HOMEWARD BOUND AND APOLOGIES

 

My 60th the Birthday Party

I have to apologise for neglecting my blog and readers, its just during the winter months there isn’t a lot to write about and going back to work means I don’t have as much spare time.

So here is the last instalment from our 2022 cruise.

The get together with the Captains relatives John, Fliss and their son David from South Africa went brilliantly. Hosted by his sister Ann and her husband Chris, we were all made very welcome and very well fed. There were so many things to discuss we didn’t really have enough time, and it would have been lovely to spend more time with them. All to soon they were heading off to catch their flight home. We stayed for a while looking through old photo’s whilst Ann and the Captain reminisced before Chris very kindly drove us back to the boat. It was a lovely day.

Next day and we headed off out of Milton Keynes, on the way we passed NB Roosters Rest owned by Lavinia and Mark, we don’t actually know them, but we have mutual friends in Pam and Barry Nix. Pam writes about them a lot in her Pam’s Spam on Facebook. I waved but I don’t think they saw us.

We moored at Wolverton and headed off to the pub, The Galleon, which the last time we were here was closed for refurbishment. We were looking for a quiet pint, but it was not to be, as the other patrons only seemed to be able to talk to each other by shouting, and their kids were just running wild, screaming at the top of their lungs. We understand that pubs can get noisy, but this was at a whole new level from anything we had encountered before, so it was just the one.

A windy and damp day, with only one lock for me to do the following day. When we moored up the Captain performed a temporary repair on our damaged cratch cover, and he made a very neat job of it I most say. He is a very talented fellow.

The 7 Stoke Bruerne locks and Blisworth tunnel next day, the locks were quite busy, with boats travelling in both directions, but the tunnel was empty much to the relief of the Captain, who doesn’t really like passing other boats in tunnels.

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/lifestyle/outdoors/top-of-the-locks-stoke-bruerne-celebrated-as-ten-new-marvels-of-the-modern-waterways-are-revealed-3761776

We moored at Blisworth for the night and took a walk to the Royal Oak, a much nicer experience than the Galleon, thank god.

http://www.royaloakblisworth.com/

There are quite a few decent pubs on this route, and our next port of call was Weedon Bec and the Heart of England, the Captain was very happy to see they had Hobgoblin on, a popular go to pint for him when there are no dark ales on. There is also a Tesco Express close by.

https://www.heartofenglandpub.co.uk/

The 7 locks of the Whilton or Buckby flight next day, we were joined by a new electric boat called Nautilus on one side and Enterprise on the other. We made good time with Captain Pete (yes another Pete) and his crew, whose name I never got. At one of the locks as we emptied it, the rush of water caused the good ship Avalon Two, who was waiting on the lock landing to go in, to tip quite dramatically, we lost a pan of baked beans which were meant to be for dinner, but an open draw saved my bottle of wine from hitting the floor, Phew.

We decided to moor before the 7^th lock as we had booked to go to the New Inn for tea. I helped Nautilus through the last lock and said a final farewell to its crew.

The food at the pub was excellent as always.

https://www.newinnbuckbywharf.co.uk/

Although there aren’t as many locks on the next stretch of our journey, I still had the 7 at Braunston to tackle the next day, and before them the Braunston tunnel. On this occasion the Captains luck didn’t hold out and we met 3 boats coming towards us. As most tunnels are approximately 16ft wide, and 2 narrowboats are 14ft, this doesn’t leave a lot of wriggle room when passing. Add to this travelling in near pitch black, with only a small tunnel light on most boats, it makes it really difficult to judge how near, or far, the boat coming towards you is. Some just stop and wait for you, but this means they can lose steerage, adding another problem to the mix. The Captain just cuts his speed right back and inches pass the oncoming boat, but usually there is a bump or 2 on the way. But no damage done.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braunston_Tunnel

The locks were quite busy once again and we managed to pair up with NB Gerald, which was great. At the last lock the heavens opened, so we moored up as soon as possible. That was us for the day, no pub.

We could have done with a fire to cheer us up, but as you know we still hadn’t sorted the stove situation out, that was on the agenda for the next day. The Captain had decided to bite the bullet and get one from Midland Chandlers at Braunston, they have a reputation for being a little pricey, but the Captain had done his research, and the price of their stoves was pretty much in line with other places.

https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/

We moved round the corner and moored outside. In the chandlery they had a choice of 3 stoves, and one was just right for our needs. Then an opportune meeting with a friend, who moors with us at Swan Lane, led to us putting off our purchase, well just for a couple of days. They told us that they had a contact that had an account with MC, and we may be able to get a little discount. We decided that we could wait, and that we would return to Swan Lane and fetch the new stove in the car. The lady at the chandlery agreed to hold the stove for us to pick up and pay for on the Monday.

So a couple of days to get back to our wharf, and only 4 locks to do. The 3 at Hilmorton, where we met a very inexperienced hire boat crew and a very helpful lockee, and the stop lock at Hawksbury Junction.

We stopped the night at Rugby before heading for Hawksbury and the Greyhound Inn, where we had arranged to meet our very good friends, and fellow boaters, Col and Mags for a pint or 2. It was great to catch up.

https://www.thegreyhoundlongford.co.uk/

Home next day and off we set in the car to fetch our stove, but not before I had made arrangements to meet up with Pam and Barry Nix at Long Buckby. They were heading home to Oregon, and it would be their last year cruising the canals as they had taken the decision to sell their boat Brandy Girl. I have chatted with Pam for the last few years but never met, so it was great to be able to meet up eventually.

When we got to Long Buckby we were surprised to see Steam Boat Adamant, with Chris and Phil onboard. They were waiting for some celebrities, John Sargent was one name mentioned, to come along for a ride for some new TV programme about steam and the canals being made, will have to keep an eye out for it.

http://www.steamershistorical.co.uk/steamers_adamant.htm

We had a lovely time visiting with Pam and Barry, and we have been invited to visit them in Oregon, so we will see.

As you know when we return to Swan Lane I start looking for a job. I had spoken to the agency, and Rich my team leader last year, and was told there was nothing on the AM (6am til 2.30pm) shift at the moment. But I was willing to wait but it didn’t last long. When I went in on Tuesday to sign up I was asked to start next day and of course I agreed.

What a shock to the system.

Our cruise is over for this year, we have had great adventures, seen some spectacular sights, met wonderful people, drunk great beer and eaten fantastic food.

And we will do it all again next year.