Better luck next time?

 Monday 17^th and Tuesday 18^th July; Stoke Bruerne to Gayton marina

We woke up to sunshine, and were pleased to see the solar panel at work topping up the batteries, which were somewhat depleted after we ran the inverter for 3 hours yesterday to watch the tennis.  We hadn’t far to go today, so got on with some jobs.  With slight risk of rain, we took out the starboard hopper windows and I gave them and the frames a good clean.  That's all the removable windows done now.  Dave went down the engine hole with some wads of newspaper to clean up the engine bilge.  Yesterday’s rain must have partially filled the deck drain channels with bits of leaf and debris, and then became so heavy that the drains were completely overwhelmed and so it was a bit wet down there.  I started cleaning through the boat – Meg is moulting and handfuls of fur were sent floating, or rather blowing, down the canal.

We set off for Gayton at about 11.  The first lock was nearly empty as a boat had just come down, so we could go straight in, and there was the promise of volunteers at the top lock with two more boats on their way down.  They took a while – one of the bottom paddles has been out for 8 weeks, and although the gate inspector had been three weeks ago the new gear is still not ready.  It’s in the system….  No pictures – I had left my phone in the dinette.

Bye-bye Stoke Bruerne

While the lock was filling I had a good view of the badly bent rod – the boat impact must have been very violent as there was even a mark on the gate itself.  Of course, once I was able to get my phone the water had covered it, so even if I had zoomed right in for the photo above you wouldn’t see it.

The buildings from the museum to Spice of Bruerne

We entered the tunnel at 11.31, where a dad was anxiously telling his kids to be careful as they peeped round the wall. 

Blisworth south portal

The tunnel was much drier this time, in spite of yesterday’s downpour.  I suppose it takes time to percolate from the surface.  The brick section in the northern part was much wetter than the length with the concrete lining, with some spectacular patches of flowstone.  Once again the transit took 32 minutes, although there were no boats to be passed today.  Once through, we moored at the village, and while I went up to the shop Dave washed the starboard side.

I saw a strange thing by the steps to the road.  An open can of pop, but a packet of Doritos was unopened and beside it was a yellow pepper.  Not litter then.  I started up the steps.  It was lucky I had my floppy hat on and could pretend I hadn’t noticed, as out of the corner of my eye, where the grassy slope by the steps meets the wall of the bridge,  I could see some legs and a hasty movement as their owner zipped up his flies.

All evidence removed

Just keeping an eye on things

We had lunch, and were just thinking of leaving when a South African couple very kindly offered us a lift to Tesco if we wanted a big shop.  They moved onto their boat (to be renamed and repainted) earlier in the year and although they have family living nearby with a spare room, they would much rather sleep on their boat while they are visiting.  They still have business interests in South Africa, and are so impressed with the solar panels on the boat they are considering installing some there, especially now as their emergency generators have been stolen.  I can’t think why they aren't installed already – as they said, they are hardly short of sun.

We moved on in the afternoon, wanting to get closer to the marina. 

Ellie’s family must have thought she’d lost them, but of course she hasn’t

Then we passed the boat we saw creeping along on electric power a couple of days ago - they had done well in yesterday’s sunny weather, getting all the way to Stoke Bruerne.

We rounded Gayton junction and took advantage of the vacant facilities block mooring to top up the water and dispose of rubbish.  We kept Meg close to avoid ructions.

We moored against the towpath outside the marina – the traffic noise there is no worse than on the pontoons inside, and the view is better too.  It’s also rather windy for mooring!

The next morning the wind had dropped, as we had hoped, so we went into the marina after breakfast.  We were packed and away around 11, happy in the knowledge that the batteries were nearly full and the solar panel was in the sun!

Yesterday’s cruise; 2½ miles, 2 locks, Blisworth tunnel

Trip stats; 62 miles, 3¼ furlongs.  3¾ furlongs narrow canals, 61 miles 7¼ furlongs broad canal, 28 broad locks.  Blisworth tunnel, Fenny Stratford swing bridge, Iron Trunk aqueduct and Grafton St aqueduct, all twice.

We hope we’ll be able to get on the Nene next time.