Days 55 - 56: Northampton

A few days catching up with laundry and shopping and exploring Northampton. The well run and conveniently sited Northampton Marina is a few minutes' walk from a huge Morrison's supermarket and the town centre.  We also walked a few miles along the River Nene one day, to look at the locks and riverside.  As in Leicester, the waterfront in the town itself is rather neglected and underused - a great pity when much could be made of it. We had different views of Northampton; Denis thought there was a visible attempt to develop the town without an identikit Legoland of chain retailers.  Jan thought the town centre seemed in places depressingly uncared-for.

The Guildhall, Northampton - built in neo-gothic style in the 1860s

Stained glass inside the Guildhall

The Ark restaurant and bar on the Nene

Days 50 - 54: Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal

Tuesday morning early and we set off from Gayton Junction down the 17 locks towards Northampton along a branch of the Grand Union Canal which ends there and joins the River Nene.  We planned originally to travel along the Nene towards Peterborough and then to Cambridge via the East Anglian waterways, but time hasn't allowed the longer trip.  We did want to visit Northampton, though and dip our toes in the Nene.  Reports were varied about both the Northampton Arm and the Nene itself - the only way to find out was to go.

The Arm begins with the Rothersthorpe flight of 13 narrow locks followed by 4 more widely spaced which terminate just before the centre of Northampton.  The new marina at Becket's Park on the River Nene was our destination, so we would travel through the centre of the town on the river.

Gayton Junction facing north, showing the turn to Northampton on the right

Coming down the picturesque Rothersthorpe flight

One of the drawbridges on the flight, recently restored and fixed open

Wire sculptures by lock 10

Very enthusiastic helpers

We passed a boat carrying the Canal and River Trust CEO (left) and a local MP (centre) after their unveiling of the latest of several mosaics as part of the 200th anniversary of the Northampton Arm

Mosaic at Gayton Junction

Entering onto the Nene after lock 17

Next time, we'll do this trip east from Northampton along the Nene

Waiting to exit lock 17 

...then out onto the river

...and finally to our berth at Northampton Marina

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.