Time for a catch up.

I’ve been a bit lax with the blog of late, partly due to a weakish internet signal and partly due to me just not sitting down to do it.

We left our mooring at the bottom of the three locks on Tuesday 21^st but the night before I looked out of my side hatch to see this.

I assumed someone was late taking down the Xmas lights but looking at it next day I think it was just for illuminating the stern of the residential moored boat, not a great pic but in reality it looked very nice.

We cruised through open countryside making our way towards Fenny Stratford with me leading the way.

Arriving at Stoke Hammond lock I was pleased to see a gate open and then realised it was being worked on by a couple of C&RT employees,  I held back a bit but they waved me in, Karl followed, there was a slight delay while they adjusted the collar on one gate to stop it wobbling around and once they had finished we went on out way.

Passing another life boat home.

And reaching the outskirts of Milton Keynes, you know you are getting close when the Poplar trees start to appear in long straight lines along the towpath.

Fenny Stratford lock (22) with its swing bridge across the centre and the Red Lion pub alongside heralded our arrival at our destination and there was a lovely 2 boat length of visitor mooring just beyond the lock.

We moored up, had coffee and another day was done.

Mooring:

I had intended to stay just until Thursday but storm Doris had other ideas and in the end I stayed until this morning, passing the time with a visit to the pub, and some work on the boat.

I walked to Travis Perkins and bought some timber and constructed a rack to go in the wardrobe for Sweaters, T shirts, socks and pants (that is man knickers not trousers to my American readers, I think), shoes below. I also moved the shower waste pump which was under the bed and was now exposed just outside the wardrobe, so with alterations done it is now inside the wardrobe and easily accessible, before I had to remove the mattress from the bed to get access to clean the filter, a regular maintenance item.

Karl needed to adjust his stern gland (it prevents water entering the bilge where the propeller shaft enters the boat) but on lifting his engine cover he found his bilge pump had ceased working, so a replacement was sourced and obtained and I helped him fit it, all is good now.

This morning I said Cheerio (for now) to Karl and headed off alone, I wanted to get rid of some more debris from the bedroom (old dismantled mattress etc.) fill with water and then wind (turn around) and I knew that the service point at Giffard Park was ideal for this.

You can tell where the pubs are, little clutches of boats always nearby.

C&RT had sent out about a dozen ‘tree down’ notices for the GU canal thanks to storm Doris and cleared and re-opened the canal before I left, but there was still evidence of the damage, debris in the water and a couple of trees still partially blocking the canal.

I don’t know if this boat was lucky to be missed or if he had moored up behind it after it fell.

It was very breezy still especially passing the Campbell and Willen Parks in Milton Keynes, although the children seemed to be enjoying the rides at Gullivers Land which is a small theme park for younger adventurers.

Arriving at the service point there was a boat in the middle of the two spaces but when I slowed and asked how long he would be he offered to pull back to allow me in, the water pressure is very slow so it was almost an 1½ hours later before I could head off and wind coming back to moor up in time to watch England play Italy in the 6 Nations Rugby, lovely jubley.

Tonights breezy mooring:

Totals this post: 11 miles: two locks: 1 moveable bridge