Arrived a base 3.00pm away by 4.15 ish. after a detailed handover. Nice boat 5 star fully equipped even with 240 volt supply, microwave, coffee maker, vacuum cleaner and so on. Very clearly been designed by and for women. Only one problem is lack of storage space but the galley is fully equipped, really fully.
Short trip through Blisworth Tunnel and moored up at the GJCC Braunston 20 miles milepost. The late afternoon warm. Quick trip to the pubs down the towpath to Stoke Bruerne. Navigation, plastic, modern and the other one we visited last time in 1992, the Boat Inn. Neithers beers inspired, cold and old. Discussions of previous trips about Dutch Landlady, hill, Steve, unable to identify year. Martin, hill, oilseed rape, canal on hill down to pub, 1992?, North Oxford?, Napton-on Hill, Windmill More memories from Martin, Congleton, Juke Box, less than £1 a pint, (Ed Note no mention of meal check with crew.)
Porridge, toast and Jam. Pleasant cruise did not stop for lunch, Cheese and Onion on the move. Stoke Bruene flight nicely done up. Wolverton old railway works being converted into flats towering over the canal. Buckingham arm with evidence of a plan to revive, there is a group formed and three sections are under restoration. Very interesting bridge at Cosgrove, Soloman's Bridge, see Martins photo.
Moored up for the night at bridge 78 by the pub Gifford Park. Had beers before dinner, still not great but drinkable, also served too cold. Caused mayhem in the local shop when several crew members assisted with the shopping. Nice smells from the pub but we had John's Chilli and Rice with Taco thingies waiting on the boat. Very nice, then followed by Apple Pie (from Royston WI market stall) and Custard.
Discussions after tea with John remembering Ceylon and the Lizards around the rims of the bogs, making sure he hung onto his balls and knob. Other suggestions followed as to use a Hedgehog to clean round the rim followed by yet more nonsense.
The weather had been cold but dry, sometimes the sun came out, not as forecast.Wash and shave day. Very nice breakfast made by Mike. Crew very surprised by Milton Keynes, no surprise to me since we were passing Peartree Bridge where I lived for nearly a year in the late 80's. It really is a beautiful stretch of canal 20 years on, with all the mature trees and shrubs and open paths and cycle ways.
At last a Well's pub, The plough, first nice beer so we had a few, Steve commenting Beer Festival quality. Now entering a lovely valley, only a few locks. Very cold and wet and windy, both on and off the boat. Arrived in Leighton Buzzard, no visitor moorings so we moored in long stay. Steve's curry night and topped up the food mountain with a trip to Tesco. Various discussions quite heated at times about the Monarchy, Blair, War and, of course, the good old days when there were the Pink bits on the map.
Climbing to the Aylsebury Arm from Leighton Buzzard, very nice pleasant countryside. Turned at the Aylesbury Arm and moored up at Marsworth between bridges 130 and 131. We have been slow, really thinking that we would have made Aylesbury and the Wendover Arm. We have had a lot of heavy showers today and it is cold.
Decided to visit the Red Lion but it had stopped serving food so set off in the opposite direction for the Anglers Retreat described as homely in the guide and indeed it was. Some of crew had food and were well pleased with it and the beer from the Tring Brewery, Side Pocket for a Toad, was very good as well.
I went back to the boat to prepare food, Cauliflower Cheese and Pasta Bake. And then it started to rain heavy and even colder. Later some of the crew returned to the Red Lion to confirm the guide book view that good beer was served and returned much later to confirm that this was indeed the case.
The day when Martin finally managed to download his e-mails. The day when the bog light went RED. Our rear facility appeared full, how can that be? Boatyard rung and as we had expected thought we needed a pump out. We were to get the bill and we would be reimbursed.
Heavy rain most of the time or just rain today. Stopped at lunchtime at Grove Lock No. 28 the pub name is also Grove Lock. A welcome very big bowl of chips topped with cheese and a couple of OK beers, but very nice to get out of the cold.
Tesco and Aldi were visited as well as a bit of exploration of Leighton Buzzard to find a post box, they seem very rare these days, and then onto the Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd. for a pump out, much to Johns relief, he had been driving us hard ever since the RED light came on.
Moored up just before the swing bridge 111, Martin made dinner of Bangers and mash with onions and a green salad. The great Train Robbery took place close to here, we sampled the ale at the Globe Inn, only OK really. A great days cruising despite the weather.
Pretty good weather after yesterday and a bit warmer. At Soulbury Three Locks met a German family who allowed their young sons to go across the lock tops. We went through Fenny Stratford (under the proposed East - West rail link route). Breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon etc and lunch of Frankfurters and onions, made by Adrian, I did not have seconds, seriously crap. Lunchtime we stopped at the Plough again although crew did not seem to be in a drinking mood because we only had one pint, just as good as before mind.
Some of the crew got off the boat and enjoyed various solitary walks in what is a haven and heaven along the canal route. Found the proposed site and route of the Bedford Canal.
Stopped at the One Stop Shop again at bridge 78 and then onto mooring at Great Linford park. A truly lovely place with lots of interesting history to be explored Dinner a combined effort Steve and myself, Risotto and salad with some very nice wine, followed by a walk to the pub on the other side of the park, the Nags Head, again sorry, only OK beer.
Early Start from Gt. Linford park. Lovely cruise to Blisworth Village. It is such a shame about the dog shit on the very nicely kept grass tow path, the Parish Council must get to grips with this. Blisworth is a interesting place but seems to have only one pub the Royal Oak. The Green King IPA was so bad that some members of the crew did not finish their beer, in desperation and since this was our last night we had guiness instead. The guide, clearly out of date, refers to 6 real ales. They only had the one and it should not have been served.
Martin had returned to the boat after the poor beer incident and we thought he was going to get food for the evening. At this point there seems to be a cock-up on the phones comms between Dr. Mike and Prof. Martin. (academics, communications not a storng point, no committee to reach conscious position etc.) The phone call seems to have been interpreted as we are staying in the pub FUCK YOU, as Martin put it. John and Martin ate the readily available food on the boat, including Adrian's Port Pies, this did not go down too well, I managed to salvage a meal out of what remained on the boat, so it was OK in the end.
Very bad snoring from Martin tonight.
We were all so relaxed that we went past the boatyard on the Northampton Arm and had to back up. Time to pack up and off home in Mike's Merc, another successful trip.