Yesterday was clear and reasonable weather wise, I loaded the
washing machine and set off from my mooring around 8:30 with just a short
distance to cover before reaching the first lock of the day, Stoke Hammond lock
(23) which is 6’ 11” deep, there was a Wyvern hire boat moored before the lock
landing and as I headed in the lady at the bow asked if I would wait for them
and share the lock, so I pulled onto the landing and walked up to the lock
closing the bottom gate which was open, she joined me and explained it was
their first hire holiday and only the second day, we chatted while the lock
filled and then her husband bought their boat in and I followed on. I let them
leave first and closed up.
The distance between Stoke Hammond lock and the next one at
Fenny Stratford is about 3½ miles, there are normally a few boats moored in various
places and quite a few around Willow Bridge Marina where there are some permit
holder moorings, things proved to be slightly different this trip, every spare
space between the two locks and between the moored boats was occupied by an angler,
the whole distance must have been a fishing matching, tick over all the way
following the hire boat who was also sticking to the rule, time passed, slowly J
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| Leaving Stoke Hammond lock and the first of the anglers. |
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| Following the hire boat, continuous anglers or boats. |
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| Seemed it would never end! |
At least there was the occasional distraction.
 |
| He's real. |
 |
| He's not! |
The hire boat obviously arrived at Fenny lock (22) first,
this lock has a swing bridge across the middle of it which causes some
consternation to hire boaters as not only is it the first they have encountered
but the added fact that it is situated in the middle of the lock adds to the
mystery of what to do! , the top gates were open but the bridge was not, I
could see the lady on the towpath looking at it and contemplating her next
action and so I was intending to head halfway into the lock (myself already
knowing which direction it swings in) and then show her how to open it, when
another boater on the water point stepped up to offer assistance, we are mostly
a friendly bunch! I cruised straight in and was followed by hubby on his boat.
The lock is only 1’ 1” deep and is the last downhill lock
for a while and it is about 12 miles before the first uphill lock at Cosgrove,
so we were soon on our way again with me leading this time to head through the
bridge territory which is Milton Keynes and now past the fishing match...phew!
It was all very quiet with just a few boats moving, of
course the unwritten rule is that you must meet other boats at bridge holes, so
we took turns in doing this, first a boat moving off his mooring just before a bridge
hole on a bend did not see me coming through and had no time to do much other
than accelerate out of my way, the hire boat behind me then had to yield to
him, no fault, and then later on a clear stretch I yielded to a boat heading my
way at a bridge, he then yielded to me, I moved, he moved, such fun.... we did
decide in the end and he came through first.
Another Nineveh spotted today, those who don’t know the
connection to Quinquireme can google the John Masefield poem, I have, many
times. It was a good looking boat though.
Unusually they were empty, but the hirers did not take
advantage.
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| Campbell Park visitor moorings (48 hrs) |
It was getting on for midday and I wanted to get my washing
out to dry (I’m so domesticated) and so I decided to pull over just before the Giffard
Park service’s where I knew there was a piled edge and so here I am, washing
out and dry before the rain started around 5:30, all in all a pleasant easy
day.
Current mooring:
Totals this post: 9½ miles : 2 locks : 1 moveable bridge
It’s been very grey and overcast today so I’m happy to just
chill inside, tomorrow, if the weather is clear will be time for another move.
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