Theddingworth

Here I am Rune

Distance 12.9 miles

Total 2494 Locks  121 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3485.3miles 

We decided to stop a little way short of the top of Foxton Locks working on the assumption that if we had got there and all the moorings were taken we’d have been in a bit of a dilemma so we’ve stopped on a country mooring (overlooking a field of cows) with the nearest town being Theddingworth. We remain comfortably on target to get to Debdale Marina on time for the boat blacking so we can just stay here and admire the scenery.

Yelvertoft

Here I am Rune

Distance 11.5 miles

Total 2494 Locks  120 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3472.4miles 

Once again we have made it to our intended destination, keeping us on track to get to Debdale Wharf ready for the boat to be blacked. Coming out of Braunston was surprisingly quick, in just over an hour after leaving the overnight mooring in Braunston we were at the tunnel having swiftly dealt with 6 locks on the way. We also passed another blogger, ‘Chuffed’ whilst going through these locks, a couple that we had last met on the Kennet and Avon Canal 3 years ago. By coincidence they were also going to have their boat blacked but their destination was Calcutt marina.

The only slight hold up we had was at Watford Locks, but that was pretty much to be expected. I have to say that I’m not a great fan of those locks. Partly this may be because we had a minor mishap there just after we got the boat which cost me £250 to straighten a bent rudder, but also partly because the boat never seems to want to just ‘sit’ in these locks, it is either drifting forwards or drifting backwards. If it drifts too far forward there is a gap below the ‘bump’ board on the top gate under which it would be very easy to trap the button fender on the bow; if the boat drifts too far back there is the risk of trapping the rudder between the bottom gates. It rather means that you sit in the lock constantly going from forward drive to reverse to try to hold the boat in the middle of the lock.

With luck, tomorrow we should get to the top of the Foxton Flight, although if we are a bit short of that, it is no cause for concern.

Braunston

Here I am Rune

Distance 3.2 miles

Total 2481 Locks  118 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3460.9miles 

A short trip today to get us to Braunston to stock up for the weekend, re-stock the wine cellar and (hopefully) tomorrow to get all of the boat servicing bit that we need. It has warmed up slightly, now that we have bought another 2 bags of coal, and I’m expecting a warm and sunny Bank Holiday weekend so we probably won’t need the extra coal that we’ve bought. Of course if we hadn’t bought any we would probably have had snow by now!

We need to get off reasonably early tomorrow as we will be doing a bit over 9 miles, 13 locks and 2 tunnels so a reasonably busy day.

Flecknoe

Here I am Rune

Distance 9.6 miles

Total 2481 Locks  118 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3457.7miles 

Today we have pretty much kept to schedule and should now easily be in Braunston by Friday (we are only an hour away!). We seemed to skip through Stockton Flight of locks fairly swiftly (for us) taking only about an hour. The next necessity was to refuel at Calcutt Marina, taking on about 97 litres of diesel which should see us OK until about the beginning of June. 

During our stop at Braunston I’ll need to stock up on a few items for boat servicing, some oil and filters and another bottle of the fuel additive that we use, Fuel Set. Quite pricey but hopefully preventing us from getting problems from water in the fuel.

Offchurch

Here I am Rune

Distance 6.9 miles

Total 2462 Locks  118 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3448.1miles 

So after a week away we are now back aboard and on the move, it could be said that our summer cruise starts here. We topped up our utilities before leaving the Saltisford Canal centre mooring, so we have enough water to last until next Monday and we’ve replaced the empty gas bottle (I forgot to mention to them that the valve on the bottle leaks which is why we seem to have lost a couple of weeks worth of gas!).

The weather is rather living up to April’s reputation with a number of passing showers hitting us during the day, a couple of them being or hail. The temperature is still pretty chilly and we are back to lighting our fire quite early in the evening (about 6pm). We had hoped that by now we’d have stopped using the fire but if this weather keeps up we’ll be buying another bag of coal when we pass through Braunston. Hoping to be in Braunston by Friday.