Stanton Low

Before I left the Campbell Park visitor moorings I set the washing machine going, there may have been a launderette in Milton Keynes somewhere but I didn’t fancy trying to find one, moving off at about 10am the first stop was at the services at Giffard Park, they were empty when I arrived so I set the water tank filling and put the kettle on, emptied the cassette and the rubbish and a Wyvern Shipping hire boat with a family on holiday arrived, I told them it shouldn’t be too long, there is only one tap, but the flow seemed ok, I had my cup of tea whilst chatting to them and after about half an hour I said that would do, so I could let them fill up and get on with their holiday, as I was moving off another boat pulled in so a busy little time. A fairly quiet cruise, no locks still, but 15 bridges to pass beneath, one fairly quick shower of rain and not much worthy of a picture, this little bridge went into a private basin called Pennyland

I had looked at it during one of my strolls but didn’t have my camera with me, it looked a lovely little development if you owned a boat. Past the Black Horse

which had some nice seating on the other side but it was in the shade of the trees. I soon came to my mooring for tonight which Les and Jaqueline (N.b Valerie) had suggested when we chatted yesterday and they are also moored here today, but I am not going near them or they will think I am stalking them, it’s called Stanton Low Country Park but I can’t find any reference to it in Pearson’s guide.
I am very tired, I think all the walking over the past couple of days has caught up with me, so today I will rest up and maybe have a look around tomorrow. I’ve got the washing drying in the bow well deck, now I don’t have a cratch cover the clothes horse stands there quite nicely J

Tonights Mooring

Totals Today: 3Miles

Shopping..a lovely walk...and a surprise.

Today I went into Milton Keynes Centre to buy a summer hat and some summer shoes, both needed, but the experience was the polar opposite of boat life. A huge shopping complex that makes me want to run in the opposite direction, it took me quite some time to work out where the two shops I needed were, anyway shopping is one of my dislikes especially anything to do with clothing but I managed to get what I wanted.

So I am hoping that these can put away for now,

and these are the replacements, the Crocs were buy one get one half price so I also bought a brown pair, all I need now is a Red Neckerchief and I might look like a fully fledged boater J

A walk around Campbell Park art trail was just the antidote I needed, delightful, again let the picture speak. I've added the names of the pieces.

Gnomon resembling cricket Stumps & Ball

Onwards and Upwards

Chain Reaction

Light Pyramid

MK Rose

The Cave

View from The Cave

Armillary Sphere (in the centre of a Labrynth)

 And some of the views not part of the art trail.

The Pavilion

The Amphitheatre

The outskirts of  MK Centre viewed from Campbell Park

And the surprise was that when I began researching the idea of living on a boat about 5 five years ago I started off by reading several boating blogs and one of these was Continually Cruising Aboard NB Valerie. I think I can safely say that Les was the initial spark to my real ‘I would like that life’. When I went up on deck late this afternoon I saw Jaqueline but the penny only dropped when I saw Les, N.b. ‘Valerie’ had moored directly behind me, so I went over and said hello, they had visitors so it was a brief chat and I let them go off on their walk. I am so pleased I had the chance to say hello even if briefly.

Milton Keynes

First of all here is a better picture of the Swingbridge 

in place in the middle of Fenny Stratford lock, it does confuse some of the new hirers on holiday boats but it’s quite easy as access is from the lock side and once they are over the surprise of seeing it there they cope just fine.

I really entered Milton Keynes on Sunday as I came into Fenny Stratford but in my mind it began today as I set off at 9:30, a bit cloudy but it has been warm and dry all day, a good cruising day. The cruise was fairly short and lock free, (there are no locks between Fenny and Cosgrove about 11 miles) the run through to my anticipated mooring was not really what I expected, I thought it would be dull and boring with no locks and the scenery would be ‘Milton Keynes’ concrete and housing but it was surprisingly rural

 there are a lot of bridges because of all the main roads (20 bridges today) but not all are concrete monstrosity’s.

Bridge 82a marks the proposed position of a new link (broadbeam) to the Great Ouse

and is one of those monstrosity’s, whether the link will ever go ahead is unknown, the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust was formed to promote it 20 years ago.

It was busier today with canal traffic, now the warmer weather is here and the ‘holiday’ season has begun I expect it will continue to increase the ‘traffic’, a slight problem for a young girl steerer who met me as I was passing moored boats on either side, there was plenty of room but at the last moment she decided there wasn’t enough and tried to stop, running herself aground and swinging her stern out towards me, I squeezed slowly through the gap and missed her stern button with inches to spare as it continued towards me, she was very embarrassed but dad took control and they were able to reverse back and get underway again, no teenagers were harmed during the making of this incident, a little pride maybe.

I reached my intended goal on the 48 hour Campbell Park visitors moorings at 12:15 and was pleased to see space available, there is only room for 8 boats and at that time only 5 were there (it is now full)

Tonights Mooring

Total Today 4 miles : 0 Locks

Part Two:

Once I’d had a cup of tea and a bite to eat, I decided to have a look at Willen Park on the other side of the canal and leave Campbell Park for tomorrow.

I was impressed, it is lovely and has all you would need for a great day out (or more), I took a very long circular walk of about 4 hours around the North and South Lakes, but it is huge, there is a Theme Park as well Gullivers Land for younger children (2-13) and judging by the screams I could hear they were loving it, so apart from the various food outlets it had water ski-ing, boat rides, bicycle hire, play areas, a bandstand, bird feeding areas, a maze and a labyrinth, a Pagoda, a Buddhist temple, artwork and I think I saw 3 pic ‘n’ mix wagons all doing a roaring trade!, plus acres of land to walk the dogs or just relax, there had been an event of some sort over the Bank Hoiday and they were clearing away huge tents and various filming equipment as well as a mobile production office, I bet it was heaving.

I’ll let the pictures show what I mean.

Bridge Across the canal to Willen Park

View of Gullivers Land

Souls In Love in memory of Debbie & Tony Sellers

This cedar tree was donated by Milton Keynes Borough Council and dedicated to 'One World 1992'

the plaque said "One World Make It Happen" it appears to have been chosen by local people to commemorate the lasting friendships even after death, each ribbon, balloon or bottle had a message of love to a friend or relative, one obviously written by a very young girl just said, 

"Gemma, when you were alive we were friends, I hope we still are."