Tempting fate?

Yesterday was a cold start to the day, there was a heavy frost on the roof when I looked around at 8am. Food was getting very low so I decided that I would move on anyway. At 10am I began to prepare for casting off and was happy to see someone working the lock behind me, I thought my timing was good and I would have someone to share the remaining five locks of the Stoke flight so I made sure I was ready to go but to my disappointment when the lock gates opened I saw that it was a wide beam, no hope of a lock buddy there. I let them pass and gave them about 10 minutes start then headed off to follow them down the flight. Arriving at the lock the chap was working it alone while his partner was ahead preparing the next lock, so I helped him through and then entered the lock myself.

One of the locks had what remains of the original side ponds as a little sanctuary for wildlife and the sign inviting people to have a look and even do some pond dipping off of the platforms.

These ponds were common at one time and were a water saving device with water from the lock entering them as you emptied the lock and then being used to partly refill it on its next use, I haven’t come across any still in use but I think there are some around still functioning.

I was extremely grateful to the lady ahead who was opening a top paddle for me on each lock as her partner left, that meant I arrived to find each lock in my favour, and not many people would do that for you!

Leaving lock 18 there were some murals on the underside of the road bridge brightening up the otherwise ugly concrete structure.

Looking back at lock 18

I was soon arriving at lock 20 the last of the flight and the excersise had kept me nice and warm so I celebrated with a coffee from my flask as I left.

Emptying the last lock of the flight

 Approaching Grafton Regis the view of the church in the distance was enhanced by birds and sheep in the fields below.

More boat names amused me as I went on my way towards Cosgrove the first of which decided the title of this post.

Really ??

But what a way to do it.

Is it owned by Wendy and Peter?

And this, I’ve heard of sitting on the fence but this lot were just standing on the posts, every post occupied for about 50 yards and all but two brave ones flew away as I past by.

The Navigation pub just outside Cosgrove looked a bit quiet even though it was lunchtime, in the summer the garden is full but I did get a wave from two couples dining behind the angled glass windows on the left as I passed, they looked surprised to see me cruise by, mind you it is quiet I only passed one other boat on the move.

I couldn’t pass by this bridge without a picture, probably the nicest one on the Grand Union.

Bridge 65 at Cosgrove

I stopped briefly on the service point to top up the water, I like to keep the tank full during the winter months in case I get frozen in somewhere, and then headed through the shallow 3’ 4” Cosgrove lock, I intended to stop just after the lock and visit the small shop on the mobile home site close by the lock but on enquiring with a passing lady was told it was closed for winter, so I continued on passing across the Iron Trunk Aqueduct, not very long this one but quite high as it passes above the River Great Ouse.

I moored up just before bridge 68 in between a widebeam and another rather large vessel opposite Galleon Wharf.

Current mooring

Galleon Wharf from the side hatch

Totals this post: 7 miles : 6 locks

After sorting myself out I took off on foot to Tesco for some of the more urgent supplies, milk and butter etc, it’s about a 35 minute walk along the towpath so I didn’t load up too much, I can moor very close by when I move on but I didn’t want to be there just yet.

Today I walked to Screwfix, I decided I had to buy a small collapsible workbench and a couple of clamps to make my life a little easier, that should have been about 40 minutes but I rerouted accidently and it took just under an hour going.

If I can muster some enthusiasm tomorrow I will do a bit more work in the galley and start on the second angled cupboard, but no promises, they only lead to disappointment :-)