[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the decision made to head towards London we prepared ourselves to tackle going up the Northampton flight of 17 locks. But not before an early morning wake up with Jim letting us know they were off to the hospital to get Chris’s hand checked out. She had attempted to save a cat from the river in the wee small hours,and it both bitten and scratched her. Happy to report the health system treated her promptly and the hand is now on the mend.
Our progress up the lock was hampered by both said injury and a fellow solo traveller who was making very slow but necessary progress up the flight to have his alternator repaired. After a few delays we negotiated to go ahead, preparing each lock for him before we moved on to assist him to keep moving. We finally made it to the top, availed ourselves of the service point facilities and moved onto the main line of the Grand Union Canal.
We all lamented our postponement of exploring the waterways to Cambridge but also all agree that it was the right decision.
After a leisurely cruise through the Blisworth tunnel, stop off to check out the beautiful works at Ark Stained Glass, and a meander down the 7 Stoke Bruerne locks we picked up beautiful moorings just outside Yardley Gobion on Saturday night. The sheep, geese and ducks were certainly enjoying the lush green grasses to be found in the fields on both sides of the canal.
On Sunday we set our sights for Wolverton, needing a mooring to catch the train to London on Monday for another eye check up. We only found space for one, so Chris and Jim kept moving and we arranged to catch them up once we returned on Monday afternoon. Fortunately, the news about the eye was positive, so we returned in good spirits on Monday and quickly covered the 2 miles (well quickly for a Narrowboat!) to catch up to NB Sylph.
We made the decision to move on Tuesday to Campbell Park which has very good visitor moorings next to a large park giving lots of room for Gina and Bunion to have a good run. Didn’t hurt the rest of us to take a few walks and investigate all that the park has to offer, either. The cricket pitch alone made us want to take up the sport.
The city of Milton Keynes is not necessarily a place you would put on your travel bucket list. But there are a number of places, whilst cruising through, to moor up and take a walk to investigate. Often you would think you were in the countryside rather than going through a city. The views from a canal are so different than by car!!
Just a short walk from our moorings in Campbell Park is a lovely vegetarian cafe and shop run by Camphill communities that support adults with learning difficulties to live and work as independently as possible within the community. Well worth a visit for excellent coffee and service, as well as a browse through their shop with fresh baked bread, assorted condiments and ingredients, as well as all sorts of crafts, jewellery, cards and baskets. Celtic Maid are now the proud owners of a lovely bread basket!!
In anticipation of the arrival of Kim – Jim and Chris’s daughter – on Friday night, we relocated to Fenny Stratford on Thursday to avail ourselves of nearby shopping and laundry. Jim also took this opportunity to play car shuffle – picking up the faithful Volvo from one location and strategically securing it at a new one in anticipation of our collective non-boating travel needs. We ended up staying here until we moved today, with Jim and Bob relocating the car again while awaiting Kim’s return from London later in the day.
So we are now moored only about a half a mile further on hoping that a safe return by the intrepid travellers and better weather tomorrow may get us to the Globe Inn near Linslade where we shall have a fine repast and much merriment, me thinks!!!!!
Oh and a big happy 84th birthday to Bron’s Mum for today. And a whole big bunch of love xxxxx[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
So glad you got good news re Bob’s eye. Also sounds like you are settled back into the canal scene and once again enjoying the life. You are getting close to London, are you heading there??
I know the heading is Towards London but are you going into London, i.e. Little Venice etc. Perhaps I could try and come over with your plastic stuff just for the one day to drop it off.
Yes Judy we are – we will be there Friday we hope. Come on over!!!!
The weather looks good for you guys, the picture is great. Glad to hear the news about Bob’s eye. How are you doing, Bron? I hope the news from Oz has been better than it was. Miss you, but am so happy you’re both doing what you love. Hugs.
Weather is improving, news not so. But things are all as they are and we accept them. Thanks xxxx
Good news about the eye must be a huge relief. Sounds like you have settled back into the relaxing pace of the canals. Really happy for you both living your dream x
Thanks Jenny, its a great life!!! xxx
Hi there Bob and Bron
Well thing are going well back here at 6,Jimmy Walker has just pulled the pin and has retiered after 47 years poor Kym is left at 4 waiting on a new worker to mold in.lock 5 has won the collings trophy for 2016 (big heads down there) it did look good down there.Update on the family all going great Stacey is due any day now with grandchild number 3,Dean and Kyle are due for there first in january so that will mack 4 for Sheryl to spoil.The murray is high at the moment running at 28000,lock 7 was pulled out on Tuesday but i think the rest will stay in only ment to get between 30000 and 40000,still might have to go and try and get a feed of yabbys heres hoping.We i hope u r both going well and will talk later till then CHEERS FROM THE LOCKS BEERS
Thanks Warren – my earlier reply got lost in the ether!!! Interesting happenings in lock world and certainly for your expanding family. As you can see we are continuing to enjoy the adventure so won’t be back any time soon to take up a post at Lock 4!!! Stay brilliant B&B xx