Wendover

At lock 45 we had a VERY sharp right hand turn into the Wendover Arm. Like most of these little used waterways the water was very clear ( lots of fishes swimming by ) and extremely shallow In fact if another boat had come toward us I'm not sure what we would have done. Try to reverse probably!!!










The Flour mills in the picture above were full of pallets of bread flour ready to be loaded onto a lorry. Shame we couldn't grab a few as we cruised by.

This mooring was about as far as you could go. We had already turned round at the end of the arm. The fishing here was brilliant. Perch, Bream and plenty of rudd.

Marsworth flight

Nearly hidden from view. Lock 42 on the Marsworth flight.

Marsworth facilities

We had a lovely run to Marsworth. The sun shone and we met some lovely boaters on our way. Just before we got to the junction we met a couple on their boat Oakfield who like us are "continues cruisers". I found out they are also bloggers so I will add them to my blogger followers.



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Can you see me? Ian was looking to see if an other boat was coming. As we had another 5 locks to do it would have been easier if another boat could join us. Unfortunately there wasn't.

To Eastbourne ( finally! )

Finally made it to see my dad and step mum on the 7th of October. This time our journey down was free of any mishaps and we had a wonderful visit. I took my camera but forgot to take any photos. This picture was taken on a previous visit.

On Saturday 9th we set of again after dropping the car back at Colins and decided to head for Marsworth to cruise down the Wendover arm.

Pigeon at Fenny Stratgford

Before we left to go shopping at Fenny Stratford, a cat chased this pigeon into the canal. I hoped it would get itself out and when we arrived back a couple of hours later there was no sign of it. Then while we were sitting enjoying a nice cup of tea, we heard a commotion outside . When we went to investigate the pigeon was still in the water and trying desperately to get out. I grabbed my fishing net and managed to pull it out. Poor thing was exhausted and very cold. We had lit our fire so I brought it in to try and warm it up. By 10pm it still was only just hanging on but we had to go to bed and I couldn't leave it in front of the fire, so with some trepidation I put him in the well deck and hoped he would survive. Unfortunately on getting up in the morning he was only just alive and an hour later gave his last breath. Not everything turns out as one would hope but we did give it a proper send off Dug a hole in the hedge bottom and gave it a decent burial.

Thursday 30th

Went shopping and stopped off at a Peugeot garage to see about changing our Jeep. Found a nice 206 estate which we took out for a test drive. The offered price on ours as part exchange seemed okay so we have put a deposit down on the 206.

When we arrived back to the boat Ian had a go at sorting the brakes out. He shaved a small amount off the pad and tomorrow he will take it for a good run to see if the problem is solved.

Wednesday 29th

Yipee! Had a phone call to say the brake pipe had been replaced. Ian took the next available train back to Hemal and by 12.30pm was on his way back. Then at 1pm another phone call. This time from Ian to say that the brakes were binding again and he would have to let the wheels cool of! So problem still there. Now what? When he arrived back a decision was made to try and shave a bit of the brake pad in the hope that it wouldn't seize up again, so that is tomorrows job.

Christine and Josh arrived to bring our dogs back. Josh is gorgeous but he never keeps still. Into everything. Had a funny moment when Christine decided to change Joshua's nappy and before she could get the new one on, he peed over our books in the book case. Bless!!

Monday 27th Broken cars and body at Cosgrove

The day started like any other day, only difference was we were due to travel to Eastbourne to see my dad. Our car had been left on our son Colin's driveway for several months but she started okay so we brought her down to Cosgrove to where our boat was moored. We left at 9.15am and after checking tyre pressures and filling up with petrol at the local garage, set of on our 3 hour journey. Then an hour into the journey all went very wrong. Ian suddenly felt a shuddering from the tyres. He pulled over onto the hard shoulder of the M1 and as he stopped clouds of smoke came pouring out from the front wheels. So big dilemma. Do we proceed slowly along the hard shoulder to Junction 9 where we could safely get away from the speeding cars, or do we stay put and risk getting run into? We decided on the former and with smoke billowing in all directions made it off the motorway and into a farmers track. Okay. Phone the green flag to come out to us. No problem.Said he would be with us at 11.30am. As we had driven forward onto the track we decided that it would be easier for the repairs to happen if the front wheels were toward the road. The brakes had cooled down by now so Ian did a three point turn and positioned the car so it faced the road. Anyway sure enough the nice man from the Green Flag arrived when he said he would and after a quick look at the front wheels came to the conclusion that the brakes were binding and not much could be done at the side of the road. So he said he could tow us to Hemel Hempsted and take us to Quick Fit where they could do a brake check. We agreed. Then as he walked round the car he suddenly said " Did you know the rear tyre was going flat?" We couldn't believe it. On turning the vehicle round we had punctured the tyre with a large screw. It was still embedded in the wheel! Good job we were going to Quick Fit! On arrival they said they would fix the puncture there and then but couldn't do the brake check until 2.30pm. The town center was only half a mile away so we left them to it and went for a look round Hemel. We duly arrived back at the allotted time only to be told our brake caliper had cracked and that was the reason for our troubles. Ian being Ian and knowing quite a lot about cars told him in no uncertain terms that he was talking rubbish and that they were not going to force us into paying some exorbitant price for no reason at all. He told them to put the wheels back on the car and he would drive it back home and sort it out there. Okay. Now for the scary bit. As Ian drove the car from the forecourt he suddenly said that the brakes didn't feel right. I got out of the car to be met by some sort of fluid pouring from beneath the car. Brake fluid!!!!! So straight back to the garage and back onto the ramp. We both jumped to conclusion that the mechanic had done something wrong, but when Ian inspected it with him, found the brake pipe had corroded where the clip held it to the car. This could have gone at any time. Someone was looking out for us because if we had to have braked suddenly while travelling at speed along the motorway we just wouldn't have stopped and our number would have been up!!! Well we had no option but to let them fix the pipe. Only trouble was it was a Chrysler part and they didn't have it. As luck would have it next door was a Chrysler dealer, so with no brakes other then the hand break, Ian drove it next door. Guess what. They didn't have the part either so we had to leave the car in Hemel Hempsted and take the train back to Milton Keynes. A quick phone call to Colin and an assurance that he would collect us from the station. Now you would think that as our day had been so bad nothing more could happen. Wrong. When Colin pulled into Gosgrove carpark we found it to be full of Police cars. Wondering if a boat had been broken into I went up to one of the policeman and asked that question. He didn't say much just said there had been "an incident". We started to walk toward our boat when he stopped us and asked where we were going. We told him our boat was moored just below the lock and that as we lived on board we were going home. He stopped us again and told us we could not return to the boat until the "incident" had been dealt with. It all fell into place then. I asked him if it was a body in the canal and he confirmed my suspicion. So all we could do was to go to the pub and wait for the all clear from the coppers. Everyone was talking about what had happened. From what I can gather,it was a man who had been missing off his boat since Friday. He moored about half a mile from Cosgrove Lock. I don't suppose we will ever no what really happened to him but on the Monday morning a boat exiting the lock suddenly stalled and no amount of turning the engine would get it going. Then the lady at the tiller realised that something was round the prop and to her horror found it to be the body. How she must have felt is beyond me. It is something I have always dreaded happening and so far thankfully it never has. The body had been in the canal for a length of time and was pretty mangled so no wonder the policeman wouldn't let us back to our boat. I really feel for his family. Just goes to show that you can never be to careful when boating. We were eventually allowed back to the boat at 8.30pm where we reflected on a pretty dismal day all round. Our trip to Eastbourne had to be cancelled and we have no idea when our car will be ready to collect.

mechanical man

As we are at a loose end now and because getting to Hemel Hempsted is not easy from Gosgrove, we decided to move the boat back to Fenny Stratford where we can catch a train to Bletchley and then another to Hemel. We had a phone call to say the mechanics are still trying to locate a break pipe and the cost will be £185. Ouch!! So here we are at Fenny just biding our time until we can collect our car.

On our way to Fenny this metal man had been cleverly placed in a tree. Good way of getting rid of unwanted spare parts.

Family visit

On Sunday Colin, Iwona and are beautiful grandson Oscar arrived to take a trip with us from Fenny to Gifford Park. After swapping cars we set off about 11 am. Oscar is in the terrible two stage but he was a dream to have on board. It was only on the last 15 mins of our journey that he got a bit troublesome but it is only to be expected after being confined to a boat.

Heron interloper

At Fenny Stratford the only 14 day mooring available was opposite Mick and Carole Gold on their boat Electra. This heron made itself comfortable whilst waiting for his breakfast to arrive.

Defra rash

Not sure what is going on here. The black plastic went from one side to the other. As we passed over it we hit something. Ian thought it was submerged brickwork.

Strange duck

This pretty duck swam past with an ordinary drake in tow. Had they paired? or was she trying to get away from him! If anyone knows what sort of duck this is please could you tell me.

The walking wounded

Well, first Judy has to wear Ian's T shirt because the lump on her chest had started to weep, and then Jade cut her pad when playing ball. Luckily I had bandages in the doggy first aid box so Jade suffered the indignaty of being plastered. We are still at Grove Lock and while Ian got the chainsaw out and cut the logs into managable sizes I washed all the dogs bedding including baskets in the bath. As you can see the dogs have had to resort to sleeping on their vet beds. We will wind round tomorrow and head back toFenny Stratford where we will stay for a few days and

Grove Lock nr Leighton Buzzard

What a day! High winds and driving rain. Started to get worried when branches dropped on top of us.We even hooked a fisherman! I should say he hooked us. Left his ledger rod out and as we came passed, picked up the line and caught it on our bow. We had to reverse quite away before the line came free. He had a droll sense of humour when he said it was the biggest thing he had ever caught.
We did some scavanging on the way and found 3 decent branches left to rot in the hedges. We loaded them onto our boat ready to be chopped up and logged for our fire. Wont be long before we need it lit. We had had enough when we arrived at Grove lock and moored just in time before the heavens opened again.

Ironic isn't it. 6.30pm and the sun comes out and gives us a brilliant sunset.

Heron

I have been trying for ages to get a heron in flight and finally I managed it.

Pump part purchased

Managed to find a Chandlers at Willowbridge. The price wasn't to bad at £17 including washers etc so all Ian has to do is fix it and then he can finally have his shower. We found a nice mooring not far from the boat yard and just got nicely tied when Ian decided to move on because the bloke opposite was using an angle grinder on his boat and the last thing Ian wanted was metal filings all over our paintwork We only had to move just round the corner and actually the mooring here is even nicer. The weather has turned nasty again. Lots of wind and rain. Glad to be inside the boat, but what about my fishing!

Not another loose boat!!!!!

We stayed at Stoke Bruern for a couple of days. Ian gave the gunwale another coat of paint and then re varnished the windows in the lounge. I fished. We left on Saturday 11th, stopped at Wolverton to stock up with supplies at Tesco and then found a tackle shop so I could buy more bait. We moved onwards and decided that, as we needed a good place to stop so I could get my telly, Gifford Park was as good as any. We had just moored up when I noticed the boat in front drifting out. Ian again came to the rescue expecting his pin to be pulled out, but no, the owner of the boat had tied his rope to his windless and shoved that between the cladding. No wonder it had come adrift. As the weather was good Ian decided to take all the bedroom window surrounds out and re varnish them. I fished.

That evening I had a shower. All was well. Then I washed our nets in the bath. All was not well!! As I pumped the water from the bath a horrible noise started to come from the pump and the water refused to flow away. Ian to the rescue again and after taking the pump apart discovered all the teeth had broken from the impeller. Somehow a small stone had made its way through the pump shattering all the blades. ( Must be when we washed the dogs feet!!) So no spares on the boat. Nearest Chandlers was a day away and one very dirty Ian because he couldn't have his shower. So glad I had already had mine.

Tunnel enterance

I know I have taken numerous pictures of Blisworth Tunnel but I wanted to experiment with my camera when we got inside. Luckily quite a few of the pictures came out.

Inside Blisworth Tunnel