Norton Junction

We woke to yet another lovely sunny day.  After completing the varnishing work which was started yesterday we set off for the Buckby flight of locks.  Just before the lock flight we pass very close to the M1 – on this occasion the traffic was moving slower than we were!

Just as we arrived at the bottom of the Buckby flight the very nice Smith family on nb ‘Glamis Castle’ was going in so we joined them and had a very easy journey up the flight in very warm weather.

nb Chance and nb Glamis Castle.

The ‘locking crew’ - Doug and two members of the Smith family of nb Glamis Castle.

We were soon on to the top lock and were amazed how much the trees were all starting to turn green.  The house on the left is very very nice and adds to the beauty of this particular pound.  After leaving the lock flight we turned right at Norton Junction to moor up for the afternoon as it was now lunch time.

We went up to Weltonfield Marina to wind and came back and moored next to Del and Al on nb Derwent 6.  Al was out shopping  when we arrived (as they had use of a car today) and when she returned she very kindly drove Doug into Long Buckby as we’d run out of essentials. 

The weather has gone off a bit this afternoon but has still been good enough to spend some time relaxing on the rear deck - then James started polishing the boat “just for a change”!  Tonight we plan to go with Del and Al for a meal at the New Inn at Buckby top lock.

Going Home Alone!

The weather has been fantastic today – sun all the way with just a  chill to the breeze on the open stretches of water.  There were more boats around today so the journey was more interesting.

Around the Gayton stretch we came across this fine pair of working boats (motor and butty). They were on a private mooring next to a very well kept property so the owner is obviously a stickler for perfection.

Just a bit further along we noticed an interesting and very clever idea – can you spot the telecommunications mast?  Very well dressed as a tree – why can’t all masts be like this one?

As we passed Fridays’ mooring position at Flore Lane we came across Mick and Heather on nb ‘Hudson’.  Their show boat was next to ours at the Crick Show last year and we haven’t seen them since then so it was great to catch up with a quick chat (and to let Oscar off for a convenience stop!).

Heather and Mick.

The absolutely superb narrow boat ‘Hudson’ – in James’ opinion probably the best presented and one of the nicest looking boats on the canal.

We’ve now reached a quiet mooring which we’ve used before (between bridges 23 & 24).  As we stopped around 3’sh James has been doing a bit of varnishing and polishing.  The first polish of the season and very much needed to get rid of the calcium staining from the water pouring down on us while in the Blisworth Tunnel.  Any excuse for a good polish as far as James is concerned!

On to Stoke Bruerne

On Friday it was a dull and cold day after the glorious day we had on Thursday.  Steering the boats was quite a chilly affair.

In the evening Adam cooked a lovely roast for all of us – transported ably by Adam from the galley on Briar Rose to the table on Chance.

Three Wise Monkeys!

After a cold day we had a wonderful sunny evening and the resulting sunset was superb.

Chance and Briar Rose set off at 8.30am on Saturday for Stoke Bruerne.

Passing nb  ‘Reckless’ – from the TV series “The Boat that Guy Built”

Passing the lovely mill building at Blisworth.  Another mile on and we entered the almost 2 mile long  Blisworth Tunnel……..

…….this time we met two boats coming the other way.  Exciting stuff, especially with a camera in one hand and the tiller in the other (the crew being inside to keep warm and dry!). 

We arrived at Stoke Bruerne at lunch time, winded ‘Chance’ so as to face the way home tomorrow, and moored up.   ‘Briar Rose’ continued down the Stoke Bruerne flight of locks for their onward journey.

We helped them down to the bottom of the flight, joined them for lunch on board then walked back up the flight back to Chance, there were quite a few people about but not many boats around.

Briar Rose with their new neighbour at their new home marina serendipitously teaming up for the decent down the lock flight.

In the evening we all met up in the Boat Inn for a meal which was a lovely end to a great few days together.

Tomorrow we shall make our way back.

Onward ‘Briar Rose & ‘Chance’.

Last evening we all had a most splendid time – good food and wine - and good company of course!

Adrian, Mike, Brian and Adam tucking into nibbles and dips – and bubbly!

Today we continued our journey with the Braunston lock flight soon coming upon us – the six locks were soon done and dusted as we had a good working crew of “lock handlers”……….

…..Brian, Adam, Mike and Doug with windlasses at the ready.

‘Briar Rose’ and ‘Chance’ in the Braunston Flight.

The last lock in the Braunston Flight.

Through the Braunston Tunnel – always exiting – especially when you meet a boat coming the other way! (but not on this occasion)

Soon after the tunnel comes Norton Junction with the pretty little toll cottage next to bridge 10.

We soon descended the Buckby Flight of seven locks…….

………..here’s ‘Briar Rose’ in a particularly picturesque section of the flight.

Out of the Buckby Locks and we came across this floating forest!

Thirteen locks behind us, onward through Weedon Bec and the very pretty Flore Lane and we’ve  moored up at bridge 28 – a lovely sunny evening after a very overcast and chilly day.

‘Briar Rose’ & ‘Chance’ at bridge 28 tonight.

Convoy!

We teamed up with Adam and Adrian on nb ‘Briar Rose’ today as they are going to a  new marina on the Grand Union.  We’ll be with them for today and tomorrow.  Mutual friends Mike and Brian are travelling with them so a good time is being had by all!

Here’s Adrian keeping ‘Briar Rose’ steady for the first lock at Hilmorton.

Before stopping for lunch at the top of the Hilmorton flight of locks we first had to do a bit of Good Samaritan work and secure a boat that has come adrift.

A liquid lunch of soup and a glass of wine!  being enjoyed by everyone. L – R  Adrian, Mike, Doug, Adam and Brian (James behind the camera!).

Further on we get a great surprise and met up with Chris and Paul on nb ‘Anjuna’.  We haven’t seen them since we were on our last boat  ‘Spirit’, some 3+ years ago, and it really was special to them again. 

Here we are safely moored up on a peaceful stretch of canal just outside Braunston.  Mike, Brian and Doug on board ‘Chance’ and Adam getting his blogging done before us!!!

An odd shot - a rabbit’s eye view of Horsetail just peeping through on the towpath.

An Evening with Pam Ayres

It’s amazing how quickly dogs improve!  Oscar, today, is almost his old self (blind, deaf, often disorientated – but the back end and front end still work well and he generally is still happy with life) – the hole in his foot where the abscess was is awfully large but it will get better with the anti biotics.  Panic over! 

This evening we travelled to Worthing with our friend Ann to see Pam Ayres at the Pavilion Theatre.  She was hilariously funny and kept the full house belly laughing for over 2 hours.

Ann and Doug enjoying an ice cream in the interval, on the terrace of the Pavilion with Worthing Pier in the background.

James getting Pam Ayres to sign a book and having a chat about their old school days and the places in the Vale of the White Horse where they both grew up.

James,Pam Ayres and Ann.

Back Home for a few days

We planned a few jobs today – just to keep ‘Chance’ up to scratch.  The weather promised to be warm so a few touch up paint jobs could be done.  However, when Oscar decided to surface from his pit (about 10:30!) he could hardly walk.  His back legs, very weak these days anyway, seemed not to be functioning very well but on further inspection it was his left leg and foot where there was something wrong.  Detailed inspection found a very swollen foot.
As we were intending to go back home today anyway we quickly put all the jobs on hold and beat a path straight to the vet in Bognor Regis.

The vet couldn’t quite figure out exactly what was wrong but we had the usual chat about his age and the obvious fact that he can’t go on forever.  Still – we came away with a course of antibiotics and “come back tomorrow if the swelling hasn’t gone down” (and the bill of course!).
Anyway, after an hour or two at home James decided to massage the swollen foot as directed by the vet and, all of a sudden, there was terrible mess!  After a bit of mopping up there was a very much improved Oscar!  It seems there must have been a huge boil inside his paw which wasn’t evident to any of us today.  So perhaps he’ll live to fight another day! 
Pity we didn’t get some of our jobs done!!!!!