Grand Union Canal:Giffard Park

Another grey misty drizzly morning. We soon got to Leighton Buzzard and the canalside Tesco where Pat needed to shop for some stores. The drizzle stopped. Moving on, we passed the Alvechurch boat we were with yesterday at the top of the Soulbury 3 Locks. Volunteer Lock keepers were in attendance and it immediately became apparent that the Capped Heron was to join us. We had an easy ride down. The gossip[ was that the hire fleets are having a very hard time with bookings down. Perhaps we just need a bit of warm weather and everyone will forget about the cold. The hire boat needed water, so we carried on through Stoke Hammond lock and reached Willowbridge where we often stop for fuel. Today was no exception and the purchase of three bags of solid fuel should guarantee warm weather. We encountered a number of Wyvern Boats in bridge holes causing some to go aground (as often happens when they throw the boat into reverse and lose steerage). Then nb Ariadne was found in the middle of the canal and another Wyvern was nudging it to the side where some kind hearted boaters rescued it and resecured the mooring. There was plenty of mooring at Giffard Park where, shortly after stopping the heavens opened. Rain is forecast overnight and showers tomorrow.