....lovely and bright.
Saturday I arose early and got ready to walk to Wickes where
I had perused online for flooring for the shower room, according to the website
they had plenty of stock, but walking meant I would need to do at least two
trips, about 15mins each way.
I was off at 8:30 and arriving at the store to find they had
none at all, what a let down, I couldn’t decide on an alternative so that was
that! back at the boat I decided I would stay where I was so I could watch
Strictly Come Dancing and move on Sunday to Leighton Buzzard.
Normally I awake around 6 – 6:30, Sunday for some reason I
slept ‘til 8:30, not a problem apart from the fact that those additional hours
meant the stove was on its last legs and the boat was ‘chilly’, first job was
to get that stoked up and roaring again, as I was running late I decided to
forego my customary full English breakfast and settled on a bacon sandwich, It
was frosty so I wasn’t in too much of a rush and just after 10am I cast off.
The canal near my position was not iced over and I headed
for the lock and service point immediately after it, I was surprised to find as
I got near the lock the canal had a fairly thick (about 6mm) layer of ice, after
tying up first job was to open the swing bridge which is positioned across the
centre of Fenny lock (22), having gone through the lock I pulled onto the
service point for the usual fill and empty, it was treacherous near the
obligatory leaking tap with sheet ice and a slope towards the canal edge I took
my time and watched my footing carefully.
Setting off again I found thin ice for the next 100 yards
or so and for most of the cruise there was patchy thin ice in exposed areas.
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| An ice covering and bright sunlight |
Having gone about a mile I reached for my gloves and
found only one, I had left one at the services, damn it, not worth heading back
so that’s another little task to add to my list, replacement winter gloves!
Stoke Hammond lock (23) was next and I again took much care
around the edges but was soon through without mishap.
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| Leaving Stoke Hammond Lock |
It was then on to the Soulbury locks (24-26), a flight of
three alongside the ‘Three Locks’ pub, they obviously gave that name a lot of
thought. I had a family of watchers and helpers out for their Sunday morning stroll,
having entered the first lock and made sure all was going well I left it to
finish filling and walked to the next lock to set that in my favour, there is
nowhere to tie up between each lock so you need to go from one straight into
the next. I asked the family if they would close the gate for me as I left and
they happily did, and the same routine was applied to the middle lock, at the
third lock they had gone so I dealt with that one alone.
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| Looking back down the flight of 3, Quinquireme having a wander around the broad lock. |
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| Back in position and leaving the top lock |
Having passed many moored boats and a couple of fishing
matches (some happier than others to speak to me) I was running later than I had
expected, the sun had all but
disappeared and it was getting chilly so when I arrived at the visitor moorings
by ‘The Globe’ pub I decided to call it a day and moor up.
Totals today: 7 miles : 5 locks : 1 moveable bridge
Current mooring.
I had intended to move today but the canal is iced over,
only lightly but I have no urgent need to move and the forecast is warmer
tomorrow so I will stay put today.
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| Icy chilly view from the cabin today |
Nobody has passed by this morning so far.
P.S. not sure if I said but the shower is lovely and surprisingly
leak free J
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