An Evocative Experience.

Saturday 29th September 2012.
Moored at Stoke Bruerne.
for the Village at War weekend.

At 1.15 this afternoon the sound of two Spitfires approaching stopped the crowds along the towpath in their tracks, the planes came over us quite low, then climbed away, arcing, one to the left, one to the right.

The one which had gone right then returned and gave us a superb display, including a loop, the whole thing probably only lasted five minutes and after they had disappeared from sight and the noise of their engines faded you could have heard a pin drop, everyone around being silenced by the sight and sound of two of the worlds most iconic aircraft.

Best Not To Drill That Mate.

Thursday/Friday 27/28th September 2012
Moored at Stoke Bruerne.
for the "Village at War" weekend.

Thursday morning the Marquee was still standing so we attached the sides and hammered the pegs in a bit further.

Still standing and the sides are on.

 

 

On Friday someone built a low stage, laid the small dance floor and placed straw bales around the edge, I didn't see the floor or the bales going down as I was assisting building an Air Raid shelter (first time for everything) under the spare arch of the bridge, we needed to hang camouflage nets from the bridge and had the idea of using screws until it was pointed out that the bridge is a listed structure, big screws and hammer drills were a bad idea, so another solution was found.

 

Tonight we were in the Navigation Inn which was packed, fortunately Jayne had booked a table.  One of the reasons it was so busy, beside the excellent food was a live show by Lola Lamour a singer who specialises in 1920 to 1950 songs, not my cup of tea (far to quiet) but a lot of people were enjoying the show, dancing with some wearing period clothes.

 

We've been promised two Spitfires from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight giving a flypast and display tomorrow afternoon, hope the weather is clear.

A Difficult Erection.

Wednesday 26th September 2012
Moored at Stoke Bruerne.

Five blokes trying to erect a 40ft x 20ft Marquee in the dark, and yes, I was one of them.

In response to an Email from the organisers of this weekends Village at War event we all gathered on the Museum green in the rain at 5.30 this afternoon, actually there were two of us, eventually we  grew to be five, still no where near enough to get this monster tent up.

We laid it all out on the grass and all pulled on the ropes to bring the uprights from horizontal to vertical, all going well but we couldn't hold it and down it went.

We laid it all out again and asked three people off a hireboat who I think were on their way to the pub if they could give a hand, two of them were willing but the third said he had a bad back, so with seven of us we just about managed to get it up and hammer in enough pegs for the guy ropes to keep it up.

By now it was dark so the headlights from a pick up truck was used to light the area, we could now get enough done so it could be left and finished off tomorrow.

It doesn't look that big in the picture but the top is 12 feet high,

we're fitting the sides tomorrow, in the daylight.

The Wrong Roade.

 

Tuesday 25th September 2012
Moored at Stoke Bruerne.

Today we needed supplies, the Boat Inn sells milk and bread, but the bread is frozen, and when frozen bread thaws out it loses its taste, well it does to us, ok for toast but not for anything else.

So a quick look at the OS map for an interesting cycle route to Roade, the nearest Village with a shop and it shows an off road route, just my sort of bike ride.

The route goes up the path by the tunnel where it joins a tarmac road for a couple of hundred yards before a right turn onto a mile long Bridleway into Roade.

 

The Bridleway was muddy to say the least, but I returned triumphant with two fresh loaves, although I may use a different road to Roade next time.

Getting Wet.

Sunday/Monday 23/24th September 2012.
Buckby to Stoke Bruerne.
16 Miles and 6 Locks.

Originally we planned to arrive at Stoke Bruerne on Monday or Tuesday but after seeing the weather forecast decided to get going on Sunday morning and keep going all the way.
It stayed dry for the six locks but started to rain shortly after we passed Weedon and continued for the rest of the day, through Sunday night and only stopped around 3 o'clock today.

We past Rugby Boats at Stowe Hill, our second favourite diesel

supplier after Turners at Wheaton Aston, we'll fill up on our return.

We emerged from Blisworth Tunnel, turned at the winding hole and reversed back to a spot which I had previously calculated we could get a dish signal through a gap in the trees, the thought nightmare of living with Jayne for a week with no tele would be unbearable.

Normally none Historic Narrowboats attending the Village at War event are asked to moor below the second lock, however this is to far for Jayne to walk so she uses her electric scooter and in the past has had difficulty getting up the ramp by the lock due to the raised bricks which were originally to help horses get grip, so this year we're staying above the locks, last June when we were here I discussed it with Graham the harbour master for the event and he agreed it would be ok, the only thing we struggle for in our present position is a signal for Jayne's phone.  

Ouch !!

Saturday 22nd September 2012
Braunston to Buckby
5 Miles and 7 Locks.

 

The dented bow of Aldgate, an Historic Boat owned by Nick Wolfe,

one of the nicest people and competent boat handlers on the waterways.

 

The chalk message says "Damaged caused by Rose Hire Boat"

 I don't think Nick's very happy and hope he makes a claim.

Today we left Braunston, which has been quiet over the last two days with mooring space always available, however today it became very busy and we joined a procession of boats up the six locks and through the Tunnel where we met four oncoming boats and managed to pass all of them without making contact.

We found two volunteer lockies on the flight, the first a jolly chatty man, the second, a miserable one, although we never saw either of them actually assisting anyone working the locks, they seemed more the observing and advising type. 

Leaving Lock 5.

We stopped at the water point opposite the now closed pub at Buckby and while there saw a bit of stupid behaviour although the people concerned probably didn't realise it. Firstly they parked their car across the path so people using the lock had to walk on the grass and then they went and sat on the edge of the lock to eat their sandwiches, people using the lock had to walk round them, unfortunately they left before we used the lock so denied me the chance of dropping a wet rope on them.

We had planned to moor above Buckby Top Lock, plenty of room now the pub has closed we thought, but found no space so dropped down one lock and have moored up until tomorrow.

Where Have The Volunteers Gone.

Friday 21st September 2012.
Moored at Braunston.

Since we left the Marina towards the end of August we have not seen one Volunteer Lock Keeper, last year and earlier this year we saw plenty.

We've come up the Wolverhampton 21, down Lapworth and Hatton flight's and up Stockton and not seen one Volunteer at any of them, I know a lot of boaters don't like other people working the locks but we've found them useful on the Buckby Locks with those heavy gates.

I walked up the Braunston locks yesterday and found a CRT Volunteer with a little information display by the the Admiral Nelson pub, I don't think he was a Chugger as he didn't chase after me.

Perhaps the Volunteers will be out at the weekend, we're going up the  Braunston Locks tomorrow so we'll see, I hope they haven't all got fed up and left.