PF voyage pt2

Pickle's Folly's Maiden Voyage, part 2

Saturday, 5 January

We were away at first light to get through the Shrewley Tunnel and the 21 locks of the Hatton flight: also to meet up with Pete who was picking up John and Clive to take them back to Stourport to collect their car and then return home. This was easier than I had expected and liaised easily at the Hatton Bottom Lock at 1245 hours. This left Nick, the other Clive and myself to carry on through Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa. We finally moored up for the night at the bottom of Bascote Locks which are due to close on Monday 7th January. I am very pleased with our progress, but it is touch and go if we get through the next stoppage tomorrow. We shall see. Poor internet connection as we are in the sticks - photos to follow later.

Sunday, 6 January

Left bottom of Bascote Locks at 0800 hours; light was just building and we could see all the equipment in place ready for the closure on Monday. Today proved a very long day as we were trying to beat the 7th January stoppages/closures. We had to be below Buckby Flight bottom lock by nightfall. This entailed motoring non-stop all day, navigating Napton Junction, Braunston turn and its flight of locks, plus its tunnel, 2042 yards long, Norton Junction and the Buckby Lock flight: in total about 30 locks in 15 miles. We landed up going through the last lock at 1715 hours in the dark, with headlight on, trying to find a suitable mooring - just after the lock, behind a CRT tug, presumably ready for the closure the next day. Phew! Time to relax as the time pressure is off.

Monday, 7 January

Stoppages are now behind us [except for Marsworth, but we shall see about that one]. A leisurely start to the day; away by 0915 hours [ish] having sat down to breakfast, rather than having it in shifts. Also stopped for lunch for one of Nick's fry-ups - not had time before. What a relaxing day! Pickle's Folly got a sweep and a mop through - all nice and clean inside. Ronnie the dog got a brush, much to his disgust. Only made it to Blisworth after 12 miles and no locks: yes, no locks. Thought it would be good to have some pub food in the Royal Oak, but they haven't any food today! Had a quick drink and back to Pickle's Folly to warm up a vegetarian lasagne - very good. Clive finished the washing up and it's time for bed. Tomorrow is the big Blisworth Tunnel, at 3075 yards it's the third longest in Britain. Then 8 locks and Milton Keynes.

Tuesday, 8 January

Blisworth Tunnel was very wet, with lots of water coming down the air vents like turning on a shower at home full blast. Well, we did it: all 3075 yards. We had a quick look around Stoke Bruerne, but as it was all closed, there was not much to see. Ronnie the dog met a friend, a sheltie, which he was pleased to see. We only had 8 locks to descend - 7 in the Stoke Bruerne flght and one odd one at Cosgrove. Cosgrove looks like an interesting place to look around, later. We need to make the northern outskirts of Milton Keynes tonight. We arrived at The Black Horse pub at about 1600 hours - just right, but will this pub have food on tonight?

Wednesday, 9 January

Yes, they did have food, but gourmet food at a price - oh well. The sunny sights of Milton Keynes were very interesting and clean to the extent a man cleaning graffiti off one of the canal buttresses - brilliant. We have done very well again today; the weather was sunny but very cold, so Nick and Peter shared the helming. The lock at Fenny Stratford was unusual with a fall of only 1 foot and 1 inch - strange! And a swing bridge in the centre i.e. half way along in between the gates. Many moored boats along the way; some look as if they have not moved for some time. Hence our progress had to slow down passing them. Just to keep us warm, the three locks at Soulbury were the answer. Our progress was so good we went on through Leighton Buzzard and stopped at Grove Lock which just happened to have a very nice Fullers pub located beside it, with food. Another very nice meal. Tonight it's very cold outside with ice forming on parts of the boat, but it's nice and warm inside - the heating is working well. It is now 2300 hours and the heating has switched off and the temperature is slowly dropping and it's time to snuggle up in our warm sleeping bags. Progress today was 16 miles at an average speed of 2.8 mph, with 6 locks. Tomorrow we reach Marsworth flight of locks and the first stoppage we have hit. We shall have to wait and see.

Thursday, 10 January

Last day to Marsworth; about 10 locks and 7 miles. The day got off to a cold and misty start and continued like that for the rest of the day: whoever was helming got frostbite on their hands and feet - too cold. We started just after 0900 hours and arrived at Marsworth at about 1400 hours, pleased to be there mainly to get below and get warm. After a bite to eat, we tracked down a Canal and River Trust engineer to find out what was happening - the lock 43 has its gates in place, ready for sealing and fitting, but the biggest problem is the bottom lock 39: they have chained and padlocked it ready to replace the gates. This work added to the closure of lock 43 so it is hit and miss that the job will be completed by 18th January. It is a matter of time and keeping an eye on the situation to see when the crew can move again. It is incredible that the Tring reservoirs are full and have too much water: when I was last there you could walk over 75% of the bed of the reservoir without getting your feet wet!

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