BB in Stowe Workshop Day34

We spent a lovely few days last week just past bridge 45 in rural surroundings,providing you forgot about the west coast main line that was just across the field. It was in a cutting so the sound was not too bad and it has been following us along most of the Grand Union. It was very warm so the time was spent reading and watching the many boats go by especially the old working boats on their way to Stoke Bruerne for the Weekend at War. We are now back home for a week whilst BB gets some much needed TLC by the boys at Stowe Workshops.

Nb Nuffield and Butty Raymond the last boat built at the Nursers Yard at Braunston.

A rear view of a working boat- the bow is sitting high as it has no load.

Our rural mooring just before Bridge 44

A wide beam squeezing through bridge 44

Just north of Gayton Junction Day 30

We enjoyed our stay in Milton Keynes and we were pleasantly surprised at how clean it was- a real pleasure to cruise through it. The last few days have been great autumn cruising days through Wolverton, Cosgrove and Stoke Bruerne which was very busy as its the Village at War Weekend starting this Saturday.We had one moment of excitement as we came into our mooring below Cosgrove lock. There was a loud bang from the bow area. On investigation I discovered that one cell of the bow thruster battery had exploded. It was contained by the bow locker cover and I can only assume it had failed as it was nearly 8 years old. We are now on the last part of our trip as BB is going into dry dock at Stowe Workshop on Monday for about 10 days.

A S M Hudson boat builder's special coming out of the Stoke Bruerne bottom lock

Supper tractor and seed sowing rig as we approached Stoke Bruerne.

Another boat caravan- they are getting more common!

Another good play on words

Bridge on a rope-engineers preparing to replace bridge 78 Giffard Park Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes Day 27

We left Leighton Buzzard Saturday morning and cruised to a nice mooring just before Stoke Hammond lock and stayed till this morning. We had the best toilet pump out at Wyvern Shipping Co in LB,it took 30 minutes which included a thorough flush out with clean water. As an added bonus we were able to collect some apples from their trees- apple crumble has been the order of the last two days. Wyvern started trading as a commercial carrier in 1954 and as trading finished moved into hire boats.

We are now moored by bridge 81b which is next to Campbell Park and this afternoon we walked the 1 mile,20 minutes, to Central Milton Keynes for a bit of shopping. The cloud and rain has moved on and the sun was really warm as I polished the boat this afternoon-long may it last.

We have now done 122 miles and 143 locks!

Our walk back through Campbell Park-the canal is down below the end of the path, in the valley as it follows the 236ft contour line.

The veiw from the cratch at Stoke Hammond.

Stoke Hammond lock with the old Pump House-now a house- on the left and the old Lock Keeper house on the right.

The lovely old  Globe Inn at Leighton Buzzard- a classic boatmans inn which serves good food.

Interesting boat with a flexible approach to name and BW number.

Back at Leighton Buzzard Day 24

We have now gone back to canal time as we have taken 6 days to travel 16 miles and 26 locks (which is 6 lockmiles per day) from Berkhamsted to Leighton Buzzard. After all our expectations we didn't go down the Aylesbury Arm. On Monday evening I walked down the Marsworth flight and found a hire boat aground below lock 41,in fact there were 3 pounds between locks that were empty. I phoned BW who finally managed to get them filled the following morning. I asked them about the arm and they said that it was low towards the end and that they could not guarantee they could get us back out, their priority is the main line.We arrived in Leighton Buzzard and decided to stay on Friday and go for lunch in The Globe Inn which dates back to the 1840's when it opened as a Beer Shop to serve the boatmen, the meal was excellent. The Tesco store by the canal is built on an old factory site that built Vickers Vimy bombers for WW1. Where ever you go along the GU you find examples of its fascinating industrial past. We passed one of the blog's I follow the other day nbBriarrose as they were making their way down to the Thames to do the Thames Ring via Limehouse and Oxford.

As we came out of Rickmansworth last week this B17 flew over. There are not many of these in the country.

A great play on words for a boat name

Just to show that I do the locks sometimes which means Anne is steering the boat

BB above the Marsworth flight waiting for the water to be run down the locks. The Wendover arm goes off to the left and a dry dock is on the right.

We made our destination of Rickmansworth- Day20

Over the last few days since leaving Berkhamsted on Tuesday 13 Sept we have really worked hard for us and made Rickmansworth, turned and are now back at the top of the Marsworth flight.We have done 30 miles and  (mostly Anne has done) 66 broad locks. Although I have done a few. It now changes at Marsworth as we are now going downhill till we get to Cosgrove so Anne can steer the boat and I can do the locks.We hope to do The Aylesbury Arm starting on Wednesday-water levels allowing us - which is 8 miles and 32 narrow locks.There is a hire boat stuck below lock 41 tonight as the pound has just run out of water, hopefully BW will be able to sort it by the morning but Startops End reservoir is nearly empty.This may change our plans.

We stopped again in Berkhamsted so that my nephew and family could see the boat and travel with us up the Berkhamsted locks to Cowroast.

We have now done 100 miles and 119 broad locks which are flipping hard work.

A new trend perhaps in fenders

This sign was on a boat that we had doubts about.

The boat in question

Batchworth road bridge has this excellent horse drawn butty mural. I wonder how many drivers know its there.

Batchworth lock with the side lock on the left, This leads to the River Chess and several loading wharfs one of which was Sabey's now no longer used and filled in.

Orang-utan in the dark

There is a lovely warehouse on Castle Wharf in Berkhamsted that comes alive when it gets dark. Something you would not expect.

A very nice conservatory

With the unexpected at night

Kings Langley Day 14

We left Berkhamsted today Tuesday as we stayed on Monday to let the winds go through. We moved down to Castle Wharf where the timber wharf used to be and moored opposite the site of the old Bridgewater Boats that is now being redeveloped with 2 new warehouse style houses. But the owner of the land who has already converted a warehouse sold the land on the basis that some form of boat related business must continue

The famous totem pole on Alsford (Kays) Wharf giving to the town by the local Indian tribe in Vancouver. In fact we bought a piece of similar art from a local craft shop when we were there in June.

 

Francis Egerton the Third Duke of Bridgewater who also built the Bridgewater Canal

All that is left of Nash Mills is this old loading area although there is an old grade 1 listed building to the right that is being converted to luxury flats. Its not in the photo as I only found out about it when talking to a local whilst waiting at Nash Mill Lock

Something is lurking over the hedge at Home Park Lake