Day 47 - 49: Nether Heyford to Gayton Junction

One side of the hull painted, we set out on Saturday morning for the few miles to Gayton Junction where we will turn off east onto the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union canal.  Unfortunately, as we made way for an oncoming boat at one of the bridges near Bugbrooke there was a loud rattling as we lost steering and drifted onto a gravel bank.  We managed with the help of a fellow boater moored nearby to get in to the towpath side and pull the boat under the bridge to moor up.

Fearing that the propeller or rudder or both were damaged we examined the propeller shaft and found a tangled mass of twine, wire and thorny branches had wrapped itself around the shaft completely jamming the mechanism. With some effort and strong language, a combination of pulling its ends and rotating the prop shaft eventually brought the tangle out in bits.

Tangled mass retrieved from around our prop

The excitement required an overnight stop, then we went on the following morning to Gayton.

Unusual houseboat

After a long gap since the last services, we found the very well kept CRT ones at Gayton Junction with some relief then turned onto the Northampton Arm and moored.  The junction was exceptionally busy with both private and holiday hire boats, in fact more activity than we've seen the whole trip so far.  The seventeen locks from Gayton down to Northampton are known as the Rothersthorpe flight and the first couple were picturesque in the evening light.

Top lock at Rothersthorpe in the magic hour

Crane and crescent moon at Gayton

Days 45 & 46: Nether Heyford

The village itself is rather nondescript except for an amazing thatched roof or two, but the canal towpath nearby is perfect for a spot of painting.

Thatch in Nether Heyford

Painting the hull side

Final coat

Fellow boaters were moored nearby and we learned about their narrowboat, Firecrest, which is 100% electric powered and built by Braidbar, one of the most innovative builders around today.  As with cars, the trend is towards either hybrid or all-electric and we're very interested to explore this possibility.

An evening visitor resting on the canopy

Day 44: Whilton to Nether Heyford

Moored for the night just below Whilton Marina - we can recommend the cafe there, where we went for breakfast.

A floating willow bower, with its own mooring pin - we haven't a clue what it's for

although we do have a clue what these cygnets are after

We visited the brokerage at Whilton to look at boats for sale in case we decide on an upgrade.  Blue Adeline IS very nice, so changing boats would be a big decision - here's our cosy living room.

Classy sign writing

Two working boats moored near Weedon

An authentic Dutch barge

A slow evening cruise...

...in (for once) lovely weather

Apparitions - ancient working boats saved from decay

With dusk falling, we found a peaceful mooring near Nether Heyford to spend a few days painting

Days 37 - 43: Weltonfield Marina and Buckby Locks

A few days' refuge at the very pleasantly situated and friendly Weltonfield Marina, sheltering from heavy rain and thunderstorms.  Also, we'd noticed for a couple of days a judder on the tiller - this can happen if the water is shallow but needs checking in case something has fouled the prop.  So Denis opened the weed hatch to feel around the propeller shaft, dressing appropriately in (rather fetching!) elbow length pond gloves.  A length of chewed up black plastic bin bag had wrapped itself around the shaft and once removed, the problem was resolved.

Blue Adeline at Weltonfield Marina (behind tree)

Removing the bin bag from the prop shaft - the down and dirty side of boater life (it's not all swanning about glass in hand!)

Tuesday morning early, we left the marina for Norton Junction then the seven Buckby locks.

Jan on the gates at one of the Buckby locks

The flight was uneventful except for a passing trio of boats crewed by two humans and two ferrets.  We helped out with opening lock gates and in return were introduced to the ferrets.

Ferrets afloat

Days 34 - 36: Watford Locks to Norton Junction

The long lock-free stretch after rising 75 feet at Foxton locks ends at Watford Gap, where the canal runs very close and roughly parallel to the Roman Watling Street, the M1 motorway and the London bound railway line.  However, peaceful canalside moorings are easy to find.

After going down the Watford locks on Monday we found a quiet spot immediately south of bridge 3 and liked it so much we stayed for two nights.

Tuesday we walked to Norton Junction to have a look at what will be our next flight of locks at Buckby and to have morning coffee at the New Inn.

A quirky mix, half boat half garden shed

Pretty lock keepers hut by the top Watford lock

A shot of a top gate from inside one of the locks, showing rather spectacular leaks

Denis contemplating the paddles

Norton Junction, where the Grand Union Main Line meets the arm coming south from Leicester 

The New Inn, Norton Junction alongside the top lock of the Buckby flight

Boats going up in the top lock

An old wooden bollard, one of several just below the top lock, showing the marks around its base from generations of ropes

This endearing duo enjoyed their stroll alongside the boat

...and stopped for a pick-me-up

On Wednesday we booked two nights in Weltonfield Marina, just before Norton Junction, so we could both travel north by train to a neighbour's funeral.

Days 32 & 33: Crick to Watford Gap

Watford Gap is reckoned to be the place where the north of England meets the south, so we're now southerners!  Crick Tunnel came first, a massive 1528 yards in which we met two boats coming the other way, a new experience this trip.  The tunnel is only just wide enough for two boats to pass. The technique is to slow right down and keep well in to the right hand side, brushing the wooden buffer along the tunnel wall if necessary.  In practice, it's very difficult to see where the other boat is, with only their tunnel light (and internal lights if they are turned on) illuminating the gloom.  Added to that, the darkness is extremely disorientating for the steerer.

The forbidding entrance to Crick Tunnel, with sheep in the field above

A boat going in just after we exited

Relaxing on our mooring just south of the tunnel - a lovely spot with a view of a field of sheep and swallows flying over the water

Tomorrow Monday we'll be heading for the Watford staircase locks - a flight of seven - taking us to Norton Junction and the Grand Union Main Line towards Northampton.

Days 26 - 31: Foxton to Crick

The sunshine at Foxton was followed by fairly unremitting rain and distant thunderstorms for three days so we tried to dodge the downpours and travel in the brighter periods.  Despite the rain, the canal in places was still shallow which slowed us down.  On a cheerful note, we saw our first kingfisher of the trip, just before Husband's Bosworth Tunnel.

Making room under a bridge for this family

Walk into the attractive village of Husband's Bosworth.  The nearby airfield used by the RAF during WWII was home in the early 1950s to 500 refugees from Poland.

Waiting for a boat to exit the tunnel before going in

... 20 minutes later coming out - everything glistening in the rain

What is it.. a whale?

.. or er, a bale!

Willows overhanging the canal

Latticework

Perfect - early morning walking into Yelvertoft for eggs and bread

Close examination of passing boats

Purple loosestrife

On Thursday, we reached Crick Marina and booked in for two nights, remembering our stay here three years ago travelling round the Leicester Ring.  It's efficiently run and well kept with good facilities and a nice cafe, The Moorings, nearby.  Also near the entrance to the marina is a garden centre and a small stall selling home produced eggs, fantastic sausages (we bought some) and jam.  There's also a Co-op and post office in Crick village. 

Evening at Crick Marina