Moving past the lines of moored boats at the Crick Show
I was really gutted that we couldn't get into the side enough with the butty to open the shop, but it would have been too dangerous for our customers. The canal was too shallow and moorings nearer the showground were allocated to paying visitors. Unfortunately, we had decided not to pay the £1.86 per foot per boat (!!) on this occasion.
Narrowboat Dover moored in ABNB's marina - the subject of a tv documentary recently
Approaching Crick Tunnel - 1528 yards long
Out the other end of the tunnel unscathed!
What a beautiful sky!
It was early in the morning, as we rounded the bends to the Watford flight of locks. There are 7 locks in the flight and a lock keeper on duty, with whom, boaters make themselves known and are guided down (and up!) in an orderly fashion.
The locks are narrowguage, so I took the big boat down, as Richard refilled the locks behind me and bow-hauled the butty in behind. I had some help from the lock keeper, but operated the paddles and gates where I could.
This one had a proper leak on the gates behind me! Good job I am not 70 feet long, else i would have got wet!
4 of the locks were in a 'staircase' style, where one goes straight into the next. Consequently, I remained on the boat whilst the locky, sent me down, sending the water via side ponds and then into the lock below.
View back up to the exit of the staircase section, where Richard is still coming down
I moored the boat below, and refilled the lock, just as Richard was arriving.
Jumping back on the butty, as she leaves the last lock, not always as easy as it looks!
Richard cross lined the boats and we continued our journey to the junction.
Old work boat moored around the corner
Norton Junction - right for Braunston, left for London and Leicester behind us
We moored before the top lock of the Buckby Flight which would take us in the London direction, or more specifically Brentford.
Not long after we had moored, friends Matti and Kathy pulled up behind us in their narrowboat 'Old Friends'.
Lister and Kathy cuddling, with Matti and Richard polishing off the beer....
Later, we sampled the delights of the newly re-opened New Inn pub at the top lock and returned fairly early to our respective boats, as some people have to go to work you know!
Me operating the lock as Richard brings the boats through
After a disappointingly quiet weekend, we breasted up the boats ready to negotiate the 7 individual double locks making up the Buckby flight.
Ok, so we're not that special, but we always knew there were others like us out there....
Hilariously named 'Firkham Hall' - sorry about the picture quality
We completed the flight during the morning and continued a chilly sail further down the canal towards Stoke Bruerne, where we are booked in for their Gala weekend Stoke Bruerne Gala 2013 in mid June.
At the end of May, we found ourselves buying a bag of coal, at great expense (£10 for 25kg house coal!!) from Whilton Chandlery. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask! We used to sell it for £7.50! We had run out of wood as well, and being chilled to the bone is not good!
Mooring at Weedon Bec, we have been able to see Richard's brother and go out in our car back to Lincolnshire for the day.
But today, we are opening the shop, so if anyone is passing, pull in and say 'Hello'!!
Hey we're cooking on gas here! You make sure you clear Blisworth Tunnel before we get there!
ReplyDeleteHope to see you soon. We're booked in for the Stoke Bruene festival, so make haste and we'll see you there!! x
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