UK Canals - Journey reports

Grand Union Canal:Barby Moorings

I went up to the lock first thing to prep it and finding it full, emptied it, whereupon a person on a moored boat came down and said she would be coming down shortly and to leave the gates just as another appeared wanting to coming up, so I was now one of a pair.  However, the newcomer wanted to fill with water so from the lock, I was still solo.  But not for long.  I was flagged down just before the last bridge before the tunnel entrance and informed that a dredger was coming through in the opposite direction and best to wait there (in the sunshine rather than further on in the dark shade).  So my friend from earlier caught up, and once through the tunnel after a half hour or so delay, were descended the Braunston Locks together with the assistance of a couple of volunteer Lockies.  There had been a historical boat rally at Braunston the previous weekend and it was the most likely reason for the plethora of “working boats” that we had seen opposite direction on our way up.   Last evening there was a bit of wind, but the boat was in a sheltered position.   However, today, when in the open the wind was very strong making it unlikely that I would be able t get on to my mooring at Barby, so I was hoping to be able to moor in like at the top end of the Barby Straight where I have moored before.   Unfortunately these moorings were full so I was forced to go on to the marina entrance which was no problem, but the strong west wind makes it impossible with the limited room and my dodgy left bow thruster, to get onto my pontoon without hitting something.  I was forced, in the wind to go to the pumpout mooring.  This wasn’t a bad idea as I needed a pumpout, but even securing the boat was a juggling act being single handed.  After the pumpout I attempted to move the boat, but there is nowhere to tie it to that is strong enough in these weather conditions so I remain on the pumpout mooring for the night.  At 8am tomorrow I will be fine moving.   Given this is quite a blow, I put the fan up and was getting a max of about 4 amps but with continuous charging voltage of some level.  It will be interesting to see how the batteries appear in the morning.  They are definitely not going to be adequate for another season and I might well decide to change them over summer.   They are “fit and forget” sealed type.  They have managed just 3 years, whereas my previous “wet” batteries, with care, lasted seven.

Grand Union Canal:Buckby Top Lock (bottom)

Wednesday July 3rd

As is the rule with guests, a full English breakfast was enjoyed before setting off for the long cruise to the bottom of the Buckby Flight.  We arrived at Weedon in perfect time to visit the “Heart of England” pub and hotel for lunch.  Then another hour to the locks.  There were a few boats coming down to make life easier, except that the first had shut the Lock gates ahead which almost always means having the drain the results of the leakage or overspill.  Rather than risk the potential difficulty mooring above the top lock, I stopped in the pound below which is much more pleasant and with just as easy access to the pub.  My guests got a taxi here to return to Stoke Bruerne to pick up their car.

Grand Union Canal:Stoke Bruerne

Tuesday July 2nd

It was a miserable looking cold morning.  Got going with a planned stop at Baxter’s Boatyard for a diesel top up.  It was 71 litres.  By this time, in spite of my top coat I was cold and shivery.  There was a little rain to add into the mixture.  However, the day warmed up slowly.  Filled up with water at the bottom of the locks along with another boat which left just before me at which point of course my tank declared itself full, so I set off and had to drain the bottom lock by then.  When the lock was ready a boat appeared to come down which must have delayed the boat that went ahead of me because they were waiting for me.  It was a very useful partnership and we made excellent time.   Peter, one of two friends who were going to join me tomorrow, was waiting at the bottom of the top lock and Bob also joined me there.   Once we had found a mooring, a visit to “The Boat” was called for for a drink, chat and a sandwich.   Peter had visited the museum with some information of interest as he was one of the tunnellers who helped restore Blisworth Tunnel for functionality after the collapse.  He later went on to work on the the Channel Tunnel.  We ate in the “Navigation” in the evening.

Grand Union Canal:Wolverton

First obstacle this morning was the Fenny Stratford Lock and combined swing bridge.  The bottom gates were open, and from my observations yesterday at the Red Lion by the lock (over a pint), they tend to swing open on their own.  Close one, walk round to close the other and the first one has opened again.   So.. first crack a top paddle.  Once done, whist the lock is filling (it’s only about 12 inches) deal with the bridge.  This just has a pull/lifting handle to release the lock and push.  I reckoned tat there would be no point in trying to close the gates on leaving, so I just put everything back and set off.  I believe that for the next 3 hours, I only met one opposite direction boat.  I’m now moored slightly below and about 30 yards horizontally from the fast lines on the West Coast Main Railway Line.  Lovely.  Why stop here?   Just a bit further on is a wharf with rings situated in a canyon between a block of flats and the converted remains of a railway building, now flats and at park.   It’s leafy green here and much more pleasant.  The railway is nothing, I’m a railwayman (of sorts).