A surprise meeting

As we moved off the next morning, we had it in mind that we'd rather like to exchange our empty gas bottle for a full one. It would have been really good if the one currently in use were to run out as well. We suspected it was very nearly empty. Then we'd exchange both bottles, and leave with gas enough for several weeks. That was not to be, and the "very nearly empty" bottle is still going strong a over week later!

It was good weather and easy cruising, and all the locks were downward. At Seabrook Locks, we were joined by a 38-footer manned by a couple and their son. They pulled in ahead of Kantara, and the woman came to help me manage the lock, standing across the chamber from me. She looked hard at Kantara, then at me, and said, "Did you used to teach at FCA?" I sort of remembered her. "Yes, I did!" "So did I!" she replied. "I thought I recognised your boat's name."

Okay so we didn't actually remember each other's names, and the eight years that have passed since I left the academy are bound to have changed us. Donna's hair is now fairer and longer. Mine is white and longer! We didn't have a lot to do with each other at work; Donna only taught two days a week at FCA. But we did get to talking about our narrowboats. Theirs was actual and in the process of being shortened - by Donna and her husband - and ours was actually only part of our plan at the time. And now they were driving their shortened boat into a lock alongside our actualised boat. What were the chances of our meeting like this?

Donna and I, and later her husband (never did find out his name) and I, chatted as we worked the locks down to Slapton, swapped stories, mostly about our canal experiences of course. They were out on a five-day trip which was also going to be something of a test of a repair job he'd done. I think.

At Slapton Lock we parted company with Donna and co. after the very short surprise meeting, and waved them off as we moored for the night.

It's been a week!

I'm just not getting the time to post to the blog at the moment. When we're on the cut, I spend much more of my time doing specifically boaty things. Time seems to run differently from when we're in the marina!

Last Monday was positively warm as we moved on down through Milton Keynes. It's really a very pleasant town from the canal.

Stoke Hammond Lock

On Tuesday morning, moved off just behind NB Frogmore, and shared locks with them Soulbury Three Locks and Leighton, after which they moored for lunch and we continued to Leighton Buzzard Tesco for shopping and lunch. Frogmore arrived there just as we took off again. But now we met up with NB Labyrinth, sharing Grove Lock and Church Lock with them before we both moored. Like a lot of the canal recently, it was rather shallow here, and an awful sound came from the bowthruster as Grace tried to move the bow off shallows. It had me thinking the propellor was trying to mince bricks, but fortunately no harm was done.

NB Labyrinth

The couple on Labyrinth were staying here to explore for a day or so, so we moved on alone. Slapton Locks, Horton and the two Ivinghoe Locks, nothing new for us, and all very pleasant and without incident. We moored at bottom of Seabrook Locks and I did a reccy for better moorings further down. There were, so we moved on to just below Marsworth Locks, where we found Frogmore already tied. We stayed for night, hoping to share the Marsworth Flight with them the next day.

Marsworth Bottom Lock

NB Frogmore

I was getting very annoyed by this time. I'd apparently left my cheap camera at the house the other week, so had nothing to use while I was locking. My other cameras - my phone and a decent Fuji camera - were too precious for me to risk whilst at work. But it was costing me some good photos, and that's annoying!

Frogmore had already left when we started up the nine Marsworth Locks. We stopped for services at the Marsworth Junction (with Aylesbury arm), and were amazed at the new housing which had sprung up since we were last there, replacing the grotty old BW buildings. The services are so much better, too.

I was quite glad to get to Marsworth Top Lock!

Wendover Arm

The Marsworth Flight had felt like a bit of a long haul, and i was glad to get to the top. Passing through the junction with the Wendover Arm, we decided to add this t our return journey. It sounds very pleasant.

It had started to rain on our way up. Now, it was rather heavier, so we stopped just before Bridge 136 for lunch, and until the morning. The concrete edge against which we moored had a ridge protruding foot or so below waterline mooring, and I had to resort to tying fenders onto the ends of the normal fenders to keep us from continually bumping against it.

It rained all night. 

Our week with Michelle - part 4

Leighton Buzzard has much to recommend it, according to Nicholson's GU Guide. None of it's visible from the canal, however, but the one thing that boaters do know about is the large Tesco just a couple of minutes' walk from the visitor moorings. It was time for a bit of shopping, after which we moved on to a more picturesque spot for some newly-acquired lunch.

Grove Lock, Church Lock, Slapton Lock, Horton Lock, Seabrook Locks, Ivinghoe Locks, Marsworth Locks. Each of them with their own charm and interest, in lovely surroundings.

Grove Lock

Church Lock

Michelle's friends pose on a lock beam

The church at Church Lock was converted into a house back in the late 1970s. It's now for sale for around £800,000. It does look lovely inside, though.

Slapton Lock

Horton Lock

The Whipsnade Zoo lion

Ivinghoe Locks

Marsworth Locks

And on to Marsworth Junction, the meeting of the GU Main Line with the Aylesbury Arm, where we turned. Halfway through the week. Lots of good weather, lots of herons, several people thinking Kantara was brand new, lots of fun.