Thunder over Calcutt

Tuesday 2^nd June; Spurfoot bridge to Calcutt marina

It rained all last night and didn’t really stop till towards 9 when we were about to leave.  It was cooler this morning, with occasional glimpses of the sun as we cruised the hour or so to Marston Doles to begin the descent to Napton.  There was a stream of boats coming up, but with a couple going down ahead of us it was slow going.

Marston Doles lock 15

There was a bit of a wait at Napton Adkins lock.  A work-boat was coming up and it took ages.  The piling works below the lock were in full swing and there were two banksmen hanging around at the lock.  They closed the top gate for us but the rest of the time just hung around.

Bored banksmen

The works made it impossible to get back on the boat once we had descended, so Jess and I opted to walk to the next lock.  The piling works occupied the whole distance from the lock to the bridge a couple of hundred yards along.  Three boats were waiting beyond the bridge - no lock moorings any closer!

Very noisy, we didn’t hang about

It rained now and then as we continued down the flight, still following those two boats.  There was space to moor in the pound between the bottom two locks so we pulled in as it was nearly lunchtime.  I went up to the shop for a few bits and pieces and finally got my hands on a pack of buffalo burgers – in the past they have always sold out!  (They went into the freezer for eating after we got home – delicious).  We had lunch and checked the weather forecast for today and tomorrow to decide when to go into the marina.  Tomorrow looked wetter, so we made ready and set off again in lovely sunshine.

This little boat has been here for years

The black clouds were massing as we cruised away from the locks but we stayed ahead of them.

More towpath works, this time near Napton Narrowboats

We were caught in a light shower as we descended the three Calcutt locks but the rain stopped before we got to the bottom.  The marina visitor moorings were crowded but we were able to slot in quite easily.  We went to register at the office and I took Jess for a walk in the meadows, but the clouds were very threatening and when the thunder began we went back to the boat.  Dave had been sitting on the back watching the lightning.   

Threatening

It rained heavily for a while but the thunder didn’t get any closer.  We drove to the Folly for a beer and a nice meal.

12 locks, 6½ miles