Calcutt Marina

After spending a pleasant Saturday by bridge 100 it was time to move again. Today there seemed to be an increase in boat traffic, all heading towards Braunston. Just over an hour after setting off we arrived at Wigrams Turn where we rejoined the Grand Union Canal heading towards Birmingham. As we were entering the top lock another boat came into view in the distance, so we waited. It is far easier with two boats in these wide locks, and it saves water. There are three locks in the flight at Calcutt and the entrance to the marina is adjacent to the bottom lock. As we turned left into the marina and headed for our berth by the slipway, we spotted a very well known narrowboat 'James' moored against the 'dump barge'. The owner runs a web site, living on a narrowboat, and operates taster days for people who want to try boating. We moored up and went to report in at the office. Later, the engineers who are going to refit our diesel boiler came to the boat to discuss what needed to be done. The good news is the work may only take a day and a half, rather than the three days originally quoted. Tomorrow, we move temporarily onto one of Calcutts hire boats, 'Wild Hemlock 1', whilst our boat goes into the shed.

       

             Our spot against the slipway with famous nb.James and the dump barge in distance.

Totals 4 Miles 3 Locks

Running total 17 Miles 16 Locks 2 Tunnels

Flecknoe

This morning the alarm had been set for a very early 8 am. The sky was cloudy, and the forecast warm weather had yet to arrive. After breakfast, we moved off towards the junction and turned right onto the main Grand Union Canal. We passed a few moored boats whose occupants were still stirring as we headed towards the 2042 yard Braunston Tunnel. On the approach we could see a boat ahead of us entering the tunnel, and hoped these would be our partners down the six wide locks in Braunston. We negotiated the famous, or infamous kink in the tunnel without incident, and continued on without meeting any oncoming traffic. On arrival at the locks we teamed up with the crew of nb Lilly May for the descent of the lock flight. The owners had only bought the boat a couple days ago, and were on their way to the chandlers of some supplies. I was able to give them some good news that today, was freaky friday at the swindlers, and therefore everything was on 20% discount. We carried on to the junction and turned left onto the Oxford Canal. The wind by now was starting to pick up, but our intended mooring spot near bridge 100 was just over a mile away. Now, for the first time since November the boat is moored to the starboard side. If the warm weather forecast for tomorrow is correct, I will give it a wash. The plan is to stay put till Sunday, then we will travel the final leg to Calcutt Boats for our Monday appointment.

     

                                                 Bridge 100 on the south Oxford Canal.

Totals 6 Miles 6 Locks 1 Tunnel

Running total 13 Miles 13 Locks 2 Tunnels

On the move/Norton Junction

Today, we finally disconnected the electrical umbilical cord, and made a break for the marina exit. We had blue sky and sunshine for our first journey of the year, although it was still a little chilly. Crick Tunnel was wetter than ever, and as we travelled through we caught up with a boat ahead, that appeared to be travelling exceptionally slowly. As we exited the tunnel this boat pulled over allowing us to pass. It turned out that it was a crew under instruction, and they were performing drills as they went along. On arrival at Watford locks we were ushered straight in by the lock keeper, then had an uneventful descent down the flight. At the bottom we carried on and picked up a mooring at our usual spot, on the straight just prior to Norton Junction. We quickly secured the boat, then it was round the corner to the New Inn at Long Buckby for lunch. Our intention is to remain here one night only, as we have an appointment at Calcutt Boats on Monday.

       

             Norton Junction, where the Leicester branch of the GU and Grand Union Canal meet.

Totals 7 Miles 7 Locks 1 Tunnel

Christmas at Yelvertoft

Since our previous post we have only ventured out onto the cut once. This was for a couple of days finding ourselves a quiet spot up by bridge 27. I was able to touch up the scuff marks to our hull sides, then all to soon it was back into the marina. The weather the past month or so, has been for the most part wet and windy, so putting a few extra coals on the fire with your feet up is not a bad way to let winter pass by. We have also done a few excursions, one of which was to visit the Christmas Market in Birmingham. I was impressed, it was as good as the ones I have visited in Germany, and we had a pleasant afternoon and evening, sampling gluhwein and eating bratwursts, with a little shopping in between.

      

      

      

 

      

Not to be out done by the festive lights of Birmingham we have adorned the boat with our own Christmas light show. Although not nearly as much as some of the other boats in the marina. I suspect that given how mild this winter has been so far, he may be the only snowman we will see this year.

      

Anyway that's all for now. So Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

     

Yelvertoft Marina

A brief update. On the 28/10 we set off from Welford Junction, for the three hour cruise to our winter mooring at Yelvertoft Marina. On arrival, we used the services and topped up the diesel, before mooring on the berth we left 8 months earlier. On the 31/10 we, along with a hundred or so other Marina users, dressed up in Halloween costumes for a bit of a do in the marquee. It was a great evening. Since then we have, with the benefit of having a car available, rejoined modern society visiting shopping centres and retail parks. This past week, the weather has turned much colder and the solid fuel stove has now been lit. It will likely stay lit now until March or April, depending what sort of winter we get. Today we had a Sunday roast at the New Inn, Long Buckby, before returning to a toasty warm boat for an afternoon snooze. Tomorrow, subject to the weather we are going to escape the confines of the Marina for a couple of days.

        

On our berth with the chimney smoking well, we have endured a few days and nights of high winds. The satellite dish has been moved from its usual spot on the roof, to the gas locker lid, to provide it some protection. This seems to have worked well, as it has not been blown off, despite some seriously strong gusts. Hopefully I will not have to deploy the very special, satellite dish retaining string this year, as it make the boat look untidy.

Totals 8 Miles

Running total 652 Miles 327 Locks 23 Tunnels

Welford Junction

Shortly after arriving at Debdale Wharf today, our boat emerged from the grit blasting shed with the hull looking all shiney and new. After some final checks to ensure all the work was complete, and that the gas regulator had been reinstalled safely we were relaunched. 

       

By the time we had loaded all our stuff from the car it was midday, so we cruised as far as Foxton and stopped for lunch. Checking in with the lock keeper we were fifth in the queue to go up. The ascent was uneventful, but initially I could not understand why there were so many families about. Then it dawned, it was half term week. The crew however, were grateful for the extra assistance in opening and closing the gates. Needless to say, we now have a few scuffs on our newly painted hull, fortunately they are confined to the rubbing strake and that's what it's there for. Once up the flight of ten locks we set off for Welford Junction, approx three hours away. By the time we were approaching Husband Bosworth tunnel, the light was starting to fade. Emerging 20 minutes later, we had to leave all our navigation lights on for the remainder of the journey, as it was now quite dark. At the junction we turned right and found the mooring virtually vacant. We moored on the rings in the dark, at least I could not see our newly acquired scratches. Tomorrow rain is forecast in the morning clearing by lunchtime. If this proves correct, we will set off for Yelvertoft late morning.

Totals 9 Miles 10 Locks 1 Tunnel 

Running total 644 Miles 327 Locks 23 Tunnels 

Debdale Update 3

Today's visit to the boatyard revealed an almost finished boat. The final coating was applied late on Friday, which has given it the whole weekend to harden. All that remains is for the red and cream tunnel bands to be painted on the stern, for the weed hatch to be refitted and the anodes welded back on. We are anticipating a relaunch on Tuesday morning.

       

       

       

Assuming all goes to plan tomorrow, we should be ascending Foxton Locks by midday. An hour later, I suspect we will have some fresh war wounds to our newly painted hull.