Being, not doing

For most of us, the largest part of our lives is spent doing, so I really enjoy those days that can be spent simply being. Yesterday was like that, and the day before, when there were few locks or swing-bridges or lift-bridges or any other kind of distraction, and our time is spent simply chugging along at 3 mph - less when passing moored boats (and we've passed a lot of those!) - enjoying the canal and the countryside, the peace and quiet.

Tuesday was the same. After another cold night, the morning was mild and sunny as we ascended the last two locks up into and through Stoke Bruerne Wharf. We met no other craft in Blisworth Tunnel, and the journey on through Blisworth, Gayton Junction, Bugbrooke, and Nether Heyford was simply beautiful and beautifully simple.

One of our favoured moorings - just before Stowe Hill, opposite a farm and its camping site - had only two other boats, and we happily tied up there.

It rained hard overnight and into the morning, torrential at times, and with a strong wind. Our hatches were already battened down. We stayed where we were, and pitied the hire-boaters who hurried past, who didn't have the luxury of time to spend moored up, who had to be back at their base by Friday regardless of the weather. We remember it well. Been there, done that, T-shirts were unavailable.

Several boat owners, however, landed on our stretch over the next few hours, furiously banging in pins and fastening lines, and longing to get inside to dry off, warm up and recover.

And after a day of on and off winds and teeming rain, it all cleared away to reveal a newly-washed sky pierced by a bright sun and adorned by scraps of cotton-wool cloud.

All that, and I didn't have to do a thing.

Buckby flight (cruise retrospective)

Early morning Tweets included reports of snow in the north of the country. We'd escaped that, but did wake up to a hard frost. We were eager to get moving, so we set off straight away up the two remaining Stoke Bruerne Locks. The frost was melting under a bright sun, and we were hopeful of a warmer day, but this was not to be. That first moment was the best of it, and it soon got dull, windy, sometimes raining, sometimes hailing, always cold. Very cold.

We raced through Blisworth Tunnel in a mere 26 minutes, and maintained that pace as much as we were able for the rest of the day. Blisworth, Gayton Junction, Bugbrooke, Heyford, Stowe Hill, Weedon. The countryside is lovely, but it would have been even more so if it had been bathed in sunlight.

There's an ancient church in Weedon, right next to the canal. A good mooring's provided for visitors. We've passed it several times now, and keep saying that we'll pay it a visit "next time", but the desire to keep going won today. It's not a long drive by car from yelvertoft, so we'll visit at a later, warmer date.

photo - www.rootsweb.ancestry.com

[Time shift]
Today, 1st June, Grace and I visited Weedon, and the church. And we're glad we did.

It's worth noting that the mooring by the church is a good one, for several boats. There's a path from it down steps and through the churchyard to the village, where there is a good OneStop shop and a "Post Office"
[End]

I've been collecting a list of the silliest boat names we come across. Today, I added to it. Beneath Moose Drool, Laughing Gravy and The Slowness of Cows, I added Tegg's Nose! This turns out to be the name of a park in Macclesfield, but it's a flipping odd name for a park, too, isn't it?? As Moose Drool is, for a beer? And Laughing Gravy for a film, a restaurant or a band? And The Slowness of Cows for a song? But, hey - I like odd!

After a quick sarnie shortly before the Buckby Flight, we moved on to the bottom gate, quite expecting to be faced with the same problem as we've had here twice before - the water coming over the top gates faster than it can leave the bottom sluices. But no, we got in fine, joined by a boat with two new boaters under instruction from an old tar from Willow Wren Training. They'd been out for a while, and now just wanted to ascend this lock, wind, and return back down it.

At the second lock up, we met another boat on the way down, and enjoyed the fact that each lock after that was empty, in our favour. So we climbed the flight quickly, and moored finally not far below Top Lock.

As I write, the wind is rocking the boat considerably, rain is thrashing on the roof. And it's May the day after tomorrow!

Photos from our windows