Spider eviction day

Friday 7^th July; Stoke Bruerne bottom to Iron Trunk Aqueduct

It was a lovely quiet night, and we woke up in cool shade, though it was already warm enough for the side hatch to be open at breakfast time.  A startlingly tame moorhen was immediately hanging about – it took apple from Dave’s hand, but then threw it aside – must have been after bread, which it didn’t get!

We were in shorts and T-shirts when we set off, shortly before 10.  The canal was quiet, nobody else moving till late morning.  It was very pleasant cruising, with warm sunshine and a cooling breeze.  We are still finding long stretches of the GU unfamiliar, though we did remember the first bit this morning where the river Tove (I think) runs alongside the canal.  We passed Kingfisher marina, where Briar Rose is moored, and waved although we didn’t actually spot her!  I like the variation on ‘slow down past moored boats’ sign.

I do love a pun

We pottered past Thrupp Wharf, amused by the cyclist who watched us from the north side of the bridge then wheeled his bike across to watch us come out the other side!

Not just the kiddies who like to watch from both sides

We trickled on in the hot sunshine, past a field of apparently contented cattle, but their tails were in constant motion to flick the flies off. Of course, the photo didn’t catch many tails in a good fly-whisk position!

And another lovely boat name

We came to Cosgrove Lock, which we did remember, along with the long stretch of mooring before the aqueduct.  We found a space about 100 yards before the end, with a bit of shade though we knew that wouldn’t last long.  Should we go on after lunch?  We reckoned that the best places further on would probably all be taken with a sunny weekend coming up, and we didn’t want to do a long day’s cruise – there are jobs to be done, so we stayed.  Dave is engaged on a project which I won’t write about just yet.  Before he got stuck into that, I enlisted his help in trying to get the windows out – they are full-hopper, and I wrote to Caldwell’s last year for help because I just couldn’t work out how to remove them.  They replied but it was no help.  We just couldn’t get them out using the method described.  I started to write an email to Caldwelll’s asking for further help, wondering if our fit-out was the problem with its chunky wooden surrounds, when I suddenly realised the solution is simple.  The roller window-stays unscrew – a true light-bulb, eyeroll and clap hand to forehead moment!  Though why Caldwell’s didn’t say so I can’t imagine.

So simple.  It’s taken months to realilse! Anyway, we took out the three port side windows and Dave got back to his work.  The weather was sweltering so the extra ventilation was very welcome.  I gave each window a thorough clean.  How long is it, I wonder, since this job was last done?  It needed the kitchen scourer to remove the caked-on mix of algae and dirt along the bottom edges where the glass sits in the channel.

Once all the glass was clean, it was the turn of the channels.  The drain holes were mostly clear as I had done them last autumn, but the insides of the frame took a lot of work with an old washing-up brush.  Many little spiders were carefully re-homed in the trees.  When it came to the portholes, an old toothbrush did the job very efficiently.  Once the cool of the evening came we put the glass back, both of us well pleased with our day’s work!

Window stays back in place

Poor Meg had been drifting around all afternoon, finding cool places to lie, so after we’d eaten we took her for a good walk down the steps at the aqueduct and along the Great Ouse path.  You go down the steps to find a metalled path in one direction, or you go under the aqueduct in a narrow tunnel which must be quite taxing if you are a large or tall person (which neither of us is, by any stretch of the imagination!)

We then picked up a metalled path beside the river, with several spots where a dog can get down to drink.

We could have gone as far as Stony Stratford, but turned back well before then.  People were still walking across the aqueduct in the cool of the evening, which made a nice photo as we got closer.

Up the steps again, and back across the aqueduct.  The site has been awarded a Red Wheel plaque.

The Red Wheel Scheme was created by the National Transport Trust to recognise and commemorate the most significant sites of historical importance to transport heritage in the UK.  The setting sun made everything golden.

5½ miles, 1 lock