More delays!

 Groan....this from C&RT re Buckby today

After de-watering the lock and completing the fish rescue, we unfortunately discovered further maintenance issues, which require our attention. 

These works include repairs to both wooden cills, which are loose and there is also a hole in the lock gate which requires further maintenance work. 

Due to the location of the required works, we cannot get our crane boat close enough to assist and therefore a lot of the work is being done manually by our maintenance team on site.  This consequently means that these works will take slightly longer then we originally planned.

However, we are working hard to complete this job as soon as possible and aim to be finished by Monday afternoon.

So many hire boats came past yesterday heading either for Napton or Braunston.  Could be an interesting conversation with the hire companies waiting for the returning boats. And what of those due to hire next week? Oh, to be a fly on the wall!

Went blackberry picking to make a crumble, this morning, Ian came with me to do the least favourite job essential to boating, empty the loo. C&RT volunteers were down by lock 19 watching over a 'Lets Fish' for beginners. Two lone boaters were descending the flight but there happened to be a problem of too much water between the pounds. Apparently the lock gate refused to open, water levels just wouldn't equalise even with paddles up. Ian was on his way back, saw the problem and lent his strength to that of the volunteers to get the gate to move.

Looks like we will be staying even longer now. Trouble is Ian is running out of things to do on FS. As for me well walks and fishing and I'm happy as Larry.

Now for a question. Blogger has made changes and I have resisted using the new layout but yesterday when I opened the blog, there it was. I'm having great difficulty in keeping my photos uniform on the post as every time I add a caption, the photo goes off-centre. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can rectify this?  You will see what I mean with these photos.

Bream

Oh, and that Swan family. Miscounted the other day, there are actually 9 Cygnets one of which became a right pain while I was fishing!

Making a grab for the net!

And the float

And today's wildlife is a fishy theme

Slow boats and hirers galore.

Another notification came through from C&RT yesterday with an update on the Buckby lock situation.

The Engineers have examined the cill this morning and assessed what repairs are needed.
We are moving our boats in place today, then the pumps and equipment needed for this job, will be delivered on Tuesday.
There will be a fish rescue, which will take most of the day on Wednesday and then we will begin our repair works on Thursday morning.
We aim to complete the required maintenance work by the end of the day on Friday, but we will update our website as soon as we know more.

Maybe the situation isn't as dire as I first thought, here's hoping it will all be fixed by the weekend.

This paddleboarder came past the moorings at Cosgrove. A new way of 'walkies'

Having forgotten to buy milk when we last shopped, Ian legged it to the park store at Cosgrove caravan park. Thinking he could pay by card, to his dismay there was a £2 minimum payment on a card transaction. Made for an expensive 2 pints!  But all was not lost as he found a £20 note in his pocket and made the payment with that. It had gone 9.30 am then before we got underway and a good 3-hour journey ahead of us to where we wanted to stop at Stoke Bruerne.

Not long after leaving Cosgrove, we came to that shallow bit which is a right pain. No way could I do more than tickover as FS would start to pull a wash. Deeper drafted than most leisure boats we struggle if the bottom is too near to the top and the displacement of water as we travel means more is sucked away from the edge. When it comes back it comes back with a vengeance. In the next couple of photos, I had already knocked FS back to tickover as soon as I noticed but that wash continued for quite some time, much to the disapproval of this Heron and ducks.

Surfing ducklings.

 Not sure if this boat had a problem. I could see it was secured but it was way out from the bank. Stuck in the mud? I'm assuming he used the canoe to tie the ropes to the trees.

The bridge before Kingfisher marina we caught up with a boat. Now we slow right down passing boats, we knock the revs back to 800rpm (roughly 2mph according to Ian's speed checker) but this one was only just moving. Reverse was used more than once 'cos I didn't fancy hitting him up the arse. He then noticed I was behind and tried to wave me past. Not something I was comfortable with when passing moored boats but with him almost coming to a stop there was nothing for it but to comply. Just got the nose in front and he puts the power on! I then find FS is listing as she scrapes the barnacles off her bottom by sliding along the mud. In the end, I had to ask him to stop so I could get FS of the mud and get past.

Me starting to pass

Never did see him again, stopped before the locks no doubt.

Bottom lock of Stoke Bruerne flight and two boats were exiting. Both were hired boats and from then until we got to the long pound between lock 16 and 15 every lock had hirers descending.

In fact, at lock 18 it was easier to get the Wyvern boat to come alongside FS in the lock before I pulled out. He was right across the pound, struggling to get it to go where he wanted and yes I too remember the struggles I had when I first hired a boat so knew he was probably panicking as I used to do.

Wyvern boat in the blue livery and a Grand Union Weedon hire boat on the landing.

Found a decent mooring near to the entrance to the meadow. Here we will stay until the rush has died down in getting through Buckby Flight when it reopens. I know what I'll be doing during the next few days, fishing and walking.

8 Cygnets. Thats impressive.

The meadows

Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

Wasp nest in the making perhaps as the wasps were bringing mud out of the hole.

Fated!!!

Arggggg...you couldn't make it up! First lock 71 on the GU was out of action due to the gate falling off and now that we have turned around and are heading to the Thames via Oxford a message came through from C&RT with this!

Unfortunately, we have had to temporarily close the Buckby Lock Flight.
One of the Cills has blown, on the third lock as you approach from the bottom of the flight.
We will be on-site tomorrow morning, to carry out a full investigation.
We aim to have the lock flight operational again by Friday and will update the website tomorrow when we have more information.
We appreciate our customer's patience at this time.

We were still at the Great Linford although after Sunday lunch consisting of roast Beef and Yorkshire pud, (loverrrly)  we moved to a quieter spot. Also, there was a ledge by the pub moorings which no amount of fenders shoved down the hull of FS could make FS stop banging and, I might add made worse of course by speeding boaters!

Ruins of St Peters Church.

 So the plan was to move to Cosgrove and stay for a couple of days. The loo was at a critical stage and the water tank was down to 20%. Unfortunately, the tap at Cosgrove is sooo very slow that we watched Bargain hunt and had lunch before it was full!

And seen by the Black Horse pub. Someone's pet rabbit.

Must have been a shock on their return!

What a fabulous Sunset last night. Not seen one that vibrant in a long time!

Left Campbell Park this morning, had to really because our 48 hours were up, but in a way I was glad to see the back of the park. Too many people too near to FS, not normally a problem but in these times of the new normal.... a worry indeed.

At Gifford Park it was a quick stop to use the facilities and for me to get a cheap loaf of white bread from Tesco Express. Today I made the decision to buy a fishing licence. Why I didn't do it before was a massive oversight on my part. It was to do with thinking the tackle shops would be shut so why bother. But of course, bread works just as well if only the flakes would stay on the hook! Maybe someone could give me a tip?

Stopped at Great Linford and the first thing to do was assemble the rod. Good grief its been over two years since I last fished so I was a bit slow in getting the reel and line sorted and then a big mistake....tying the hook onto the line before putting the float on...dah! But once assembled and on the first cast, a small roach. Second cast a small bream. Yes.... what a good start and long may it continue.

Then I had just finished fishing and packed away when this ex lifeboat went past...well you can see for yourself. Ducked inside pretty quick and closed the doors. Choking it was!!

Once back inside FS we realised we had no internet and rubbish TV. It's not often we move once moored but because of that discovery, an exception was made. And for once we were both in agreement, move about a quarter of a mile to The Black Horse pub.

Having left that mooring and heading for the pub, on the opposite bank by Great Linford park this was seen. A day boat full of water. How on earth did that happen unless someone went down the weed hatch and forgot to secure the cover.  Must have been a shock to the returning hirers!

 Hardly a boat on the moorings, what a surprise so this will be home until Monday and as to the move? It was a good plan as we have both internet and TV. But have we done the right thing? Could be noisy tonight with those punters all seated outside but we hope to treat ourselves to a Sunday roast take away tomorrow.