Braunston to Marsworth

Ebony's test results still had not been received at 9am on Saturday 18 May, 5 days later, so at 9.30 I set off to travel south down the Grand Union.  Quarter of a mile on at Braunston locks I joined another single hander on 30' nb Gadgit's Coral.  He suggested we breast the two boats, I drive and he worked the locks.  The first time I had driven 2 boats but we fair sped up the hill.  Steve (Gadgit) is a fast mover - has even done the Channel to France in his 30'er!  In Braunston tunnel I was struck by a boat coming towards me - no front light but a hand-held large one at the back - so no wonder I didn't see his front until he hit me - nb Isambard Kingdom Brunel - I was not impressed - especially as his lad laughed as we passed.

After a quick lunch I went on to Buckby Top Lock where I was joined by a couple on nb White Heather who were pleased share locks.  Halfway down we passed my old friends Tom and Christine on nb Lottie who I hadn't seen for 5 years - when we were travelling on the Great Ouse.  I moored at the bottom of the locks opp Whilton Marina and they walked down for a cuppa and catch up - it was great to see them.  Photos were taken of the reunion!

Next day I visited the local Garden Centre, then Farm Shop and after that walked round to have a wonderful 2-course Sunday Lunch at the Marina's Lock Cafe - run by a lovely boating friend Sandy from nb Stanley.  After lunch I set off to moor at Weedon - on the embankment high above the small town and nearly as high as the church roof!

On Monday morning I rang the vet - she feels Ebony probably shouldn't go back on her Cushings' tablets and with her spleen tumour probably affecting her levels, she should be left as she is.  So I don't need to get the 2 buses back to Daventry (my last chance from Weedon without going via Northampton) and I can continue my journey.

I travelled to Gayton Junction where I lunched and then walked Ebony round to the marina - unfortunately friends Roger and Pip I had met last June at Hopwas were not aboard their boat nb Windsong so I returned to my boat and carried on.  After the long 3,057 yd and double crooked Blisworth Tunnel (very glad to get out of there - only met one boat) I got the last good mooring at Stoke Bruerne and moored next to nb Dreams from Devizes.

Next day I approached Stoke Bruerne lock which was being prepared by 2 volunteer lockkeepers and I was joined by a hire boat from Gayton Marina - steered by a regular boater for his excited Uncles and Aunts and friends on their first trip.  Soon we were joined by a 3rd volunteer (only 1 other boat in the flight) and fairly sped down these locks.  All stopped for water - opp my winter fuel boat nb Towchester on its home mooring.  I continued on to go through Cosgrove village and at the lock met another boat leaving - a friend, Sylvia on nb Artlenburg (now featured in BMW adverts!).  I moored below opposite nb Regency which used to belong to Bob and Carol - sadly the boat doesn't look as good as when they owned it.  Sylvia and I shared lunch, nattered most of the afternoon and arranged to eat out at the local hotel.  Very strange - despite having no vacancies the bar/restaurant were empty - everyone was at the Jane McDonald concert in Milton Keynes.  I do seem to be doing a lot of socialising this week!

Wednesday 22 May  Have been having the occasional late evening fire but at 6am when Ebony got me up (as usual) I lit it again - perishing cold!  1 mile of cruising brought me to the outskirts of MK - but another 3 miles on is a lovely rural area where I often moor - now it is overlooked by a row of houses on the hill - and the cows are gone too!  The next MK section is mostly park-lined with smart housing estates.  Then I reached Campbell Park - a huge recreational area, with moorings beside large pond - very attractive.  Stayed there for 2 days.  It takes 25 minutes to walk up to the MK Centre shopping area, 5 minutes to bus down to the moorings.  Next day I cycled up - 15 minutes, but 12 down!  By breaking my shopping trips into 2 I saved my poor knees on the solid floors and Ebony was only left for 2 x 2+ hour stints.  Meanwhile we enjoyed lovely strolls around the park.  Very cold tho - fires needed all day now!

On Friday I travelled the 4 lockless miles to Fenny Stratford - an uninteresting, dying area but only 2 miles from Bletchley Park - famous for the Enigma code breaking during WW2.

It is now Saturday 25 May and a Bank Holiday weekend - so I set off through Fenny S lock - helped by one of my kind neighbours and then on to Stoke Hammond lock - very quiet.  A mile or so later I got to Soulbury 3 locks flight - very close to each other - but Joy oh Joy - the IWA were having a fundraising lock wind and I was surrounded by volunteers who sped me up the locks - for a fee - no problem there!  I continued on and moored 2 miles on at Old Linslade.  A lovely mooring where the canal opens into a lake with a bridge and church ahead of me, rolling hills beside.  Probably best I don't moor in the town this BH weekend!  After lunch I emptied my roof troughs of daffodils, tulips and still flowering pansies (now in a separate pot) and planted with petunia, lobelia and bacopa for the summer - plus tomatoes.  Have also various seeds growing ready to plant out later - marigold (to protect tomatoes from greenfly), swiss chard, spinach, dwarf french beans, lettuce, etc

Sunday I continued on to moor right outside Tesco in Leighton Buzzard.  Left Ebony aboard and walked up to the High Street - found a Milletts so now have a new waterproof map case - and then returned for a top up in Tesco's.  Made lunch, worked 2 locks (one with Canadians on nb Bobby Dazzler which they move at weekends) and then moored below Slapton lock - and next to nb Barrel of Ale last seen in Milton Keynes.

Monday 27 BH - was getting ready to go when I was passed by nb Calisto? Pearl and accompanied them through 8 locks - Jenny was on a keep fit mission and managed to get paddles up before I could get the boat tied and run to the lock to help!  They turned round and I continued through 2 more locks to moor by Tring reservoirs 1 up from the bottom of Marsworth locks - and here I will stay for 2 nights - it is due to blow rain all day on Tuesday!  The rest of the week is not too good either :-(

Tuesday - had a walk up the next 6 locks to the narrow partly restored Wendover Arm - built to bring the water from the reservoirs and feed the summit level - for the locks each way - north and south.