After a quiet night, as neither of us heard any thrains on the London Midland line, if there were any, we set off on the way up the locks to Marsworth Junction. After the first lock we stopped for water hoping that another boat heading south would catch us up whilst we did. No such luck though so we pottered off from Slapton Lock.
This looks ideal in this weather. In an orchard by a canal would lead to a stress free life at Horton.
Several of the locks had the pumping engines and the signs of the extra narrow lock. I wonder if it made much difference to the water usage as it would only work if there were lots of single boats to use the narrow locks.
Ivinghoe Lock showing the site of the narrow lock.
It looks like the narrow locks persist after Marsworth Junction.
Pumping engine to return water to the lock above. They are known as 'Northern Engines'. I assume that this is because the steam engines they used were not the early Cornish beam engines but the more hi-tec engines made in the industrial north.
Here is clear indication of the entrance to the narrow lock.
It is amazing how few boats we have passed on this length of canal. I think it has been about four moving boats and obviously none met up going our way. It has been quite frustrating too as there has been bushes of nearly ripe blackberries and around the Seabrook locks there are loads of dansoms that will be ready soon.
This was a sorry sight near Pitstone Wharf. It is a wooden hull, but it has been stripped bare. I don't know if it will be possible to salvage the hull. Being immersed may have helped preserve what is left. With luck it will be removed from the cut though.
As the afternoon wore on the cloud increased and by 1900 we had had a shower of rain. I hope it will be okay tomorrow as we have a lot to do.
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