Three locks in and we caught up with a guy travelling on his own so went through the last four with him. With all the rain we've had over the last couple days the canal was full to the brim. I went ahead to set the locks and the last one just got the better of me, I couldn't budge it at all. I had all the paddles open and the water was pouring over the top of the lock gates at the other end but the water in the pound was over the top of the lock gates that needed opening - I just wasn't strong enough to open it - the guy on the other boat had to get off and do it for me! It makes me wonder how all these older people manage!!
We travelled though the lovely countryside that we did on 9 April this year - it's amazing how much you forget and then suddenly we turn a corner and it all comes flooding back. It was a warm sunny day back in April - wish I could say the same about today although it did brighten up after we had moored.
We stopped at Cosgrove to empty and fill where we thought there was a shop but it turned out that it was just a farm shop and very expensive. Someone on the water point told us that there were a couple of supermarkets just a bit further along the canal at Wolverton so we carried on to there. Several other boats were moored up so we did a shop and thought we would spend the night there but then all the other boats moved on and we were right under a block of flats so we moved on after lunch to a quiet rural spot just through the housing estates bordering Milton Keynes. There are about eight boats here so I think we did the right thing to move on.
Steve decided to check the oil and water and whilst in the
engine bay discovered that there was oil leaking from the gearbox...trying to
get hold of Richard the mechanic now before we move on.
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| Leaving Stoke Bruerne - the cream widebeam moored on the left is a hotel boat - we first bumped into them on the River Lee, then again on the Kennet & Avon and now on the Grand Union. |
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| Through the first lock, approaching the second. |
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| And this is the last lock that I couldn't open... |
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| and this is the other end of it - the gates that are supposed be holding the water in the lock! |
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| Eventually leaving the Stoke Bruerne flight behind. |
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| Ploughed fields. |
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| Not sure he will find any fish in the middle of a field! |
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| Flyby of geese. |
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| The incredible! |
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| You either love it or you hate it! |
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| Not sure - solar panel and batteries on a raft? |
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| Nice bridge - it looks pretty old too. |
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| The churches all seem to have cockerels! |
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| At Cosgrove Lock - I just happened to look over the wall and saw these lamas in a garden! |
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| On the aqueduct that passes over the Ouse. |
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| They are not very wide. |
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| Don't think I will be depositing my money in this bank! |
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| Arriving in Wolverton - what's that in his hand... |
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| Clever name. |
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| Bicycles! |
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| The mother of all weathervanes! |
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| A change of plan - leaving the first mooring. |
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| Over another aqueduct. |
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| which passes over the road. |
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| This looks like a much nicer place to moor. |
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| And the sun goes down. |
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