Shiralee: Cruise 2013 # 27

Foxton Locks to Braunston

 Wednesday 28^th August

 Yesterday was interesting right from the start, but we were very fortunate in being only the second boat to climb the locks, so we made good time and stopped near bridge 56. After a much needed cup of coffee, we decided to move on to the top of the Welford Arm but, as the rings there were all taken up, we carried on to bridge 40 and, just for a change we were left alone for the rest of the day.

 The main event of the day occurred before we had even left our moorings, an event to which I dedicate the following poem:

 

Ode to a Pair of Lost Specs.

My spectacles fell of my face today,

They made a resounding splash,
As they hit the water below me,
And disappeared, in a flash.

I blame the missus for this you know,

Oh yes, it really was She,
Who put the stack on the rooftop
Where it wasn’t supposed to be.

She’d cleaned out the front of the boat, you see

And the chimney pot stood in her way,
And rather than stand it on t’ towpath
On top of the roof it did lay.

 So, prior to leaving our moorings

And whilst folding up cratch cover,
I spotted aforementioned chimney
And reached up for it, to recover.

‘Twas then that my specs met said cover

And flipped off into the air.
(‘Tis true what they say about women,
They do all to make us despair.)

So, now I must manage with old specs,

Ones that I found in the street.
They’ll do till Wifey finds readies,
For my new spectacles – her treat!

Today we’ll probably go on to Yelvertoft, assuming this fog lifts.

 Friday 30^th August

 On Wednesday, as I thought, we went on to Yelvertoft and after a quick coffee and a walk for Rusty, we walked into the village. Actually, right by the entrance to the roadway from the towpath there’s a sign extolling the virtues of the local PO/Village Stores, but it closes at 1pm on Wednesdays and this was at 12.45, so we didn’t have a lot of time. Thankfully it was all downhill and we arrived just as the owner was parcelling up his newspapers for return.

 So, after a quick whip round for our bits and pieces, we walked a bit further into the village, looking for the butcher’s which, as the Nicholson Guide points out, makes very good sausages, and we do love butcher’s home-made sausages.

 But first we came to the local pub and, with the sun being well past the yardarm, we popped in for a quickie. We sat outside and a few minutes later our neighbours from the boat in front, came walking by heading for said butchers. Well, rather than follow their example, we waited until they returned and, unsurprisingly, the shop had closed due to retirement. That’s another one gone!

 Yesterday morning we cruised the two miles to Crick Marina, where we needed to buy a gas bottle and ask about winter moorings. The first item was taken care of and, after the bottle was loaded into the front locker, we returned to the office to discuss the moorings, and having seen what we liked about the marina, decided to part with a deposit. I have to say that we went away quite pleased with the place.

 Crick Marina, for those of you that are unfamiliar with the waterways system, lies on the Leicester Arm of the Grand Union Canal and is just a short distance from the M1, which makes life very easy for me when driving down to Harlow, and it’s only 100 miles from that town. The manager of Crick has a son living in Billericay and, when he visits him it takes about 1½ hours. (I don’t know what car he drives, but he must have the throttle wide open!)

 So, we’ll be at Crick this year, probably from November to March inclusive.

 Now, having moored up at about the same place as we did when passing through in the other direction, we walked to the Co-op in Crick and did a whole lot more shopping, for which Wifey forgot to bring her trolley. No matter, we got all we needed, and then some, including the Daily Mail.

 The Daily Mail; a newspaper that some folks sneer at, for whatever reason; has a readers letter page in which people can spout off about some news item or other. Yesterday’s page was all about Syria. Now, like many people in this green and pleasant land, I have come to accept that we are no longer a world power and should not be clapping the American president on the back and saying, “ Gung-ho old chap, let’s go to war”, you know, shoulder to shoulder and all that baloney. I’m pleased to note that all those letters agreed with my thoughts on the matter. But one person summed it all up most succinctly and said, “Can you just imagine it. Cameron to ministers, ‘Let’s downsize the army, scrap most of our warships and reduce the air force. OK? What shall we do next, eh? Let’s go to war!’”

 Magic, sheer magic!! You gotta love em!

 Sunday 1^st September

 Methinks autumn is on its way, this morning is cold and misty and we had to light the fire last night. However, those nice weather people do say that it will warm up again over the next few days.

 Yesterday we left Welton Hythe at about 8.15, not early enough to beat the traffic coming through Braunston tunnel though. We managed to race through for about ¾ of its length before meeting another boat, so there’s something to be said for that.

 Almost immediately after the tunnel there are six locks to go down, which was when our problems started. Right at the bottom of said locks there’s a boat hire company and, immediately after that is Braunston marina. One boat was about to go through the top lock and, since these locks are double size, we went down the first lock with them.

 This boat was a holiday hire returning to Braunston and, waiting to go through the next one was another holiday hire boat, which meant that the one in the top lock, joined the next one, leaving us to go it alone, thank goodness.

 Whilst I was sitting between locks another boater walked by and told me that there were at least eight other boats waiting to come up. Of course there were, it was Saturday and it was bright and it was the last weekend of the school holidays, what else were we to expect?

 The long and the short of all this was that, although it only took half an hour to reach the tunnel, it took us another two hours to get through the locks and moor up.

 Today is somewhat overcast, but I’m hoping it will warm up a little. If it does so, then we’ll let the fire go out, if not then it stays alight, so there!

 For some strange reason our position here, right outside the marina, does not give us a mobile signal, but we are able to get online, so, without more ado I’ll get this thing posted.

 Cheers all and have a great week.

 Dave, Sheila and Rusty