Leighton Buzzard to "Maffers"

We lurked around in Leighton Buzzard with breaking waves on the canal waiting for a lull in the high winds. What a lovely place to lurk around too! Not only do they have an abundance of individual little shops and a Tesco, but also a Morrisons at the other end of the town.
Anyway we set off early this morning as the wind speed had dropped significantly.
We didn't encounter many moving boats along the route and it was good having the waterway all to ourselves.
We did share many locks with another boat though which made the journey more interesting.
The only gongoozelers we saw was this long row of seagulls. Are they able to catch fish in the canal as they swoop across the water btw?
We moored up at Marsworth for a very late lunch on the boat under the crescent moon with a beautiful sunset.
Marsworth was a key location on the Grand Union between Braunston and London for the old working boatmen which they affectionately referred to as "Maffers".

Just a Meandering Day

Cookies Café

The House of Coffee

(All freshly roasted and ground, they also supply Cookies Café just round the corner.)

A good hardware store

(Note the delivery van)

Wozie visited every charity shop and selected some reading matter, visited Wilkinsons as I knew I needed something but could not remember what it was, it came to me whilst we picked up a few necessities at a good price.

Returned to the boat and unloaded the rucksacks, then off again this time to Tesco's, now just settling down to relaxing evening.

The Planning Was Excellent

Monday:

 The carrying out of the plan not so.

We planned to move the short distance, about one mile and one lock, to visit Fenny Stratford for Tesco and Screwfix.
It was all going so well despite the crosswind but it all went wrong at the lock, as I left the lock the wind got up and I was blown into the side, towpath side so that was a bit of luck.
Well it would have been if the piling had been in good condition but bits were hanging off and bolts sticking out, more scratches.
It took all our strength to push her off and move her along the canal to a sheltered place so that we could continue the journey.
In the heaving and shoving I missed the bridge number and continued on, it was not until the next bridge that we realised my mistake, we had missed Fenny Stratford.
Nothing urgent so decided to carry on to Stoke Hammond, it had a pub, next problem towpath had changed sides and so the wind was blowing us away.
Have you ever tried to moor with the wind in the wrong direction, oh it is fun (not) and of course whilst we are mooring a boat comes the other way.
Eventually moored, not a bad spot and walked to the village, pub closed no signs indicating opening times, the village shop was open so picked up a few items there.

This may be the best bit of the village

Tuesday:

Leighton Buzzard was the destination, it is market day.

Not so windy today but still not getting the wide locks right with only me in it, practice will make perfect no doubt.

Beautiful sunny weather and the wind dropped even further just as well, we had to pass Wyvern hire base and their boats were three abreast, could only just get our narrow boat through, wished for once that I had had a wide beam they would have of had to moved at least five boats for one to get through and they were also blocking the winding point. (rant over).

Approaching Leighton Buzzard the towpath is for 'long term permit holders only' then a water point then a two boat length with  two hour limit, it was full. So through the bridge, a space, with a ledge under the water, we did move further along and found a bit without a ledge.

The walk into town is worth the effort especially if you find the little side alleys, found a great café up one.

The old fire station

Waitrose and other 'big names' in the town but we will be going to Tesco's tomorrow, it is right near the canal and we know our place.

Great Linford to Simpson

As we have had gales for the last few days we stayed put swaying about on our mooring at Gt Linford. We enjoyed a walk across the well manicured park up to The Nags Head for lunch on Saturday. Although it was very blustery it wasn't bad enough to keep the fishermen at home. A chap in front of our boat pulled out a very large Perch using a fairly small rod. We bunged the windows up, lit the fire and sat sewing and reading for the rest of the day.
Today we set off in warm sunshine and blue sky through the various green park-lands of Milton Keynes and moored up at Simpson. After a late lunch we went for a walk and gathered some firewood.

Tuesday saw us moving on to Stoke Bruerne via the Gayton Junction for fuel, an uneventful journey except for the coming together of us and another boat in the tunnel, it was only a gentle nudge as we had both slowed to 'tickover'.
We managed to squeeze in the last place possible, it was on a bend, luckily there was not any boat movements.

Wednesday was an early start as we wanted to get to Cosgrove, at the lock, at Cosgrove, there was someone on the bank with their arm up in the stop salute, we were already at tickover because of all the moored boats.
Eventually we realised why a very large broadbeam barge had come up the lock and was about to wind (turn round), to give credit where due the steerage of this barge was by tiller and the forward and reverse control was not nearby when the tiller was at full turn, so to watch the athletic steerer run between tiller and speed control was an enlightenment in agility.
We did moor and help him down the lock, which his barge filled.

Thursday we had a walk about near the aqueduct, there were information boards depicting how some temporary locks were built whilst the aqueduct was built, the line of the locks and canal are still visible.
We moved off as shopping was required, a Tesco near bridge 71 was the destination.
Shopping complete we progressed towards 'The Black Horse' (bridge 76) lunch was taken and very good it was too.
The mooring outside had a very large ledge that stopped us getting in close, otherwise we may have stayed the night.
Moved just around the corner but again no possibility of mooring, more ledge, eventually moored just past bridge 77, nice quiet spot, no ledge and to cap it off we had just finished mooring when the rain came down.

A bright start to the day

The aqueduct

This tunnel runs under the aqueduct and is very low.