Back to meeting decent folk

Yesterday was a lovely bright day, I was up and about at 6:30 and having my Sunday breakfast at 7, with no reason to stay put I cast off at 9am into the bright low sunlight.

The ‘loose’ target for today was to get through the Marsworth flight of locks, 9 in all (37-45) lifting you a total of 56’ 7”, but the first two are separated from the last seven before the junction of the Aylesbury Arm.

As I was about to leave the first lock I spotted a boat about to prepare the second one for him to come down but seeing me and as the lock was empty he kindly waited and assisted me through, Karma from the previous cruise for which he no doubt will be repaid somewhere along the cut.

I stopped briefly at the water point for a splash and dash, the housing alongside is all finished and occupied and you tie up virtually on their frontage, odd and I would not be surprised to find the occupiers are not too happy but it was all agreed with the developer.

Services point, moored right outside their front door.

The work on the buildings at the Junction of the Aylesbury Arm is all finished too, looking very nice.

This was a building site when I travelled down the arm last year

You can look back at that trip HERE.

The next seven locks are all close together and there are always a lot of walkers about here as it’s pleasant walking around the three reservoirs that provide the water to the canal pumping it back up to the summit. I again had some luck when a brested pair of boats arrived at one of the locks as I was approaching and as it was in my favour they locked me through.

This was the lock I was waiting for though, Marsworth top lock and my last for the day. I was assisted by some walkers, they had a lovely little chap with them, probably 3 years old, he and Dad assisted me again opening the bottom gate as I approached and closing the top gate as I left.

I could have gone on but it was pleasant weather and although I had achieved my ‘loose’ target fairly easily I decided to moor up at Bulbourne just after the Wendover Arm junction