A different sort of day

Although this is Friday's blog it probably won't appear until Saturday because we are moored close to the south portal of Blisworth and the internet signal is a bit hit and miss.

Blisworth tunnel entrance

The day started with Ray managing to leave a mooring pin behind at our overnight mooring, he normally hands me the pins before he steps on board but because the wind was making Morgana behave badly he stepped on in a hurry bringing the rope with him but not the pin.

We made our way to the bottom of Stoke Bruerne, got rid of our rubbish and decided to wait a while to see if another boat came along to share with. Just as we decided to move Shaun (Sean? forgot to ask the spelling) and Mary on NB Zygmena arrived so we shared locks with them. When I walked on to set the second lock I found that NB Victoria, Royalty Fuels was loading with coal there, they said they would be about 15 minutes, it was obviously canal time more like half an hour. Whilst chatting I discovered he had 2 bags of coal to go to the blacksmith's hut at the tunnel entrance, we had intended to stop before that but I volunteered our services to take them, it was easier than him having to walk up the flight with a sack barrow. They were loaded on board as we worked through the second lock and it meant we had an extra pair of hands to work the lock flight.

We made good time up the flight and were soon moored up near the blacksmith's hut and the coal was delivered. Bob Nightingale, the blacksmith makes excellent mooring pins as well as other things. They are more expensive than the standard ones you will find in a chandlery but are worth the extra in my opinion. Our pin obviously got left behind so we could justify buying a new one.

The blacksmith's hut at Blisworth tunnel

The weather has thrown a bit of everything at us today, sunshine, wind, rain, sleet and hail. I'm glad I didn't buy flowers for the boat as there is the chance of frost for the next couple of nights.

Today's journey 5.7 miles and 7 locks

This year we have travelled 116.7 miles, 139 locks and 5 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2195.3 miles, 1899 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels