First last nights sunset. Stunning!
This morning, as I was washing up the breakfast pots, I happened to look out of the galley window and saw a familiar boat sailing past. It was Jandai. Many of you will remember reading about Dai's death and Janice's heartache at selling Jandai. We spoke to the new owners and they told us they are thrilled with the boat. So Janice, if you are reading this, Jandai still looks wonderful and the new owners said they will lovingly look after her as you and Dai did.
Having left Blisworth shotly after 9am, the first port of call was Gayton services. I dont remember the water tap filling the tank as slow as it did but maybe, having installed a new tap, the water pressure had dropped.
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| One of the new taps with new BW lock |
Finally, after 45minutes, we were ready to tackle the Rothersthorp flight. Every lock was against us and it took an age to get down the flight. Didnt help that one has to walk round every lock to close both bottom gates. There being no way of jumping across and saving the legs! Roughly 5 hours and 15 minutes later, 6 mile and 17 single locks, we arrived in Northampton. What we hadn't realised was that we had to descend onto the river Nene to moor up. No where along the Northampton arm was suitable to stop, folaige being the main problem. So without an environment agency valid licence for the Nene we are now holding our breath that they don't come a knocking at our door!
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| Looking down the flight. |
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| Wire figures at lock 10. Similar to those at Stoke Bruerne. |
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| No end of floating reeds along the last stretch |
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| Very rural and extremely narrow in places. Not enough boats to keep the channel clear. |
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| Last lock before entering the river. |
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| Morrison moorings on the left through the bridge arch. |
And finally:-
6 comments:
Todays Blog.
We have moored in the bottom pound of the Northampton Arm overnight with no problems.
Yesterdays Blog
There is a tunnel to the right running off the main tunnel and you can often see light at the end of it. I have never been able to find any information about it.
Hi Brian and Diana,
We did see some rings at the lock before descending onto the river but no boats were moored so we were very uncertain if we should stay.
As for the tunnel, an article on the side shaft, by Adam Briar Rose, is going to appear in Novembers Canal Boat magazine. Maybe Adam has found out more about the side shaft.
We saw Jandai a few days ago, as we were heading away from Fradley and they were heading towards it. They must have come down the Coventry, while we did the River Soar.
Don't know how long you're staying in Northampton, but there's a nice new marina with secure visitor moorings a little bit further down the river. Take the right hand fork instead of going left to the town lock. £10 a night including electric, and they'll also sell you a one day river licence, which is about £8.
How strange that you should spot Jandai today. I was at the Lichfield & Hatherton CRT / LCC Huddleston Gathering last weekend & I too saw her passing by on the Coventry Canal.
I once heard somebody say that a great historian was not just someone who had researched all the facts, but someone who could capture the "atmosphere of the time". I think that is true of photographers too and your misty heron does just that.
Hi Adam,
Thanks for the info. We may now change our plans and have a day cruise down the river.
Xxx
Thank you Graham for your lovely comment. Xxx
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