16th and 17th November 2015. Gusty winds and choppy waters but we make it to Milton Keynes.

The winds dropped a bit on Monday morning and we set off, stopping at Leighton Buzzard Tesco's for provisions on the way. You can bring your trolley right to the boat, so very convenient for heavy stuff like dog food and wine! The rain blew through quickly, leaving a washed out blue sky by the time we reached Leighton lock.

Evidence that Jo can operate locks and even cross lock gates (so long as the drop is not too deep)!

We spotted a romantic tree and a man (a busy boater we suspect) picking sloes with a special  hook for holding the branches down.

 

 

The leaves are nearly all off the trees now - just a few remain clinging, like those on these oak trees along the towpath.  

 

 

Gradually the skies darkened again and we moored just passed the Soulbury three locks, which we went through with the elderly crew of Just Perfick III. We have met them several times over the last couple of weeks as we are both heading for Gayton Junction. As it was pretty isolated, Robin took Scooby for a 4 mile bike ride along the towpath and he slept soundly on the bed for the rest of the evening (Scooby that is). A nice mooring but no 4G and poor phone service.

 

 



On Tuesday, we set off in rain which continued on and off for the day. Of course, this made it essential to do laundry, and 2 loads were washed and hung about. We stopped at Fenny Stratford for water and to empty the loo and then continued on to Milton Keynes. We found a mooring near the park and town centre where we moored last time, by which time we were glad to stop as the wind was blowing a gale and the canal was positively choppy! 

 

We'll stay here for a couple of days and plan to live it up by going to the cinema. Something more cheerful than Macbeth this time, though.

 

14th and 15th November 2015. Pinned down in Leighton Buzzard.

After an easy mile and a half we arrived safely in Leighton Buzzard on midday Saturday. The Leighton Buzzard Dirt Half Challenge was well underway when we arrived, with hundreds of muddy runners jogging down the towpath by the visitor moorings. Scooby (who's not keen on joggers) guarded the boat vigorously (and loudly) until the last stragglers had passed. Robin fixed the tap and Jo explored LB and got her haircut as planned and all was well. However, it grew increasingly windy and we had a restless night feeling and hearing the buffets against the boat. Fortunately Robin had taken our aerial down as the one on the next door boat was a sorry state in the morning.

Our neighbours collapsed aerial.

The wind kept up on Sunday and as the it's not much fun on a narrow boat in the wind, and possible to get blown into embarrassing corners, we decided to stay put. We'll tidy up the boat and have a lazy Sunday. Hopefully it will die down tomorrow and we'll be able to move on. We may have thoroughly exhausted the delights of Leighton Buzzard by then!

13th November 2015. To dinner at Grove Lock.

We woke to heavy rain on the roof and gusty winds so we took our time over breakfast and getting going. It gradually eased over the morning so that in fact most of our travels today were in sharp autumn sunshine.

We went 5.5 miles and went through 8 locks. Its a lovely stretch of canal and on this clear day, the ridge of the Ivanhoe Beacon made an impressive backdrop to our journey. Lots of birds about today, and the fallen leaves have opened up views through the trees and hedgerows. There was a lot to see, hear and enjoy while we were going along and while waiting for locks to fill and empty. A lovely day.

We only met two boats the whole day, and one of these was two breasted up workboats in a very narrow bridge, causing us to back up smartish!

 

We moored at Grove Lock about 3.30pm, just as the wind was getting up again, looking forward to dinner at the pub. The short journey to Leighton Buzzard tomorrow to stock up on provisions, buy a new tap to replace the leaky one in the kitchen sink and get a haircut.

 

 

 

12th November 2015. In which we visit Tring and get through the Marsworth locks.

We spent two days in our mooring and visited Tring on our bikes, visiting the natural history museum (photos of us sitting on the model of a giant tortoise are proof). The museum was interesting but rather too full of dead animals to be comfortable. Jo explored the town centre which is pretty with an assortment of old buildings and foraged some Christmas presents. Robin found the tackle shop and bought maggots with which he fished for a good long while, although catching only a small perch. He also cleaned the boat on the towpath side, with plans to do the other side tomorrow when we will be moored on the other side!

 
We set off today in sunshine and made our way back to the main Grand Union, turning north and into the Marsworth flight of locks.

Blue skies this morning

The 7 locks of the flight were all against us so going was slow, but enjoyable in the sunshine. We stopped for water, rubbish and loo emptying next to the new houses with their new occupant we met on the way down. No issues this time though, and we did turn off our engine. The sun gradually gave way to clouds, scudding along in an increasing breeze (always a challenge in a long boat).

The sky grows more interesting as the wind gets up.

We went on through locks 37 and 38, mooring in a quiet spot with just enough daylight to walk Scooby. Tomorrow we have booked dinner at the Grove Lock pub (about 5 miles and 7 locks away) and on Saturday afternoon Jo has booked a haircut in Leighton Buzzard, so we have a schedule to keep us focussed!      

Although the locks are taking us down again now, we are definitely still in the Chilterns.

9th November 2015. To Bridge number 3 on the Wendover Arm.

From discussions over breakfast a decision to visit Tring Natural History Museum emerged. As far as we could ascertain, the nearest place to moor was a bridge almost at the end of the Wendover Arm. From there it looks like a short cycle ride to the museum.  Destination decided upon, we set off through the deep cutting which marks the very top of the summit. The cutting is a good mile long and the canal goes between high banks of trees and shrubs. We saw lots of squirrels bustling around and of course a ubiquitous heron. Harold cut a trail through the carpet of leaves covering the canal.

Harold cuts a trail though the leaves.

The depth of the cutting can be seen in the height of this little bridge.

Spot the Heron!

Next was Bulbourne and the start of the Marsworth locks. However, we turned left into the Wendover Arm before the first lock. The last time we went this way, the rain came down in sheets as we turned. This time, the wind got up and turned very cold. Perhaps the Wendover Arm has it's own micro-climate. The channel is narrow and shallow and with the wind against us we crept along. Fortunately we didn't meet anyone coming the other way. We skirted the edge of Tring at the Mill which looms over the canal and made our way to bridge number three. Discretion being the better part of valour, we decided not to try turning round in the wind but just to moor up. Scooby will get a good run round the reservoirs and we'll visit the town and museum tomorrow.

The mills at Tring.

Views across to the reservoirs.

8th November 2015. Berhamstead to Tring Summit.

After a leisurely afternoon with friend Carole on Thursday, we ended up staying three days in Berhamstead. A canal volunteer tipped us off that the restored art deco cinema, The Rex, was worth a visit. We looked it up and booked tickets to see the film of Macbeth on Saturday night. We spent the days pottering about, pleased to be safely moored among civilisation as the rain came down. The cinema was beautiful and luxurious, rather in contrast to the film. It was a very nice experience. Jo also discovered an vintage fair on Saturday and Robin an Aladdins cave of a hardware shop, so everyone was happy. We also made good use of the very handy craft shop and stocked up at Waitrose, both of which are very near the canal.
Harold got covered in leaves, poor soul, and we had to give him a good sweep before we left.

There were fireworks all over Berkhamstead all weekend. Fortunately Scooby doesn't seem to mind them at all. Just joggers, cyclists, other dogs, people.....

We set off today in a grey morning, filling up with water and ditching the rubbish before we left. In 2.5 miles we went up the remaining 7 locks to get us past Cowroast lock (and an Elson point) and to the summit of this bit of canal. It will be downhill for a while now. There are good visitor moorings here and it feels quite exposed, just as a 'summit' should.

Coming into moor at Tring Summit.

Trying Summit.

We finally had to give in and did some washing today so the boat is hung about with wet clothes, along with the general muddiness. The joys of winter boating.  

5th November 2015.

An early start (for us) to get to Berkhamstead by lunchtime to meet friend Carole. 2 miles, 6 locks and a fair bit of drizzle/mud later we had clearly arrived.

 

We caught some of the sights of Berko we missed going the other way and moored in the same spot by Waitrose as last time, very convenient for our rendezvous.