People pottering up and down the flight over the weekend
The weather was fairly kind to us and we managed to get the gift shop open a few days in a row, creating a lot of interest especially from those who remembered the tiny version!
Plaque depicting the travelling times and number of locks from Foxton Boat lift, built in 1900
During our stay, we walked around the site of the old Inclined Plane boat lift, marvelling at it's gradient and vastness.
View down from the top of the inclined boat lift site to the canal below
The boat lift was built to raise and lower barges and narrowboats in huge counterbalanced tanks, linking the 2 sections of canal with speed and efficiency, but fell into decline when it was superseded by the railway and ongoing upkeep costs.
View from an old working boat looking across to where it would have travelling into the lift and down the hill
Different angle of the boat looking across to where the old boiler house used to sit
Towards the end of the day as the last stragglers leave for their cars
A baffling and totally embarrassing event occurred during our stay, when we decided to visit the advertised event of invited speakers at the village hall one evening. This had been organised by the Historic Narrow Boat Club and was meant to be for members only! We did not know this and were apparently not the only people privy to the itinerary, who were to be turned away that evening. Never mind perhaps we will become members in the future, who knows. The gentleman who enforced the rules, (insurance restrictions) came and apologised a couple of days later, as existing members rallied to our support! Thanks guys, you know who you are!
Filling up with water before we leave to return to the Welford Arm for the evening
The weather started to turn on Tuesday, as we emptied the cassettes, disposed of rubbish and filled the tank back up, after much needed clothes washing had been done.
Lister stretches his legs, as we moor for a couple of nights at the Welford Arm junction
Passing through the Husbands Bosworth tunnel (1170 yards long), we met 2 oncoming boats and managed to scrape the butty and the 'big boat' on the overhanging arch quite badly. Nothing a lick of paint couldn't sort!
Nick Wolfe moored in front of us
The first night, we moored next to the Cheese Boat, for the final time as they were to go down the Grand Union towards Milton Keynes. We planned to go to Braunston for the May bank holiday weekend, so we would not see them for a while.
Passing us to go through the tunnel at Crick, is Biddie and butty Olive (Rod and Tracey)
Catching us up the next evening were Rod and Tracey on their boats. Thursday morning, an emergency stop for supplies at Crick meant they overtook us and moored up before Watford lock flight later on.
A wet morning and a flight of locks to get done!
We spent a great evening dining in Mcdonalds in Watford Gap services with Nick, Rod and Tracey, before having a late night cap playing guitars and catching up with gossip. We know how to live!!
View in the 'staircase' lock back at the gates, luckily not too leaky!
Earlyish this morning, we ventured down the flight with the help from the volunteer locky on duty. I made sausage sandwiches and tea for everyone as I moored up first below the flight. A much appreciated breakfast for those still in progress down the flight.
Rod steering Biddie past us at Crick with their butty Olive
Grateful thanks go to Rod and Tracey for assisting us down the locks first. We returned the favour, as is canal etiquette!
Richard is now on the train collecting our car from Sawley, where it has had a break for a couple of months. This will enable us to go to the wholesalers and explore a new venture on Monday.........
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