Sorry folks there are now photos today, or at least not our photos, as the SD card has gone bonkers. Luckily we have another one so normal service will be resumed tomorrow.
We set off from Marsworth just after 0930. It had been quite foggy early on but was set for a lovely day by the time we left. We have had an alarm on the Hurricane heater that says that it is overheating but only occasionally. I called Calcutt who are the UK distributors for them and they reckon that it is either the circulation pump or there is an air lock in the system. We have had a long day today so I didn't get round to sussing it out so we will have to see in the morning. I think that we will head for Calcutt as it is only a couple of hours from Braunston so if we crack on over the next few days we will be able to get there, get the heater sorted, and then get to Rugby so I can catch my train for home as my Mum is going into hospital for the day and I will then be there to make sure she is out and about.
We were soon at Pitstone Locks where a wide beam single hander was just leaving the bottom lock as we entered the top lock. He left both the bottom gates open and then moored right round the corner. By the time he had walked back we were in the bottom lock. I knew he was going to ask if we would get him through the swing bridge to which of course I said yes, as long as we could then over take him as we were trying to get a fair way today. I'm not sure whether he understood but eventually he said fine and wandered off to the top lock to chat to some other folk. In all the time he managed, with impeccable timing, to avoid helping with any of the gates or paddles. Whilst we were waiting for him to appear at the bridge I picked some wild damsons. They were going a little soft but would make a good pie or crumble. We had passed an ABC hire boat just before the swing bridge and it had then caught us up by Seabrook Locks. It was good to share with a few others as the locks are spaced out and many hands make light work.
We set off from Marsworth just after 0930. It had been quite foggy early on but was set for a lovely day by the time we left. We have had an alarm on the Hurricane heater that says that it is overheating but only occasionally. I called Calcutt who are the UK distributors for them and they reckon that it is either the circulation pump or there is an air lock in the system. We have had a long day today so I didn't get round to sussing it out so we will have to see in the morning. I think that we will head for Calcutt as it is only a couple of hours from Braunston so if we crack on over the next few days we will be able to get there, get the heater sorted, and then get to Rugby so I can catch my train for home as my Mum is going into hospital for the day and I will then be there to make sure she is out and about.
We were soon at Pitstone Locks where a wide beam single hander was just leaving the bottom lock as we entered the top lock. He left both the bottom gates open and then moored right round the corner. By the time he had walked back we were in the bottom lock. I knew he was going to ask if we would get him through the swing bridge to which of course I said yes, as long as we could then over take him as we were trying to get a fair way today. I'm not sure whether he understood but eventually he said fine and wandered off to the top lock to chat to some other folk. In all the time he managed, with impeccable timing, to avoid helping with any of the gates or paddles. Whilst we were waiting for him to appear at the bridge I picked some wild damsons. They were going a little soft but would make a good pie or crumble. We had passed an ABC hire boat just before the swing bridge and it had then caught us up by Seabrook Locks. It was good to share with a few others as the locks are spaced out and many hands make light work.
Pitstone swing bridge.
The weather was a perfect day for boating and at each lock I found something that I could forage. There were crab apples and blackberries and damson so when I get the time I will do something with them. The rose hips are looking great too so when we stopped in Leighton Buzzard i thought I would get some ginger to make rose hip and ginger jam.
The Wipsnade Chalk Lion was just about visible today but this is a much better photo than I had taken anyway. It seems that at night sometimes the outline is lit up.
Horton Lock seems to be very isolated other than the farm next door. With out the railway or aeroplanes it must have been extremely peaceful.
We lost out lock partners at Slapton Lock as they were stopping for water and then finding a spot to moor for the night. They had hired for two weeks and had been very lucky with the weather so far. We carried on as we need to purchase some ships stores and headed for Leighton Buzzard.
At Church Lock we passed a C&RT work boat ascending with gear to fill some holes in the tow path. There were three of them with one of those things with an outboard on the back.
We were going to take water at Leighton Buzzard but there was a boat on the point. and he was filling to large water butts on his bow. I can only assume that they were supplementary to his main tank but as the boat looked fairly new I would have thought that the main tank would have been large enough to not need them. Needless to say we pulled round the corner and moored at Tesco's. Mind you we went to Aldi and filled up on the baking requisites that Helen needed and a few other bits. We then dropped that back at the boat and got other stuff from Tesco so we could take advantage of money off a £40 shop. This lot included beer and wine though. We were soon on the move again and at Soulbury Locks. It seems that despite it being 1815 the voluntary lock keeper had just gone, but there was an old boy to have a chat with and who helped to open the gates for us. At the bottom we stopped for the water we wanted after a laundry load and cracked on again.
Soulbury three locks. The pub has seating right next to the middle lock and it did look tempting to stop for one. Some of the drinkers spoke to Helen saying that they were enjoying their drink in the evening sun but weren't eating as it was too expensive. £11 for fish and chips!
We went on a little further and then, as the sun had set, we decided that was it for the day and moored up in a nice spot. We have succumbed to lighting the stove though on the pretense that we neede to dry the laundry and that it was cold last night. We will have to see what the Hurricane does in the morning.
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