Happy Yorkshire Day.

Still the biggest and the best!

We had a very peaceful night and consequently were up a little earlier than normal and set off earlier too. This was good as the forecast predicted rain after lunch.

Last nights mooring at the wrong place on the rainbow.

We were going to stop just shy of Marsworth Junction to dump rubbish and take on water but just as we approached a boat cut across to do the same and then another flashed across too. Rather than mess about we decided to just go hard a st'bd and make the turn into the Aylesbury Arm. The first two locks are set as a staircase. It seems one of the beams on the bottom gates of the second had only recently been replaced.

Bottom of the staircase with the new beam to the left.

There was loads of water coming over the gates and I was wondering if I would be able to get the bottom gates open but it never seemed to be a problem. Maybe it is my porridge for breakfast! I soon came across a lock with the bottom gate with a paddle open. I thought that was strange. As I dropped it to fill the lock a C&RT bloke arrived and explained that they should be left open and the the sign on the beam says so. When I walked round the beam I saw the sign. There were a couple of red kites very low at this lock and we had good sightings of them up the cut.

Loads of water at the top.

The Aylesbury Arm is almost straight and is very rural with no villages next to the canal until the end. There are good views across to the Dunstable Downs.

Good distance views.

Helen enjoying the view from the stern.

The view from bridge 6 shows how straight the canal is. 

A woman at a lock explained that a bottom paddle should be left open to keep the locks empty to stop pressure on the lock walls. I know that lock 12 collapsed as water must have got behind and this would be the cause of the fear. By the collapsed lock there was a big development of a big Dairy complex maybe the construction may have added to it. I thought the dairy had been quite well blended in to the landscape with various hues of browns and greens and a weathered board fence. It will be even more hidden when the many trees and shrubs have grown up. The bank with the new plants in seems to be equipped with an irrigation system so they haven't spared any expense it seems.

Lock 12 collapsed wall.

Not your normal gongoozler on the bridges of the Aylesbury Arm.

We decided to make use of the kind services of Aylesbury Boat Club (should be Aylesbury Canal Society) and their new marina. We were welcomed in and found a berth near to the club house and wet and dry dock. With luck it will be open next month. We had a nice surprise when we had a phone call from one of my brothers asking if he could come over for a visit. He had just dropped of a daughter at Heathrow and was breaking his journey home. We had a drink and tea and a good chinwag before he set off again to Selby, back up to God's County.

Me and my little brother.

Our berth and the new club house of the Aylesbury Boat Club. (Aylesbury Canal Society).