Thursday 14th May - Gayton - Weedon

The pressure was off this morning after such a busy day yesterday. Tom cleaned some of the boat outside and I did the inside.

We set off at 0930hrs and stopped at the local marina for diesel, water and a new gas cylinder.

The canal seemed so much easier to manouvre the boat with no current and it was great to see some different landscapes. It was also strange to see so many places to moor boats as there is such a shortage on the River Nene.

We didn't travel too far and have moored just beyond Weedon on the canal bank. We popped out briefly for milk etc and by 1600hrs it had started to drizzle and we were in for the night.

We saw our first cygnet today - the parents were so protective, we thought we were imagining it at first as it was huddled around the mother's feathers.

Wednesday 13th May 2009 Northampton Washlands- Gayton Junction

When we woke up this morning it was raining. We decided to wait a while to see if the weather improved. By the time we had got up and had breakfast, it had brightened so we set off at about 0930hrs.

We didn't have any set plan today but decided to see keep going until we had had enough or the weather deteriorated.

The first three locks brought us to Northampton and we fully intended to stop to pick up some shopping, but mooring was difficult so we carried on.

We then came to the Northampton Arm but couldn't get any further as the lock was padlocked and we didn't have a key.

We phoned up British Waterways, who confirmed that they have had a lot of trouble with vandals emptying the locks so the padlocks have been a new introduction this year.

However they were very helpful and said that they would send somebody to us within an hour. We took the opportunity to have some lunch and true to their word, Sean turned up and gave us a key.

We set off again at 1400hrs and followed another boat up the flight of 17 locks. I attempted to set the first lock but made such a hash of it, that Tom put me in charge of taking the boat through the remaining locks - I think he thought we might never make it otherwise.

We finally got to the end at 1800hrs and were both tired - Tom physically from the effort of opening and closing so many locks and me from the mental concentration of getting his beloved boat in the narrow locks without hitting the sides.

One amusing anecdote. When we were going through one of the locks in Northampton town, four elderly people came to see the workings of the lock. At first we thought they were Polish but then realised they were Spanish. They seemed very shocked when we started conversing with them in Spanish - I think it was the last thing they expected.

We are now on the Grand Union Canal.

Tuesday 12th May 2009 Billing Aquadrome - Northampton Washlands

We had a very windy night on the boat as we were on a very exposed mooring. We were surprised to find we were still in the same position this morning!
At 1000hrs as arranged we struggled against the wind to the boatyard within the marina, who duly fitted three new batteries.
By 12midday we were on our way but decided that we would not venture far today as we were both tired. We went through three locks and by 1400hrs we were moored in the washlands.
It offers a bit of seclusion from the wind and it was a gloriously sunny afternoon. Tom washed one side of the boat and I pottered about quite happily. We wanted to have a rest as tomorrow we will be tackling Northampton and joining the Grand Union Canal.

Monday 11th May 2009 Irthlingborough - Billing Aquadrome

Railway viaduct on way to Billing






Fabulous Rape fields all the way







Not wet but very cold easterly winds blowing all day

We were on our way by 0715hrs this morning but it was quite cold and very windy. It didn't help that the first four locks had been left reversed, which meant more work for us.

The river was deserted but we were lucky to meet other boats at just the right time at two locks, which meant an easier passage through.

This stretch of the river was fairly flat with little of interest en route, but the scenery and wildlife more than made up for it.

We finally arrived in Billing at 1530hrs and made our way into the marina. The wind was really fierce and we slowly made our way to the visitors moorings. We couldn't believe them - a couple of scaffolding poles and some planks into the river for about 30feet leaving about 17feet of our boat overhanging.

When we went to the office they informed us that it is £15 per night or £30 if we want electric hook up! We are only here to change three batteries tomorrow, so won't be lingering.

Sunday 10th May 2009 Titchmarsh - Irthlingborough

Another early start and we were away by 0730hrs. The river was very still but within a couple of hours the wind was up. We are under pressure to get to Billing on Tuesday, so there wasn't time to stop off anywhere. However we have made note of places that we can explore on our homeward journey.
We had a brief look at the new marina in Ringstead - it only has six boats in it at the moment and no facilities laid on.
We stopped for breakfast and spent another half an hour chatting to a couple who are building their own narrowboat. They are going to Crick later this month so have arranged to meet them there.

We reached Irthlingborough at about 1430hrs and went for a walk in the village before settling down for the rest of the day. We were so tired - not used to all this physical work - that we were in bed by 2130hrs.

Saturday 9th May 2009 Fotheringhay - Titchmarsh

We woke up very early this morning and decided to get going as the wind had dropped. We couldn't believe it ourselves when we left Fotheringhay at 0715hrs - our earliest ever!!

It was quite chilly but we were well wrapped up and the next two hours were so peaceful - we didn't see another soul or boat - a beautiful time of day to be on the river.

We arrived at Ashton at 0930hrs and stopped for breakfast and a walk to Oundle to get the paper and food essentials. We left about 11am by which time it was getting warmer but the wind was up.

The next leg of our journey was fairly uneventful apart from a canoeing class who decided to take refuge under a narrow bridge - not ideal when the wind is up.

We also saw two red kites who circled above us, lots of calves, lambs, swans on their nests and geese and ducks with their young. Spring is definitely here.

We managed to get to Titchmarsh by 4pm and decided to call it a day. The cruising club here are very friendly and found us a lovely mooring on the river bank.

Friday 8th May 2009 Peterborough - Fotheringhay

Well here we are again. We arrived back in UK from Tenerife and took the boat straight to Peterborough with a view to getting her out of the water for bottom blacking. Unfortunately it didn't happen and we are going to try again in the autumn. However we had a busy week shopping, sorting bills, insurance, boat licence etc and finally set off for our summer adventure this morning.

It was an early start for us and we were filling up with diesel and water at 8am and were on our way by 0930hrs. It was very windy but at least it was dry and we decided that as the first part of our journey was such familiar territory, we would keep going until we had had enough.

We had a small narrowboat and a cruiser to keep us company for most of the journey and we helped each other out at various locks that were proving to be tricky due to the wind. Unfortunately we couldn't all get in the locks together, so we caught up at different parts of the river. We must be seasoned travellers by now, as three years ago when we got the boat, we would never have ventured out in such gales!

We stopped at Yarwell briefly for a quick lunch, waved to our mooring at Nassington and made our way to Fotheringhay, arriving at 1630hrs. We are moored this side of the bridge and hope that the wind has died down in the morning when we will endeavour to get through it.

Within 10 minutes of mooring it poured with rain but luckily we were tucked up in the warm by then. If the weather improves a bit we might venture out to the Falcon tonight for a drink.