Monsoon Season.

Monday, 11th June, 2012.
Still at Stoke Bruerne.

It's rained all night and is still raining so no boating for us today, at 7.30 this morning I walked up to watch Nutfield and Raymond leave on their trip back to Braunston, President and Kildare had already gone, can't say I envied them.

Boats are still coming  past today returning from the Queen's Jubilee Pageant, the Mountbatten Crusader came past, it's a wide beam boat owned by Northamptonshire St Johns Ambulance and used to take elderly and disabled people on short canal trips.

Next past were two boats from The Lyneal Trust, another charity organisation which took part in the Pageant, probably hoping for a mention on the BBC coverage which never came. 

The only boating today was watching a DVD which I bought yesterday,

it shows the correct way to handle a pair of working boats,

the crew of President should watch it after the mess they got into yesterday. 

.

Tuesday's weather looks much better so we can get going in the morning, probably only go as far as Nether Heyford as we need a few supplies from One Stop.

Stoke Bruerne Gala.

Saturday/Sunday 9th and 10th June 2012.

Saturday was very windy with a couple of light showers mid-morning but after that it was OK, plenty of people around as always at Stoke Bruerne, both trip boats were running continually, the small one, Charlie goes into Blisworth tunnel a few yards to give the passengers a taste of what it's like and then reverses back out, turns and returns, the bigger boat, Indian Chief runs trips right through the tunnel and back.

The weather forecast for Sunday had improved so we had another good day.

Competitors receive final instructions for the Sunday morning scooter sprint (12 Volt Class)  on the left is Geraldine from The Cheese Boat and on the right is Jayne.

At lunch time Steam Boat President towing Kildare arrived and moored up, they're on their way back from taking part in the Queen's Jubilee Pageant last weekend, they're staying here tonight and moving off at 6.30 on Monday morning.

President and Kildare breasted up (tied side by side) pick there way through the moored boats after leaving the top lock.

At 3.30 the Pirates invaded which involved a lot of smoke flares, bangs and shouting with a fiddle player half way up the tower.

Sundays Pirate attack.

Monday we hope to move up the 2 locks and moor by the Museum although rain is forecast if it's heavy we'll be staying where we are.

In The Summer Time.

Friday 8th June 2012.
Moored at Stoke Bruerne.

Thursday it rained all afternoon, we had planned to have a meal in the pub before watching the Mikron Theatre performance at 7.30, but in the end it was so wet and miserable outside we did neither, the boat was just too nice and warm.

The high spot of today (Friday) has been tonight's fish and chip supper, served from a mobile chip shop and eaten in the entertainment marquee by the Museum, possibly the best fish and chips ever. 

Weather forecast is better for Saturday but mixed for Sunday.

Going Backwards

Tuesday 5th June 2012.
500 yards, 2 locks, Backwards.

This morning we reversed down the top 2 locks and moored in the long pound where we'll be until Monday.

Opposite our mooring there's a Swans nest with five cygnets and their parents in residence.

Neighbours for a week.

Further down the pound Nutfield and Raymond are moored, they're due at the Gala Weekend.

Rain started this afternoon and has now turned to drizzle, forecast for tomorrow and Thursday is more rain

So Many Boats Around.

Monday 4th June 2012.
Nether Heyford to Stoke Bruerne.
10 Miles and 1 Tunnel.

Today was busy, the Grand Union Canal was more like a Motorway than a Canal, I think every boat in the area was out.

We stopped as planned and went to the shop in Nether Heyford so we're set up now for a week or so. Next stop was the services at Gayton Junction to fill the water tank, then onwards to Stoke Bruerne, Blisworth Tunnel was very very wet, we caught up with a boat whose steerer was having problems, 2 or 3 times he hit the tunnel walls which really echoed, I think he was a tunnel virgin.

Boats visiting the Stoke Bruerne Gala are moored down below the second lock in what is known as the long pound, we always turn around when we arrive so we are pointing in the right direction to head back this involves dropping down another 3 locks to a wide section of water, however this year we decided to turn at the winding hole by the tunnel and reverse, so that's what we've done, not all the way yet as we found a space above the top lock just in front of the Fudge Boat where we'll stay tonight, the space was a bit tight but we squeezed in.

Jayne shouted there's about an inch to spare but it was an exaggeration.

And at the other end it was fender up.

Tomorrow morning when the locks open we'll reverse down the 2 locks and tie up until next week.

Are You Wet?

Sunday 3rd June 2012
Moored at Nether Heyford.

Are you wet, well you would have been if you were one of the steerers stood on the back of boats who past us today, we haven't been outside at all, the rain hasn't stopped. 

We've had the heating on but I refuse to light the fire, I made such a nice job of cleaning it out and blacking it  a couple of weeks ago it's not getting dirty again until October, besides it's June and I'm an optimist.

Plenty of boating to watch on the box though with the Pageant taking place so that's what we did all afternoon, we particularly enjoyed the choir singing at the end, standing in the wind and rain giving it their all.

Tomorrow we will be moving, just a short 15 minute journey first to bridge 32 where we can moor up and get to the One Stop shop in Nether Heyford for supplies to last us a week or so while we're at Stoke Bruerne, once stocked up it's onwards to the Blisworth Tunnel, should be plenty of water cascading down inside after all this rain.

Stopped For The Weekend.

Friday 1st June 2012.
Buckby to Nether Heyford
6.25 Miles, 7 very heavy locks.

The British Waterways man arrived at 9 o'clock this morning and un-padlocked Buckby top lock, then disappeared and left it to the Volunteer Lock Keeper to sort all the boats out, apparently volunteer lockie's are allowed to organise and operate the lock's throughout the day but are not allowed keys or padlocks !

We went down with another boat who's crew were as slow as us so it worked well, once we cleared the bottom lock we stopped for lunch opposite Whilton Marina.

Next stop was Rugby Boats at Stowehill Wharf to top up the main Diesel tank, we had plenty but prefer to keep the level nearer the top of the tank than the bottom, besides it was quite cheap, 84p ( or was it 86p ) per litre.

View from our side hatch tonight.

We are now settled for the weekend opposite the Touring Caravan field at Nether Heyford, weather forecast doesn't look good but it is a bank holiday and, the Crick Boat Show both of which usually attract bad weather.