Wire......what wire?

Yesterday I walked back into Leighton Buzzard to try to locate some 10mm wire for the fridge. I went to Halfords they don’t sell it, they do sell maxi fuses, I need a 15 amp one, they had 10/20/25/30/40/60, the slot for 15amp was of course empty, I did manage to get a pack of crimp joints to join the wire when I finally obtain some. I spoke to a local boater who makes and repairs cratch covers, he assured me that Willowbridge Marina sold the stuff in their chandlery.

It was forecast to rain PM today, so at 9:30 I pulled pins and set off. I had a canoe escort

for a while but they soon left me behind, passing this boat the character in the centre amused me more than the name.

On through the countryside it began to rain, quite heavy at times, and passing some interesting boats.









When I reached the Soulbury locks, 3 of them (24-26) in close proximity to each other, there were a number of volunteers milling around and they waved me into the first lock, now last night on the phone to my sister I mentioned that the dilapidated Buckingham Branch of the canal went almost to our Aunt’s road and it was being restored, these volunteers were raising money for that restoration and as it was raining I happily threw some money into the bucket that was put before me, there were four volunteers to each lock, I didn’t get a chance to take a picture, it was all happening quite quickly and efficiently, I took this one when I had safely cleared the locks, quite a big fundraiser by the looks of things and a pub right there as well (the ‘Three Locks’ what else? ) shame about the weather hopefully tomorrow will improve for them.

At Stoke Hammond lock (23) there was a family of very inexperienced boaters entering the lock, Dad and young son on the windlass/gates, mum and daughter sat in the bow well, laughing, and a friend or brother on the tiller, I gave them some friendly pointers and Dad asked a few questions as the lock filled but he was like a cat on a hot tin roof, running around pulling on ropes and shouting instructions to his son, I told him the most important thing is ‘don’t rush and be careful’. They went on their way and I could hear him passing the information to the steerer, give them a week and they will be fine J

On thorough the showers I moored up behind a couple of boats just after Willowbridge Marina and walked back to it, of course they had 1mm/2mm/blah blah, you’ve guessed everything apart from 10mm. I went back to the boat and decided I didn’t fancy being there for long so I moved on, Fenny Lock (22) was next and as I approached it was in my favour, heading in a young lad on a boat at the water point shouted “can we share the lock?” so I said “if you are ready” as I could see a widebeam approaching from the other direction, I glanced around and saw it was the lady with the dog called ‘Monty’, (N.b. Buccaneer) and she saw me and shouted “hello Monty”, well she was a bit panicked by the now waiting widebeam and the lock is only 1ft 1” in depth so it did not take long to empty and I was out of the lock and mooring up on the visitors moorings without the chance to chat, but I shouted to ask where she was heading and she was looking for a ‘windy hole’ so she could turn around and paint the side of her boat, it’s called a winding hole or point (pronounced as in ‘the wind doth blow’ so that was correct)  so that made me smile, if I see her again I must ask her name!

So I am moored here, the lock in the distance and a family of Canada Geese, or is it Canadian Geese? I will stay tomorrow and look around Fenny Stratford.

Total today  7 miles : 5 locks