Back to Calcutt

Yesterday (Monday 19^th September) was the Queen’s funeral.  We rang the bells at 12.30, once the funeral service was over.  I cycled the mile or so down to the church through a spookily quiet village – not a soul about, not even a cat, and no traffic either, just the wind in my ears. The bells were still muffled, and as most people were probably indoors glued to their TV sets I wonder if anyone heard the bells but the ringers.

Tuesday 6^th September; Napton Adkins lock to Calcutt marina

It started to rain as we went to bed last night, and there was another thunderstorm, longer and noisier than last night’s.  As well has the racket of the rain on the roof, there were several loud cracks of thunder, very close – we jumped out of our skins at the first big one and Meg decided she is frightened of thunder after all.  She’s nearly 13, and she’s never bothered about it before.

We were on our way soon after 8.  We had to turn most of the locks, but the weather was quiet after last night’s storm and it was a  pleasant descent.  The water buffalo were mostly relaxing and chewing the cud.

Boats were coming up the bottom two locks, but the water point was free so I fitted the new hose adaptor and was able to attach it and turn on the tap without getting soaked like last time!  I got some snacks in the shop while the tank slowly filled.  There was even time for Dave to fit the replacement shackles to the front fender.  The spring and shoelace repair had done their job well!

In the end my fingernails were needed to undo the bootlace.

We moved round the bend to moor and did a few more jobs, had lunch and finished most of the packing before setting off again towards Napton Junction.  It was a bit drizzly now and then, but nothing much.  The top Calcutt lock was ready for us, and as Dave had spotted someone approaching far behind us we waited in the lock for them.  We were soon down the locks and were able to get into the visitor mooring area very easily – calm conditions and a lovely widebeam to moor against!  Calcutt's visitor mooring area has one short stretch of solid edge to tie to and the rest is stern-on only with no pontoons, so you really need a similar length boat to tie up to – last time we were against a very short boat and it was quite tricky.

Pearl had the best bit of the visitor moorings.

The boat lift on the slipway beyond rather spoils the picture.  As we came alongside a confident voice said ‘A Colecraft!’ – which we are.  It was one of the Coles, at work commissioning widebeam Pearl for the Ethel Trust, which is based in South Yorkshire and takes people from disadvantaged groups for canal and river trips on their widebeam Ethel.  Pearl has a wheelchair lift, hoists, full disabled facilities and accommodation for crew and clients.  We had a brief look round – very impressive!

We were soon packed and driving home, and apart from a long traffic jam near the M5 had a straightforward trip home.

3½ miles, 9 locks.

Trip stats

100½ miles – 99 narrow, 1½ broad.

82 locks – 76 narrow, 6 broad.

Fenny Compton ‘tunnel’ (x2), 3 lift bridges that needed to be opened (x2).

Grand Union and Oxford canals, and the teeny tiny bit of the Thames below Isis lock.

We hope to be back on board in less than a week to bring Bonjour down to Droitwich Spa marina where we have a berth booked for the winter.