OK – so its been a stormy few days, we have lost a few plants from the roof due to the wind – but that can’t be helped as the roof on Emmeline is very curved and keeping a lot of plants on top without a few getting blown overboard is a tall order to achieve!
I also need to get a car towards the end of the week – and as Enterprise are still not doing collections – we need to get to a location where I can walk to the branch – and that means getting all the way down to Bletchley in a few days – so today is going to be a long one!
Dawson and Celeste did a final shop to Tesco’s to get a few nights food in, the cats are locked away down below – and were ready to go.
And were certainly not in narrow country any more – were seeing more and more wide beams..
And there are some nice houses on this stretch – with their own moorings..
Through past Rugby Boats..
More attractive canal side houses..
Through High House Bridge – Eventually! This is a so-and-so of a bridge, its on a blind corner, and you cant see if there is a boat coming the other way until its virtually out the other end! A quick toot of the horn.. nothing heard.. then – a boat appearing which starts beeping as the bow appears – a swift switch to reverse, back up, let them out and then it should be clear for me.. I do wish people would use the horn on their boat when there supposed to.. on approach to a blind bend or bridge – not as you realise there’s another boat coming and you are using it to say “get out of the way!”
We got near to Heyford Wharf Bridge and pulled in as there is post to get sent out..
Once the post was done, and we had a few more supplies on board – time to get moving again.. and what a surprise.. yet more residential boats – with some interesting ones!
(that woodwork could do with a bit of touching up though!)
And past a marina that’s not even on the map yet.. pretty sure they were still building this (ie.. it was still a hole in the ground with pontoons – no water) the last time through this way 2 years ago..
And past a familiar boat from a few days ago – not sure when Debbie came past us – but I hope she has that tunnel light sorted before getting to Blisworth tunnel.
And.. past a house and grounds I know Mechelle would love 🙂
Did I say that there are some “non standard” paint jobs on boats.. 😀 Isn’t is awesome!
And it’s onto Gayton Junction. There is a water point here and we need to top off the tank – just a little.. but first.. lets not hit this one – that paint job must be stating “Stay Away from my A…”
There was a boat on the water point when we got here, but they are getting ready to move off.. so reverse the boat into the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union, to give them the junction so they can turn whichever way they need to… in the mean time, whilst were drifting around here waiting.. there looks to be some activity in the boat yard.. looks like there getting ready to crane that boat back in.
OK – so the waters running.. got a few more photos here – and a video !! ( Hope it comes out OK! )
And after a quick boat shuffle later… it’s now safe to start the crane up..
And with all that – we (or I) didn’t notice the water tank overflowing! – So.. with the hose off and everything put away again – time to pull out, turn left (as we reversed into the right turn) and past Blisworth Marina
Past Blisworth tunnel narrowboats..
And time for Blisworth tunnel… and at 2,800 meters long.. this should only take an hour or so to get through.. lets hope someone is not coming the other way (as it is a 2 way tunnel – but at least there not going to be wide beams.. as they have to book in advance, and go through at 8am each day)
Once out of the tunnel.. its time to descend the Stoke Bruerne flight of 7 locks..
And once those are done.. it’s clear now to tonight’s mooring
And so ends a very long day!