Up, out of bed, breakfasted and walking towards the station this morning for Mick to catch a train into Maidenhead, then one to London, the tube, on to York and the final train of that leg to Scarborough. Our latest lodgers had moved out yesterday, so the house needed checking over and the grass cutting.
Only a bit of space on York to moor today
I meanwhile headed off to Sainsburys to see how much I could carry back to the boat ending up doing an intermediate shop which would keep us going until we reach Tescos in Reading.
Just look at those!
The shop windows in Marlow have tantalising things in them. I SO wish I ate gluten still as one cafe had the most enticing looking bread in their window and trays of wonderous baked goods filling the counters. Oh well I most probably saved myself a fortune.
I behaved and didn’t stock up on yarns
A shop down a side street caught my eye, a crafty shop with fabrics and yarn. My bumbag needs the zip replacing, so I waited outside for the shop to open then purchased what I hope is the correct length zip for the job. Just need to find the time with enough daylight to put it in now.
Alan, still King of the wall in Scarborough
Today I was going to make use of the table whilst Mick was away and do a bit of prep work for panto. The elaborate portals that I’ve designed have quite a few things that repeat themselves, so a quick means of drawing them out is required. I could project them onto the scenery, a method I’ll use elsewhere this year, but as these are so repetitive I’m going to use stencils.
Rats blown up
I gridded up the card I’d bought in London and transferred the designs across, trying to better the originals I’d used for the model. The correct lines were picked out from the mistakes with pen and later on in the day I started to cut them out. After two I’d had enough, the others can happen over the next few days when we moor up.
Around the lock was busy today. Plenty of boats coming and going. At one point I looked up to see a grey widebeam gliding past with no-one at the helm. They were sorting out their centre rope and ran back down the roof before the boat went off course.
EA getting ready for some work somewhere
A work boat and skip came down the lock. We’ve seen a few worky type vessels about the place, presumably getting ready for winter maintenance.
Several of the overstaying boats moved off too. Notices removed from windows. That left us and one other boat that looks like it is quite happy here.
Thankfully no friends were brought home today!
Council workmen arrived and did a bit of pruning in the park we’re moored alongside so whilst the chipper chipped Tilly was kept in. A big vat of carrot and orange soup was made from the remaining cheap carrots we’d bought at M&S, Not bad for 45p, a roast, a cake and soup.
Scarborough Station
Mick’s return journey from Scarborough wasn’t quite so good. The trains to London from York were cancelled so a detour via Leeds was taken. This train ended up stopping everywhere so got into London late. A fast train to Maidenhead got him slightly back on course where he caught up with a train he’d hoped to catch back to Marlow. He was back on board Oleanna just gone 10:30pm. A long day with a lot of trains.
Cats enlarged
0 locks, 0 miles, 9 trains, 2 tubes, 1 tidy house, 1 load washing, 1 catch up with neighbours, 2 bags shopping, 1 zip, 6 hours shore leave, 2 cancelled, 1 busy river out of season, 7 stencils drawn, 2 cut.
Sadly we could only stay one night on Tilly’s birthday island, we need to keep moving, admittedly not far today.
Sunday morning
But first there was time for Mick to rustle up a breakfast and for us to join the Geraghty zoom. The Basingstoke Canal, flights from Barra and the general state of the country were topics today.
We pushed away the island around 11am, passing our nearest neighbours soon afterwards. I wondered who might be staying in Spring Cottage at the moment (£2,750 a night) an extra £50 a night to include breakfast. Or at the cheaper NT run cottages £896 for three nights, no option of breakfast being included there.
You brought it with you, it’s now lighter, so much easier to take home!
We followed a big hire boat up to Cookham Lock where a volunteer saw both boats in and pressed the buttons for us. Mick had picked up a bag of rubbish on the island so we paused to drop it off at the bins above the lock. Why would you parcel up your rubbish and then hide it behind a tree on an island?! We topped up the water tank as a load of washing spun round in the machine and then carried onwards.
Bourne End can be so sunny, it almost feels like a resort as you glide along the wide water.
Sailing dinghy’s raced back and forth, the wind being in the perfect direction for their course today.
Click photo for details
Another house for sale, with a good length of mooring, only £2,750,000.
We paused at a familiar boat, bipped our horn, but only the wagging tail of a dog greeted us today. Next time we’ll make sure we send a message in advance.
Terraced garden
All the big houses climbing up the cliff and pretty boats moored below.
Round the big bend in the river, we spied space on the EA moorings below Marlow Lock and pulled in. We then nudged along in front of one of several boats with overstay notices on their windows. The route to walk up to the lock takes you round the houses a touch, but does give a great view across to Marlow.
Marlow
Only a volunteer on duty as it was lunchtime. Mick ventured back later in the afternoon to check in with the Lockie and see if it was possible for us to stay for two nights instead of just the one. As it was out of season he gave us permission.
Tilly got busy, bringing a friend inside to the warmth! Luckily it turned out to be easy to catch, but when released in the hedgerow it scarpered so quickly it didn’t see which way it was going and ended up in the river. It did swim, so I’m hoping it found somewhere to climb out.
I put together some photos and words for the Panto programme. They wanted a two page spread about the set design process. Lots of photos and a sentence with each one, I suspect I’ve given them too much.
What a lovely mooring it is here, we’ve only stayed by the park above the lock before which is quite busy, just a shame there is constant nose from the road bridge!
1 lock, 5.16 miles, 1 bag of rubbish, 1 tank of water, 1 load washing drying on the whirligig, 2 nights okay, 4 hours shore leave, 0 island, 7 photos, 7 sentences.
Blue skies greeted us this morning as we pushed away Teddington. This is going to be another trip up stream on the Thames where we keep saying ‘next time’ as we don’t have too much spare time on our hands. We always seem to go up stream on the Thames too, maybe ‘next time’ we’ll come down stream and see things from a different angle, we’ll also save on a bit of diesel too.
We pootled through Kingston, on past Hampton Court Palace, there was space to moor, but not enough time to enjoy ourselves. I wonder if they still sell off their fruit and veg every week?
Up Molesey Lock
Molesey Lock, our first on the none tidal Thames had a lock keeper on duty, we were his fourth boat this morning. On we tootled aiming for about four hours of cruising today, but knowing we’d be a touch short of that due to wanting a suitable mooring for Tilly.
Click on photo for a nosy
Boat houses, big houses. One with a suitable 70ft mooring was for sale. If only we had rich relatives!
Colour coordinated with the rope
A Kingfisher darted along between boats one of several we’d see today.
Open plan and lots of glazing
Plenty of riverside houses are being revamped or started from scratch, most with big windows to appreciate the views.
Bubbles
One property had three sets of bubbles bubbling up from the deep. Was this to keep the duck weed away? Or was it holes in a gas pipe line?
What’s this?
Does anybody know what this thing is? Steps up to it, round like an air shaft?
Rowing
Sunbury Lock was also manned, just the requirement to use bow and stern ropes and to turn your engine off. All the grass cut to perfection and flower beds still showing off some colour.
Maybe they are river huts
Little houses on stilts, looking like big beach huts.
A colourful place to work
Then there was a large pontoon in the middle of the river. The chaps wearing high vis sat about having their lunch break. It looked like there was a drill for collecting samples on the pontoon.
All lined up
We took the route to the north of Desborough Island. Last year we’d moored on the island when it was raining, not a suitable place for Tilly though. Today the moorings here were chocka so we carried on hoping there would be space on the council mooring a distance on.
Brilliant, we were the only boat. Not so brilliant was the large group of school kids heading in our direction! Were they just on lunch of were they skiving? As they hung around all afternoon, admittedly quite a distance from us we assumed they were skiving. This was almost certainly confirmed when they all headed off at school kicking out time!
Pesky kiddies
Tilly wasn’t too sure about it here at first. First there was a woofer that had to be avoided, then lots of screeching kiddies who tried to climb the trees. They were just spoiling it for everyone else, well me! Once they’d gone home for their dingdings I had the place to myself. If it hadn’t been for those pesky kiddies it would have got a stamp of approval!
Just let me get to those trees!
A flurry of panto emails had come through that needed some attention. Then as it was Thursday I put a chicken in to roast, timed to be ready after catching up with the Scarborough Chums. We’ve not had a Chums zoom catch up for what feels like months due to life returning to some kind of normal. Lovely to see people again, a shame some had to be at work. There was so much to catch up with, moving to Scotland, selling houses, buying pubs, a giant cardboard horse and Spanish wedding plans!
2 locks, 9.83 miles, £10,000,000 house, 70ft mooring, 2 many kids, 1 mooring spike, 1 wombled kindling hunt, 5 staying put, but 6 moving to 7 with a 6 inch brail, 1 roast chicken, 1 Sunday on a Thursday.
Ahh, tea in bed again! Wonderful, well except it was quite early as we seem to have gotten used to early mornings now. Once breakfast was over I headed to catch a bus to Aldgate to buy some card.
All sorts of wood
4D Model Shop has just about everything a model maker could want, I think they used to be near Holborn and I visited them many years ago when I still lived in Brixton. What I was after today was some sheets of grey board, card that is fairly easy to cut and cheap that I could make stencils from for the panto portals, reducing the amount of time spent drawing things out to a quarter.
I did have a good look round. You could buy any tree or any colour at a variety of scales, plenty of scale people several having a great time in a bowl of breakfast cereal. All sorts of wood, card, styrene shapes, sphere’s of all sizes. I could have spent an absolute age here, but managed to refrain from it. Over the last couple of years I’ve been wanting to find a magnifying glass to help when doing very fine things. The chap showed me a pair of glasses on which you can change the lenses to increase magnification, Something to add to my Christmas list.
Mick, Siobhán and Patrick
Once back on the bus there was enough time for a breather before we had visitors arrive. Siobhán and Patrick arrived from Australia on Monday, Siobhán is an old school friend of Micks. We’ve not seen them for several years as trips back to the UK were cancelled due to covid. They brought along with them Fionnuala, Siobhán’s sister who came to visit us once in Paddington.
Wine sorted
We had a lovely few hours with them catching up, seeing photos of their new grandchildren. Tea on board was followed by a walk up into Islington for something to eat. We chose Crepeaffaire, who make crepes and buckwheat galettes. They were nice, but could have done with being a touch warmer and a bit more filling. The lady serving us whipped out her pay machine which was all of a bit sudden. Because Mick was the first to get a card out, the others protested and we ended up visiting Sainsburys so they could help top up our wine cellar.
A lovely day with great friends, another reason for dashing down to London.
Just before we got straightened out
The boat behind us this evening pulled away leaving a gap on the straight that Oleanna would fit into. So we pulled back and breasted up against NB Keeping up with the Jones’, a boat that many may know, but now has a new owner. Our new mooring meant that the very short boat on the inside would now be able to pull out when they wanted to this evening.
Because the blog is published a couple of days behind I thought it only fair to share a photo from the flotilla, to wet your appetite. There may be a delay in further photos as I’ve a lot to sort through from the day.
Bridge 182 to Ballot Box Bridge, Paddington Branch
Yesterday evening we’d had quite a few people stop to chat as we set up the lights on Oleanna. One lady had been concerned that Denham Deep Lock (the next one) may be closed as the bottom gates were open a little bit and in front of the top gates there was a mass of weed, surely we’d not be able to get through! Neither of us were concerned at what she said and when we got to the lock this morning it was nothing compared to the amount of pennywort we’d come across at Wide Water Lock and the bottom gates were just open because that was they way they rested when the lock was empty.
Filling Denham Deep
Denham Deep is very deep, but thankfully with fairly new gates it doesn’t leek so it filled in no time compared to the shallower locks we’d recently come through.
Piggyback
Below the lock the floating dry dock was giving a piggyback to another boat.
Onwards to Uxbridge. Here two boats were breasted up on the lock landing and the last people to have gone through the lock had left both bottom gates open with the paddles up! We are now in the land of not giving a monkeys and the number of parakeets way out numbers blackbirds, robins and kingfishers. Thankfully we weren’t a widebeam, as some of the broader boats would have had difficulty getting into the lock and there was space on the off side for me to hop off to set the lock.
Only 29 litres today
We’d arrived shortly after Denham Yacht Station had opened for the day. A top up of diesel was required and Mick had dug out our 5litre can which also got filled. Going out onto the Tideway you want a full tank and we knew we’d not be at St Pancras Cruising Club at the right time to top up there.
Volunteers waiting for a boat
At Cowley Lock three volunteers stood awaiting our arrival, we were to be their first boat of the day.
Quite a house boat
Below someone is building themselves quite a large house boat. New stainless steel tanks sit in the water and a wooden structure is going up above.
Now we were on the level with Paddington. We pootled along passing large building sites, two fellas working their way through a pallet of turf.
Under Murderers Bridge where eight years ago we said a final goodnight to Houdini my old cat.
A plant peeked up out of the hold of a boat, was it what we thought it was? Yes, most probably. Soon we were at Bulls Bridge where the Boat of Fame is currently moored in it’s Mind The Gap coat of paint, very whimsical.
Left onto the Paddington Arm. All sorts of boats. Jolly dogs and grumpy cats. Heftily insulated boats. You see everything down here, some we now recognise each time we’re here.
Sunflower
A sunflower has reached up for light at the edge of the towpath surrounded by new builds. A cormorant took advantage of a high up post.
surrounded by new builds
I ducked below to have a catch up with Jo the props lady for panto leaving Mick to cruise us onwards to near Ballot Box Bridge at the foot of Horsenden Hill. Almost two hours later I finished chatting to Jo and could finally have my lunch. Then it was out with the buckets and cloths, time to give Oleanna a bit of a wash before the flotilla. The starboard side seems to have caught the sun more than the port side, so hopefully a wash might make her look better. Who knows if the starboard side will get washed it depends on time and on how busy our mooring in London will be, at least that side looks a touch smarter.
Eeevil!
Mick busied himself attaching the cratch lights. These haven’t been on Oleanna for two years, they are our normal arrangement for Christmas. These will stay on now for Saturday, a little less to do.
3 locks, 12.92 miles, 1 left, 1 tear, 1 tube boat, 3 volunteers, 2 hours talking props, boat 71, 1/10th of lights fitted, 1 clean bow for the first time in years.
Another 8am start, no tea in bed since Northampton!
Lock 37 was empty but thankfully Lock 38 was full, the pound between them short and in the past has been quite low. When we came up sharing with NB Tyseley a few years ago it was touch and go if there would be enough water to get her into the second lock. Today our only problem was the amount the bottom gates at Lock 37 were leaking. Mick had started to close the paddles to open the gate, but the amount of water flowing out between the gates was so great the top gate needed opening whilst all the paddles were still up.
Jan’s favourite canal side property
Signs on lock gates yesterday had warned us that the Marsworth flight was locked overnight, Cowroast end of the summit pound was also locked and that moorings in Marsworth might be a touch busy. There were certainly quite a few boats, but we’d have found a space.
As we turned the bend towards the bottom of the flight a C&RT Lock Keeper was stood at the top of the Aylesbury Arm. We waved, maybe the next time we come this way we should take Oleanna down there as she’s not been as yet.
It’s a good view from the high path
The start of Marsworth, 7 locks up to the summit. The first lock is a little away from the others. A Grandad stood with twin girls watching as Oleanna rose up. I took the high path to the next lock, saying hello to Les as I walked. The water levels in the reservoirs low but not alarmingly.
Filling with help
As I set the next lock I could see two volunteers walking towards us. The lady asked if we’d like some assistance, today that would be very welcome. After a while they walked ahead and set the locks for us, another four blue sweatshirts arriving, but walking down the flight.
I love the dates in the structures
We stuck to our routine, ground paddle same side, gate opposite, ground that side followed by the gate paddle on the same side as the boat, slowly.
The lock cottage half way up the flight
A couple of locks from the top a Wyvern boat sat in the pound and waited for us to ascend the lock in our favour. As we ascended the penultimate lock I could see that above there was another boat coming down. A chap could be seen winding paddles. Then he could be seen winding them again. The sound of a paddle being dropped in between times recurring.
As I walked up to join the lock keepers, one whispered in my ear that this was a new boater and he’d requested to do the lock without any assistance. I couldn’t help myself, I suggested putting the catch on the paddle gear was a good thing, the ‘clicking noise is a good noise’, it also saves the paddle gear from being dropped constantly!
No time for the Wendover Arm this time
We all watched as he ran around the lock, opening both gates, dropping paddles, climbing back onto his boat to head down passing Mick where one gate was left open for him. His trip down the flight was going to be a lengthy one without any assistance.
The new houses at the old yard due to be finished September 2022!
Thanking the Lockies we waved them goodbye as they sat on the lock beam waiting for someone else to help. They’d be keeping an eye on their TV on the 24th in case the flotilla made it onto the news.
Freshly baked
A cuppa was very much needed. I remembered that there was still a bit of cookie dough in the freezer, a cookie would be just the right thing whilst crossing the summit. The oven was turned on, frozen dough cut up and popped in the oven and baked for 12 minutes. The hardest bit was leaving them long enough to cool.
Lying down on the job
Once we’d come through the dark cutting and back out into the light we spotted a coal boat, NB Stratford, a new one to us. They seemed to be untying. I spotted their price for diesel £1.30, 10p cheaper than in Uxbridge at the moment. We stopped and breasted up for a fill of the tank, two bags of Excel put on the roof. Mick would have liked to buy more coal, but I was reluctant to fill the roof with bags before the flotilla. What coal we have we’ll wrap in one of our heat wave white sheets so it doesn’t stand out like a soar thumb.
Swans wanting a lift up
NB Stratford trades between Bulbourne and Harefield, we’d not come across them before as they’ve only been trading for about 18 months. They’d seen us coming and were hoping to share the locks with us down the other side. We filled up and both boats headed towards Cowroast. A top up of water and empty of yellow water were done whilst waiting then both boats descended in the lock. A bottle of gas was precariously lifted out from the hold as the boats started to sink, this was for a boat that had arrived on the lock landing below.
We led the way down through the next couple of locks, Emma with windlass in hand very chatty, the chap giving orders, he seemed to like things done his way! We met another boat requiring a bottle of gas at Dunswell Bottom Lock then we were on our way again. NB Stratford pulled over just before Northchurch Lock, tomorrow they were expecting a delivery of coal, so this was as far as they’d be going today.
Feathery friends
Just departing the lock was a single hander, we caught him up at Bushes Lock and shared the remaining three locks into Berko. He was carrying on to just outside town today, we’d had enough and pulled into the first space we found.
New partners
Spikes hammered in, then a quick cat health and safety check revealed a footbridge leading to a road with cars. We decided to move up to past the shopping mooring where the stream would keep Tilly out of Waitrose car park. Only problem was we didn’t seem to have the mallet anymore! Mick walked back to where we’d first pulled in, luckily no one had found it and taken claim.
Going down ready or not!
I wanted to visit the excellent art and craft shop for some card, but checking it’s whereabouts on line discovered that they had closed in July. Brexit then the pandemic had done for them sadly. My purchase will have to wait for London now.
Next to last lock of the day
This evening I finished re-reading the newest version of the panto script. Two things jumped out at me, all the savoury puddings Jo and I have been discussing over the last week have been cut. The other is that a panto sized Christmas Pudding had been added. I sent the director a quick email to double check before stopping Jo in her tracks making up Boiled Egg Ice Cream and Sardine Jelly. The director confirmed the savouries had been cut, but had no idea about the Christmas Pudding, turns out I had a newer version of the script than she did!
Cosy by the stove
Click image for more info
Today we had notification of the changes to the Reflections Flotilla. The organisers have asked us all to dress and behave in a way appropriate for a memorial event, the boats will move down the river in silence. Tower Bridge will open in salute and it is hoped that the event will be seen as a fitting conclusion to the events of the next few days.
16 locks, 7.4 miles, 6 locks shared, 6 Lockies, 1 pair of twins, 70 litres, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 50kgs of coal, 1 stove lit, 1 happy Tilly.
Adam’s favourite mooring to above Stoke Hammond Lock
Today I had some work to do, a meeting with the Production Manager for panto via zoom. We could stay put until after my meeting or we could cruise whilst I was on line. The later option was chosen as for most of the day we’d be on the flat going round Milton Keynes, we just needed to get through Cosgrove Lock before 10:00.
Hello!
We pushed off around 8:15 and cruised our way towards the lock. The hedges at Thurpp Wharf Marina are too high now to have a good nosy so we had to wait to pass the entrance to be able to wave to NB Briar Rose.
A unique paint job
Approaching Soloman Bridge we passed a few moored boats, one that we’ve seen before NB Home which has quite a paint job.
Are the houses close to the bridge new? With sand bags shoring up the bank.
As we rounded the bend towards the lock we could see a Black Prince boat heading the same way. They over shot the lock and it looked like they would be winding if they didn’t carry on too far. I hopped off at the narrows and Mick pulled Oleanna back to give them room, another boat was just coming into the lock, good job we’d left half an hour earlier than we’d originally planned.
Boats everywhere!
Everyone seemed to be waiting for everyone else. So I suggested the Black Prince boat got on with winding as the lock finished filling and Mick held back. The lock needed a bottom paddle closing and then everyone could be on their way.
The Great Ouse before it gets it’s greatness
Crossing over the Ouse Aqueduct we glanced downstream, towards Bedford and our time on the Great Ouse this summer.
A giant slug?!
As we approached Galleon Wharf we could see a strange thing on the bank by the warehouses. Was this a giant slug? All glistening and muddy brown. Two orange boats were in the water and then Mick spotted several dark floating things taking over about two thirds of the canal, no buoys marking them bobbing just at the surface. Were they sucking silt out from the canal bed into the giant slugs? We don’t remember seeing a notice about this, but then C&RT waters have been off our radar for a while. We tried asking a boater if he knew what was going on, it was very hard to hear his reply as mounds of aggregate were being moved around. But something about the warehouses being knocked down and two houses being built. A later hunt round on-line suggests that planning permission had been refused for a scheme of 14 new houses.
Time for me to head below and set up for my meeting. With working drawings at the ready I signed into zoom and Gemma and I worked our way through the model pieces I’d sent and drawings. Most things were self explanatory, but the rostra for the gangplank took some explaining as to how it sat, a bit like trying to brush your hair in a mirror for the very first time! Tomorrow Gemma heads to the builders to hopefully come back with a price for the build.
The big pond full of water again
I was back up on deck after we’d passed Great Linford. Today, when we didn’t want it, there was mooring space. The works around the pond and new footpaths haven’t quite been finished yet, but from Mick’s photos its starting to look smart again.
Every now and then there seemed to be new artworks along the banks of the canal. Had we seen the horse before? A very colourful bench with a waterside theme. Oriental inspired paintings of waterfowl under a bridge.
A small mouth full
A Heron stood at the bow of a boat watching the water be pulled along by our approach. It just dabbed it’s head into the water and came out with a fish, which it dually swallowed and we had chance to watch the fish wriggle down it’s neck!
One day Bedford will be that way
There’s a new pub at Campbell Wharf Marina , still having bits of work done to it. The marina certainly looks full. Three moorings are taken up by widebeams, between them we could just see where the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway will be one day. Back in July when we reached the head of navigation on the Great Ouse we were only 11 miles away as the crow flies. Instead we’ve cruised 198.71 miles or there abouts! The link through would have saved us nearly two months.
New mooring signs
It took four hours to skirt round Milton Keynes, from the Ouse Aqueduct to Fenny Stratford Lock. Lots of moored boats, new mooring signs limiting stays to 2 days during the summer months. We found these a touch odd as unless marked mooring times during winter change to 14 days, so why bother adding from April to September on these signs? One thing is for sure, C&RT are wanting boats to move around in Milton Keynes. For once we’d have had no difficulty mooring at Campbell Park, but of course we didn’t want to stop today.
Approaching Fenny Stratford we looked out for a figure sat in an arm chair by the window of the first house and waved. There is nearly always someone sat there who will wave back with a big smile on their face.
Fenny Stratford Lock
The bridge needed swinging at the lock and some water emptying out of it’s not so deep chamber. We’d now started our ascent towards Cowroast. We swapped over with a hire boat making sure they knew about the swing bridge, then carried onwards.
Stoke Hammond Lock
A confirmation notice of our appointment came through, we definitely have to keep up the pace south bound now. Three more miles and we were at the lovely Stoke Hammond Lock, the first of the proper uphill locks. Here red roses still in bloom surround the sign, wonderful.
What a .lovely rose
We pootled on almost at our destination for the day, pulling in to a vacant space half a mile on. Here Tilly could head off to explore and we could enjoy a very late lunch. Why oh why does Milton Keynes take soooooo long to cruise through?!
3 locks, 16.76 miles, 1 swing bridge, 1 bottle neck, 1 hour zoom, 11 miles or 198, 12 emails, 1 confirmation, 2.75 hours shore leave, 1 bright red rose, 2 boaters ready for bed early, 20 years of remembering Peter.
Gayton Junction to almost Adam’s favourite mooring Bridge 63
After spending months on the rivers and seeing on average a couple of boats move in a day (apart from at weekends and excluding the river festival) this morning was a reminder of how busy places can be. Before we were even outside rolling up the covers we’d been passed by several boats , one at 06:20. Then as we were ready to go for it we had to hold fast as two Union Canal boats came past heading southwards.
Quite a distance to go
With a suitable gap in traffic we reversed back to the junction, one small blast of the bow thruster and Oleanna herself turned back onto the Northampton arm and pulled into the service block with next to no effort what-so-ever. Water, yellow water, rubbish all were sorted. NB Ivy May pulled up they had a problem which they hoped the boat yard would be able to help with. Hopefully it’s nothing bad and they can be on their way soon.
With our chores complete, life jackets, torch, waterproofs out the back, a quick check of the direction the tunnel light was facing and that it worked, we were ready. Left to London!
Such a great building
Soon we were passing the lovely mill in Blisworth and approaching the tunnel portal. All tunnel preparations were done, tunnel mode engaged. We paused to let a Kate Boat exit before we plunged into the dark ourselves. I hoped Tilly would still be enjoying her morning snooze and not get worked up about the journey underground.
Coming into the light
We passed another boat part way to the middle and with 1600m to go we saw a tunnel light enter the far end. Thankfully we passed them after the big pissers coming in through the tunnel wall so I didn’t have to mop up inside.
Out the south portal. We passed only one boat moored towards the tunnel, a hire boat running their engine in reverse gear. Maybe they’d be heading for the locks soon? With water levels still low we decided that we’d wait half an hour for a locking partner or for anyone coming up the locks if they were set against us.
Stoke Bruern
As the top of the locks came into view we could see a boat just entering the top lock, Hooray!! We wouldn’t have to wait. Ooooo! Another boat pulled out to join them! We’d be waiting. We pulled in checked the time and waited.
This looks interesting
Mick walked down to see if anyone was coming up, no sign from the bridge. We waited. Still no-one after half an hour. I walked down to the second lock, no-one coming, Mick walked to look back towards the tunnel, no-one coming. We filled the lock.
Peeking out of the top lock
Just as Oleanna was entering the lock a boat appeared from behind, hooray! Soon followed by a second one. Did we have a situation where they were wanting to share? No, we had a locking partner! With both boats in the lock I walked down to set the next in the flight. This was repeated again. But as I walked to the third lock a Black Prince hire boat was just pulling out. I don’t know you wait half an hour for a lock partner, then all of a sudden three come along!
New partner
The lock was ready for when the hire boat arrived, and the same question was asked regarding sharing. I’d already called back to Mick, so we had no problem in swapping partners, we just wanted to get down the locks without wasting water. So we waved goodbye to one boat and joined the next.
Swapping with uphill boats
With four on board the crew were all experienced, so someone naturally walked down to the next lock to set ahead. Only one pair of boats were met heading up the flight, so a swap over in a pound was needed. The lady on one of the uphill boats asked about the tunnel, ‘Would it be worth one of us walking ahead to see if anyone is coming?’ I let her know that the tunnel was two way and that there was no towpath through it. I did suggest putting waterproofs on as even after the drought it was still very wet in there.
A volunteer greeted us at the second to last lock saying there was a problem gate and it had taken five of them to open it for the last boat. It turned out to be a case of a ground paddle still being open and water flowing over the top gates stopping the levels from equalising. The volunteer managed to open the gate on his own this time.
Bye bye
At the bottom we waved our partners goodbye and headed onwards, maybe we’d pull in once down Cosgrove Lock, this is where we should stop today.
But after an hour and twenty minutes we decided that we’d had enough for the day and Tilly would prefer it here.
Of she goes
We spotted Adam’s favourite mooring, a wide beam sadly taking up the view. A little bit further we pulled in, forced a nappy pin through the plants covering the gaps in the armco and let the cat out.
Signs
I spent some of the afternoon working. A few props need sketches doing and sign posts needed making for the model. Now I could have a good tidy up and put my model making things back under the dinette seating. The corner has been filled with my work since we left Bedford in July. After nearly eight weeks it’s nice to have all that room back again! Tilly made sure she reclaimed it by having a good old roll around.
Oundle Cruising Club to Clive’s Retreat FOTRN mooring
With Waterway Routes suggesting it would take us around 4hrs to reach Islip Lock and Evri suggesting it would be best to drop off my parcel before midday the alarm was set or 6am, a time we only normally do when temperatures outside are due to get high and we can’t just sit still for the day. We were breakfasted and untied by 07:09, winded in the entrance to the marina, waving to NB Cleddau and heading towards Upper Barwell Lock the first of our day.
Birds chirped, Kingfishers darted back and forth, but our sleepy eyes and heads were not capable of counting them let alone see them. Damp under foot, we’d be getting soggy feet this morning. The world gradually waking up around us.
Upper Barwell, Lilford and Wadenhoe locks were all set in our favour. One cruiser moored on the pub moorings and one narrowboat at Peartree Farm. Titchmarsh Lock had been the only lock I’d not operated on our way downstream three months ago, it’s padlock a mensa challenge to relock with only two hands, I got there in the end.
I busied myself with answering panto emails as we went along, what type of backpack, just how big should the mixing bowls be and how would I like the boiled egg ice cream to look?
Collision course!
The river narrows, trees overhang the navigation as you get closer to Islip Lock. Heading upstream the current against us was that bit stronger. Then round a bend we saw our first moving boat, they were going at quite a lick. We saw them before they did us and we slammed on the brakes. Both boats hitting reverse and avoiding a collision. Phew.
At 10:22 we arrived at the Islip Mill Lakeside Moorings, no boats awaiting a broken lock, in fact no boats what-so-ever. We pulled in and I headed off straight away to drop the parcel of panto model bits off at the One Stop shop, then walked over to the Co-op for some eggs.
Yum
Today we were allowed elevenses and whilst I tucked into my toast and peanut butter boats and their movements were texted back to Sue on Cleddau, they were on their way a few hours behind us, hopefully someone would have reset the locks for them.
It was in their favour
I started to walk up to Islip Lock, the first of the locks that has been broken recently. But I soon realised that there was actually no way of reaching the lock without being on a boat, luckily Mick hadn’t set off yet. I was dropped off on the lock landing and walked up to close the top gates. I also had to close both gate paddles as a previous boater had left them up, this had been the cause of this reach draining the day after the lock broke. I went to the panel, no lights. I jigged the gates about, no lights, I wound up and down the paddles, no lights. By now there was a boat heading towards the lock from above. I opened the top gates and waved them in, not that they’d be going anywhere!
Islip Lock last mended on the 6-9-22
As I thought, I knew of this boat. NB Barbarella a Finesse boat with Noni and Peter on board, we follow each other on Instagram so knew we’d pass each other today. They thanked me for holding the lock for them, then I explained, had they jinxed Islip after all they’d been the boat at Whiston when it broke last week. Peter tried everything. Still no lights.
No lights
Noni called the EA emergency number, Mick called the river inspector. After a while we got a call back saying that there was a power outage in the area as work was being carried out on power lines. Ahh it was the chaps opposite the mooring we’d just had elevenses at! The power might be off for half an hour but should certainly be back on by 16:00!
Finesse crews
We were invited onto Barbarella’s ‘super social stern’ for a cuppa and talked all things boats and Finesse. Oleanna was built in Finesse’s early days before they’d got into building electric and hybrid boats, maybe if we’d been two or three years later and had enough money we’d have gone down that route. Maybe if I got a show that goes into the west end the royalties could pay for a retro fit. Noni and Peter certainly seem to be enjoying themselves.
We headed to Oleanna for some lunch. Every now and again one of us would go and check to see if the lights were working on the panel. Behind us Sue and Ken had arrived at the mooring their destination for today. Every now and again we’d get reports on how the chaps up the poles were doing. At around 15:15 a message came through that they thought the chaps were packing up, we all stood round the panel chatting waiting for the lights to come back on.
Twenty minutes later Noni spotted that there was life on the panel. A quick, it’s been really nice to meet you and see you somewhere sometime and she was back on board and I was lifting the gate to drain the water.
Peter and Mick
The two Finesse boats were soon passing each other, waves all round. Oleanna’s turn in the lock, as I closed the bottom gate shouts and waves came from the footbridge below a final final farewell from Sue.
Hooray!!!
All afternoon the water level in the pound above had been over the top of the gates by a good four inches. But as Oleanna rose the level had dropped, maybe having the power back on had lifted some sluices somewhere, sending excess water downstream.
Good sky
Our aim for today was to reach Woodford, through Denford and Woodford locks. We were however following a day boat so every lock was full and both paddles had been left up on the top gates.
St Mary the Virgin
When we arrived at Woodford FOTRN mooring there were already a couple of boats moored there. It looked like there might be space for us but the depth really wasn’t in our favour so after jumping off I had to jump back on again. Thankfully we knew of a new FOTRN mooring up the next lock.
No room for Oleanna
We waved to the moorings where NB Lillyanne came from and then rounded the bend to Lower Ringstead Lock, the hire boat was still in the lock. I walked up to reset it for us.
The water level was coming over the top gates, only a few inches to go. After a minute or two there was still a few inches to go. They started to try to push the gates open, then there was a suggestion to try to help with the boat pushing the gates! It soon became obvious that something wasn’t right.
Not even a thank you!
‘Is the bottom gate closed fully?’ I asked. ‘Yes!’. By this time I was walking back to the panel to open it up and Mick had arrived from below saying there was water flowing from the lock below. No power to the panel, the paddles needed closing for me to be able to use the panel and close the guillotine properly. Just an inch made all the difference. How had they managed to end up in this situation? Even with someone pushing the button on the panel as soon as the paddle on the top gate was lifted the circuit was broken stopping the gate an inch before it was fully closed. I wonder how long they’d been there for with water just running straight through the lock, they’d certainly run out of beers by the number of empty bottles on the roof.
Thankfully there was plenty of water!
We worked our way up and then kept our fingers crossed for a space on the new Clives’s Retreat mooring close to the entrance to Blackthorn Marina. Thankfully it was empty, but much to Tilly’s dismay it was far too late for any shore leave.
Settling in at Clive’s
I put together a Roast chicken leek and feta pie with pastry that had been in the freezer. A glass of wine accompanied our meal and we wondered whether the appointment we were heading for will still go ahead.
8 locks, 13.39 miles, 2 Finesse’s, 3 cuppas, 1 group, 4 hours without power, 1 parcel on it’s way, 1 troublesome day boat, 1 inch, 1 new mooring, 2 flags, 1 long day boating, 70 years, 1 king.
My brain was whirring with all the little jobs I needed to do before putting panto things in the post, so much so there was next to no point in lying in bed just thinking about them, I might as well be up doing them. I reckoned half a day would see all the jobs done and a parcel wrapped up, a walk into Oundle Post Office, then all I’d be left with would be emails and the occasional zoom meeting before I start painting the set in five weeks time.
Checking the green is the right shade
I worked away, altering colours of a few things, cutting away some sky on others. A list of amendments to drawings. Sue came to wave us off, but we wouldn’t be leaving until the afternoon or maybe put it off until tomorrow. A Sainsburys delivery arrived and was stowed away.
After lunch Mick decided that he’d change Oleanna’s oil and a filter, an early service but one that would need doing whilst we were on our mission. Tilly busied herself outside, not sure if she’s ever made it up onto the club roof, I’d seen her doing the calculations the other day!
Barrow repainted in rusty colours
Drawings amended. Copies amended in triplicate! The right sized shoe box found and some bubble wrap. By now it was getting on for 16:30, I’d just make the Post Office. Then Mick mentioned that Royal Mail would be on strike the next two days!
They apparently would do their best to deliver Tracked 24 parcels. I looked this up on line. Only downside is that they have to collect your parcel, you can’t just drop it off at a Post Office! Well that wouldn’t happen!
Evie was looked up, next day would be the way to go. Nearest parcel shop, Thrapston! Nowhere in Oundle to drop the parcel off at. Thrapston being four hours away and they recommend dropping your parcel off before midday. Should we make a start on the four hours today? It was nearly 17:00, yellow water, water tank to deal with, Tilly busy outside. Decision made, we’d leave extra early tomorrow morning.
Goodbye until we meet again
In between receiving emails from Jo the panto props maker regarding horse manure we walked across the marina to say our goodbyes to Sue and Ken. If we hadn’t been leaving so early tomorrow we’d have been able to share the first few locks with them. We had a cuppa, chat and then said our final farewell. Hopefully there will be no more delays with broken locks for either of us and once up the Northampton flight we’ll be heading in opposite directions.
Evening fishing
Early night for us tonight.
0 locks, 0 post for 2 days, 6 final amendments, 2 shovels of manure, 9 litres oil, 1 filter, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 1 food delivery, 1 boat, 2 boaters, 1 cat all ready for the off.
