Almost lock free.....

....and a rural mooring.

I cast off this morning at 8:30, my first stop was at the service point just ahead.

Service point by the Giffard Park pub, the small building by the moored boat
is the service area

I had purposely moored before I reached it to enable a splash an dash and empty of rubbish before moving on properly, unfortunately I forgot the water pressure here is very low so it took a while just to top up my tank. The chap on the moored boat poked his head out and declared he had overslept, he then appeared with a cuppa and while we chatted a young lady boater came along and wandered around looking bemused, she then explained she had left her keys there on Sunday and was trying to locate them but without success. He moved off while I was filing up and I followed on once ready.

There are a few pubs along this stretch, first was the Black Horse, with a few boats moored out front.

Then on passing New Bradwell with a large housing estate beyond the park spoiling the views.

 The New Inn is alongside bridge 72 and looks very pleasant, one day I may venture in.

Shortly after is the first of two aquaducts today, I had to slow to a stop as a boat was stationary on it, he was picking up floating plastic bottles, but once he had passed by I was crossing watching the traffic fly past below me.

Just a short run further saw me approaching Wolverton with it's much photographed railway themed mural.

A stop just ahead for a trip to Tesco and chance to snap a couple of the 'sculptures'

There is a huge housing development alongside the visitor moorings and the tow path is fine shingle on concrete, it makes getting a foot hold to slow the boat quite interesting if you haven't judged it right.
After popping to Tesco I returned to find a chap sitting on a nearby bench and as I boarded Quin he asked if I lived aboard, we chatted for quite a while as he was considering the life for himself and had lots of questions.

Once the shopping was packed I made a cuppa and set off again towards Cosgrove passing another pub, The Galleon, looks a bit posh this one, I won't be visiting.

And then on to the Iron Trunk aqueduct, holding back to allow two boats to come through before heading across myself.

Crossing over the River Great Ouse, not looking very great!
 

A colourful paint job on this one.

 Cosgrove lock (21) the only one of today and uphill now again.

It's not deep at just 3' 4" and I was assisted through by two sets of parents and their young children who took delight in closing the gates for me.
It's quite a nice view across the field as you head past the service point here, but sadly a couple of large pipe bridges can mar the photo!

It was taken on purpose, for fun only.

Cosgrove bridge is one of the most beautiful on the Grand Union, you cannot leave it out.

Shortly after leaving Cosgrove and rounding a bend a boat was getting ready to cast off in front of me and another boat was approaching us both, I thought it prudent to pause and see what happened expecting the one casting of to wave me through, he didn't he pushed off right in front of me, so a bit of hard reverse to give him time to get away without me rear ending him!

He did wave a thank you.

Another mile another pub, The Navigation by Thrupp Wharf marina.

 I was on the lookout for a nice quiet rural mooring and after bridge 63 I spotted one, a nice piled edge to chain up to, fields either side of the canal and only one boat moored, I left a reasonably long gap between us and moored up. Shortly after another boat filled the gap, but they only stopped for lunch I guess as they have gone now.

Current mooring:

Totals today: 9 miles : 1 lock : 2 aqueducts

Another chill day tomorrow.