We decided to continue our journey southwards, waiting for the open day at Bulbourne meant hanging around for longer than we usually do, even in winter. Unless we are doing the rounds of visiting or the weather is bad of course.
We rang Phil but didn't get a reply so sent him a text and filled a can at Cowroast just to be on the safe side. He sent us a message later to say he was at Apsley heading north so we should see him tomorrow.
We had an easy journey down to Berkhampstead, we shared the locking and the steering. We only met one boat at the top Dudswell Lock, there don't seem to be as many moored boats as in the past.
Day off tomorrow, then we will head to Winkwell on Sunday.
Today's journey 3.9 miles and 7 locks
This year we have travelled 14.8 miles, 25 locks and 1 swing bridge
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 2093.3 miles, 1785 locks, 112 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
Friday, 4 January 2013
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Downhill from now on
We made a late start today, my excuse is that I was suffering from shock after QPR beat Chelsea last night.
We stopped at the facilities to dump our rubbish etc, then headed up through the Marsworth Locks. It was another grey day today but very mild and dry. There were a couple of other boats on the move, one ahead of us going up and one we met at the first lock heading for the Aylesbury Arm.
When we reached Bulbourne I discovered that where I had planned to moor has been designated as winter moorings for permit holders only. I'm not sure what the situation is if you overnight on an unoccupied winter mooring, but I couldn't pretend I didn't realise as there was a notice right where I intended to stop. As we were denied our preferred spot we carried on across Tring summit and moored approaching Cowroast. Unless Hyperion is heading in this direction we will have to stop for fuel at Cowroast Marina, which will probably be expensive. It's very strange, here we have no television or radio signal, the phone isn't very good but the internet is perfect.
We are trying to decide whether to carry on southwards or hang around and head back to Bulbourne for the Open Day, a week on Sunday, we'll probably make our minds up tomorrow.
Today's journey 2.8 miles and 7 locks
This year we have travelled 10.9 miles, 18 locks and 1 swing bridge
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 2089.4 miles, 1779 locks, 112 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
We stopped at the facilities to dump our rubbish etc, then headed up through the Marsworth Locks. It was another grey day today but very mild and dry. There were a couple of other boats on the move, one ahead of us going up and one we met at the first lock heading for the Aylesbury Arm.
When we reached Bulbourne I discovered that where I had planned to moor has been designated as winter moorings for permit holders only. I'm not sure what the situation is if you overnight on an unoccupied winter mooring, but I couldn't pretend I didn't realise as there was a notice right where I intended to stop. As we were denied our preferred spot we carried on across Tring summit and moored approaching Cowroast. Unless Hyperion is heading in this direction we will have to stop for fuel at Cowroast Marina, which will probably be expensive. It's very strange, here we have no television or radio signal, the phone isn't very good but the internet is perfect.
We are trying to decide whether to carry on southwards or hang around and head back to Bulbourne for the Open Day, a week on Sunday, we'll probably make our minds up tomorrow.
Today's journey 2.8 miles and 7 locks
This year we have travelled 10.9 miles, 18 locks and 1 swing bridge
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 2089.4 miles, 1779 locks, 112 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
The journey continues
Yesterday was obviously the best of the weather, today dawned grey and overcast. As we started to cruise the skies were what I call mizzling, that very fine rain that you can't see falling but leaves a damp mist on your glasses so you can't see a darned thing.
We made our way through the second Ivinghoe lock and caught up with NB Heron, who had just left their mooring, at the first of the Seabrook Locks, they had already started to fill the lock but re-emptied it so we could join them. We shared locks with them as far as Marsworth, by which time it was starting to rain properly, so we moored and they headed for the facilities before winding and heading back.
We spent the evening making a vague plan of where we are heading this year, the only definite thing being that we intend to be in Leeds for Christmas.
Today's journey 2.7 miles, 6 locks and 1 swing bridge
This year we have travelled 8.1 miles, 11 locks and 1 swing bridge
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 2086.7 miles, 1772 locks, 112 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Happy New Year
After a long stay around Leighton Buzzard we moved on today. It wasn't a very early start, hardly surprising as last night was New Year's Eve.
The day was dry and bright, the breeze had a distinct bite to it but it was pleasant cruising weather. We have five days to get through Marsworth Locks before the closure which should be easy providing the weather holds. We didn't see anyone else moving today, perhaps they were all recovering from last night, although we did meet one boater at Slapton Lock who had been travelling ahead of us and stopped for the day. The ground is very waterlogged with many ponds in fields that never used to have them!
We are moored in the pound between the two Ivinghoe Locks, it was the fact that we could use mooring hooks that encouraged us to stop here. We have seen too many mooring pins pull out of the ground because it is so soft in the past couple of weeks. We hope to reach the visitor moorings at Marsworth tomorrow.
Today's journey 5.4 miles and 5 locks
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 2084 miles, 1766 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
The day was dry and bright, the breeze had a distinct bite to it but it was pleasant cruising weather. We have five days to get through Marsworth Locks before the closure which should be easy providing the weather holds. We didn't see anyone else moving today, perhaps they were all recovering from last night, although we did meet one boater at Slapton Lock who had been travelling ahead of us and stopped for the day. The ground is very waterlogged with many ponds in fields that never used to have them!
We are moored in the pound between the two Ivinghoe Locks, it was the fact that we could use mooring hooks that encouraged us to stop here. We have seen too many mooring pins pull out of the ground because it is so soft in the past couple of weeks. We hope to reach the visitor moorings at Marsworth tomorrow.
Today's journey 5.4 miles and 5 locks
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 2084 miles, 1766 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
Monday, 31 December 2012
Another year over
Since my last post we have moved a whole mile!
We stayed close to Leighton Buzzard as it was a convenient place for Tony to come an collect us for our Christmas visit to Peterborough. It has the added bonus of shops and boaters facilities. We, like the rest of the country, have seen some rather wild weather.We have had great amounts of wind and rain, at the worst the brook that runs beside the canal burst it's banks but luckily the canal is on a slight embankment where we are moored so it was the field on the opposite bank of the brook that flooded. Water levels in the canal were up about ten inches and did overflow onto the towpath in places.
We had a very nice couple of days with Mandy, Tony and the grandkids. All the usual Christmas festivities were enjoyed with good food, good drink and good company.
We now have to do a quick run, for this time of year, to get through Marsworth Locks by Sunday at the latest. The weather today has been more of the same but from tomorrow there is supposed to be some improvement.
2012 has been a fairly good year, apart from the weather, no major crisis apart from our alternator problems although we now seem to have a problem with our fridge/freezer. It's chilling but not enough, oh dear!
Happy New Year to everyone, hope it's good one!
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 2078.6 miles, 1761 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
We stayed close to Leighton Buzzard as it was a convenient place for Tony to come an collect us for our Christmas visit to Peterborough. It has the added bonus of shops and boaters facilities. We, like the rest of the country, have seen some rather wild weather.We have had great amounts of wind and rain, at the worst the brook that runs beside the canal burst it's banks but luckily the canal is on a slight embankment where we are moored so it was the field on the opposite bank of the brook that flooded. Water levels in the canal were up about ten inches and did overflow onto the towpath in places.
We had a very nice couple of days with Mandy, Tony and the grandkids. All the usual Christmas festivities were enjoyed with good food, good drink and good company.
We now have to do a quick run, for this time of year, to get through Marsworth Locks by Sunday at the latest. The weather today has been more of the same but from tomorrow there is supposed to be some improvement.
2012 has been a fairly good year, apart from the weather, no major crisis apart from our alternator problems although we now seem to have a problem with our fridge/freezer. It's chilling but not enough, oh dear!
Happy New Year to everyone, hope it's good one!
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 2078.6 miles, 1761 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Update - Now at Leighton Buzzard
We stayed a few days at Fenny Stratford. Saturday night saw the canal frozen again and we had snow,not a lot but some. We did a bit of Christmas shopping,a bit of bargain shopping and of course some grocery shopping. Our best bargain was an LED striplight from IKEA, list price £30 reduced to £4.90 because the 12v/240v transformer was missing. That's the bit we chop off and throw away because we run on 12 v!!
On Monday the canal had mostly thawed and in mid afternoon Phil on Hyperion came past. Phil is our coal and diesel supplier when we are down near Watford, he doesn't often come as far north as Milton Keynes. When he came back on Tuesday we topped up with diesel and had a couple of bags of coal from him too.
On Wednesday night the canal froze again but as another boat had come north and the ice didn't seem very thick we decided to make a move on Thursday. Bad move!! Even where the ice had been broken by the other boat it was hard going and they had only come about a mile. Once we reached virgin ice it was virtually impossible to make progress,after about another 500 yards we gave up and moored. It had taken us an hour and a half to travel less than one and a half miles and one lock.
Friday was exceptionally windy so even though the ice had thawed we didn't move. Saturday dawned sunny and mild, we made our way past Stoke Hammond,up through Soulbury Three Locks and onward to reach Leighton Buzzard. We are moored near Tesco at the moment, but it isn't cat friendly so we won't stay here very long.
This weeks journey's 7.5 miles, 6 locks and 1 swing bridge
So far this year we have travelled 875.9 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 2077.6 miles, 1761 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
Saturday, 1 December 2012
The Milton Keynes icebreaker
Today was our first real taste of winter, we woke up to a frozen canal and a very heavy frost. the ice wasn't thick enough to stop us travelling so we decide to head for Fenny Stratford. We crunched our way slowly along the long straight at Cosgrove and across the aqueduct. The ice was breaking up ahead of us and we were pushing huge sheets of it up on top of the unbroken ice. Even though it was less than a centimetre thick it was very solid. Once we were through the bridge by the Galleon the ice disappeared for a while, the canal is a bit more sheltered there.
We continued to encounter patches of ice for the next hour or so but once we reached Great Linford the ice had virtually disappeared. It was a cold day but we fortified ourselves with cups of coffee laced with Baileys and we had my homemade Lentil and Bacon Soup to look forward to when we moored. It took us about four hours to reached the 14 day moorings at Fenny Stratford and managed to get moored right on the end.
We are planning to stop here for a few days, we want to visit IKEA and do some Christmas shopping as well, plus our normal shop of course.
Today's journey 10.2 miles
So far this year we have travelled 868.4 miles, 669 locks, 54 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 2070.1 miles, 1755 locks, 110 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
We continued to encounter patches of ice for the next hour or so but once we reached Great Linford the ice had virtually disappeared. It was a cold day but we fortified ourselves with cups of coffee laced with Baileys and we had my homemade Lentil and Bacon Soup to look forward to when we moored. It took us about four hours to reached the 14 day moorings at Fenny Stratford and managed to get moored right on the end.
We are planning to stop here for a few days, we want to visit IKEA and do some Christmas shopping as well, plus our normal shop of course.
Today's journey 10.2 miles
So far this year we have travelled 868.4 miles, 669 locks, 54 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 2070.1 miles, 1755 locks, 110 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)