spanish Chicken and a bottle of Pinot Grigio was a welcome end to a disastrous day.

Abingdon

Our trip to Napton was neatly cut up into 6 hour days by Nick Atty's Canal Planner, but Friday was planned as a full day, so we should have spent last night at Wallingford.  This meant a bit of catching up was necessary to reach the planned stop for tonight - Abingdon.   A usual early start saw us off at 7:00 (leaving another mooring pin behind as we found later).  The sky had been clear overnight with a brilliant moon, so as expected the river was very misty even to the extent of fog in places where the two banks could scarcely be seen together.  However, by the time the river left the steep hills on the left, the sun was visible and the mist quickly cleared.   We were grateful that Goring Lock and Cleeve Lock have both had the new powered controls added so we were through in quick time.  Proceeding on there was very little traffic and only when reaching Culham Lock were we waiting for down stream traffic.  Minutes before lunch time, the lock keeper let us (and a plastic boat) in saying he would let us up, then leave us to wind ourselves out.   As it happened a cheery boat going down stream helped us out.   There are lovely (free) moorings at Abingdon below the bridge and although we fitted in nicely to a space between the cruisers already moored there, the bank was just too high for the dogd and Grannie to get off.   This meant a lot of pfaffing around trying to find somewhere else, especially as we needed shopping.   Eventually we found the perfect spot between the bridge and the lock - just for the rear half.   Shopping done, a cool beer on the bank was the order of the day.

Thames & Kennet Marina

Up at 7:00 this morning and I arranged to be at Caversham Lock just before opening time.   There was no point in being early to do a manual locking as I would then only have to wait for the marina office to open.   There being plenty of visitor moorings available, I had been told to simply announce my arrival at the office on the day.   Prompty at 09:00, the lock-keeper and her accompanying dog emerged from the house and immediately prepared the lock for me, there being no other boats in view.  Soon I was approaching the marina entrance, which proclaimed "moorings available" on a large banner, and phoned the office again to be told to report to the fuel pontoon.   This is a vast marina with separate sections for cruisers and narrow boats.  I was soon directed to a short pontoon and tied up stern on so as to position for the power hook-up.  The front of the boat is secured to a large post.   There is water and power at each mooring, but to get power it was necessary to obtain a hook-up converter to adapt the connector size from 32 amps to 15 amps as well as purchase a card (10, 50, or 100 KwH).   Reaching the office and chandlery requires a long walk, out of the security gate (numeric keypad lock), and round the approach road.   Once secure, I left the boat for a £10 taxi ride to the station and a the only direct service of the day from Reading to East Croydon and the tram home.