A busy weekend at the Cosgrove Festival ~ crowds around my gift shop!
A couple of weeks ago, we set off from Norton Junction, through the tunnel and down the locks to Braunston, where we traded for the weekend. What a quiet place that can be! But nevermind, we bought a new fridge as the one on our new motor boat was thirsty and had no freezer. Richard nearly cried with the extra expense, but it was necessary and we also needed paint from the chandlers. Job done, turn the page...
Moored up at Gayton Junction
We left Braunston, considerably lighter of pocket than we had arrived, hoping to trade at Stoke Bruerne at the weekend. Zooming down the Buckby flight of locks, we nipped to get more paperwork for Jjinad from Whilton Marina, after breakfast in the cafe (of course) and continue on to Gayton Junction.
Views over Northampton countryside from the Northampton Arm, which leads down from Gayton Junction, 17 locks to the River Nene.
A peaceful scene first thing in the morning
Filling up with water, a gentleman approached looking vaguely familiar. It was one of the committee who organises the Cosgrove Festival. He was most concerned to find that we understood, along with several other traders, that the show would be in a week's time, rather than THAT weekend!!
Leaving the junction first thing the next morning
A little further on is Blisworth, then through the tunnel to Stoke Bruerne, where we were originally going to trade....
Ummmm... you buy a house next to the canal, then complain (as you are the local Councillor!! Conflict of interest?) that boats run their engines (the rules are between 8am and 8pm), and so the Canal and River Trust are compelled to put up these lovely unwelcoming signs outside along this stretch of towpath in Blisworth. I'm sorry, but if my batteries need a charge and it is before 8pm, my engine WILL be going on. Mr Councillor, you need to move house! Sorry aggressive rant over!!
Approaching Blisworth Tunnel
Getting ready for a wet passage through the tunnel, we donned our jackets and braced ourselves for the lock flight beyond.
These signets are doing well!
A fairly damp morning going down Stoke Bruerne flight
Great sign at Yardley Gobion marina
Mooring up for the night beyond Yardley Gobion, I began swapping the shop over to the other side of the boat for the towpath at the show. There seems to be a huge neverending list of things to do in the new boat, but nothing Richard can't handle, luckily.
Cosgrove ornamental bridge ~ built to appease the local landowner when the canal was built in the 1790s.
We arrived in Cosgrove on Thursday and got moored roughly where we would be for the show and then fine tuned the mooring once Geoff (organiser) had marked out the pitches. All good so far, thank goodness for our timing at the waterpoint as we all would have missed it!
The route of the original lock flight built before the aqueduct was, when the river had to be crossed on the level.
Reilly has decided that he likes to swim! Lister will not go in the water, no matter how hot he is, but Reilly, goes for a proper paddle, then a little swim. We have never owned a dog who liked water before!
Thank you for everyone who came to see us at Cosgrove this weekend. We will be going back to Stoke Bruerne for the weekend, before going back through Cosgrove and onto Linslade for another show.....
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