Short cruise to Hilmorton trip

The weather was dry but foggy when we got up in the morning after a very cold night.  Before we could set off there were a number of jobs to be done.  The water tank was filled up  having been kept low during the winter whilst there was chance of a long cold spell. Then the boat had to be disconnected from the shore mains supply and switched over to batteries.  The fire had gone out overnight so it had to be relit.

But by 10:40 the fog was disapearing and we were ready to move. An uneventful journey took us a short distance before Hilmorton Locks arriving soon after mid-day.  AFder lunch onboard we walked to the locks but decided not to cruise any further today since we have plenty of time.

3.86 miles

1.5 hours 

Back on board again!!

 After a gap of about 6 months because of illness we are now on our travels again. Just a few days to test our new stove and to check the boat is fully workig after a air amunt of work has been done on her

Evening view of Densie moored in marina

So far so good.  The central heating started at the first attempt and the cabin has warmed up..  The fridge quickly reached operating temperature and is now keeping our wine and beers ready for drinking. Having turned on the gas the cooker is now working. 

We  spent the afternoon shopping for provisions for the next 5 days. On our our return to the boat I followed the instructions for lighting our new solid fuel stove and within a few minutes it had gone out. Tried again with much the same result.  So I ignored the instructions and successfully lit the stove using the same procedure that I used for many years on the old one.

In the morning we plan to start the cruise from the marina to Rugby.

Welford Junction

 A pleasant and easy day's cruising with no rain and no locks.

Leicester Section Scenary

More Leicester Section Scenary

The canal follows a meandering course between low hills on its way north towards Leicester.We set off at 9:50 in cool but bright weather and, after a quick stop to fill up with water,carried on along down the canal stopping for lunch at 12:30. An hour later we set off again finally mooring for the night at 15:00 near Welford Junction where a short arm goes off to the village of Welford 1.5 miles away. 

Little else to report since the canal is completely isolated avoiding all habitation apart from a few farms.  Almost all the bridges are for farm tracks and very minor country lanes, the only one exception being the very busy A14.

Journey  Statistics

8.59 miles,  hours 55 minutes cruising.

Yelvertoft

 This evening we are moored near the small Leicestershire village of Yelvertoft after  a pleasant cruise along a meandering and interesting course through woods and isolated countryside.

On  the Watford staircase

Looking down the Watford Locks

Top of the Watford Locks

Typical canal scenary near Crick

We set off at 9:20  and passed alongside Watford Gap Services to reach the bottom of the 7 lock Watford flight  and joined a queue of 7 boats waiting to go up. After an hour's wait it was our turn to enter the bottom lock and aided by the lock keepers we quickly reached the top.

1.5 miles beyond the locks we arrived at the entrance to the 1500 foot Crick Tunnel and then travelled on to the outskirts of the large village of Crick where we stopped to do some shopping.

After lunch on the boat we cruised on for a further hour to moor up near Yelvertoft.

Journey statistics

6.22 miles, 7 locks, 4 hours 35 mins

On our way to Market Harborough

This report covers  Thurday 22nd to Saturday 24th August...

After some health problems we are now able to go out for a few days.  Our plan is to take Densie to Market Harborough in Leicestershire which lies on an arm of the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal.

We arrived on our marina on Thursday as we needed to talk to the engineering staff about some repairs they were making on the boat.  Unfortunately one, fault, a leaking central heating header tank, had not been fixed.  This was eventually found to be due to the plastic tank cracking after 18 years usage.  We would have liked to set out that day, but in any case there were extremely string gusty winds which would have made it difficult manoeuvre in the marina.

First thing on Friday the winds were still too strong for us to move but cleared up in the late morning.  After setting off at 11:50 we had a peaceful cruise down the North Oxford Canal to Braunston where we stopped for a late lunch.

Ascending Braunston Locks

We were planning to stay but there was no internet access.  Saturday was forecast to be very wet and the thought of being stuck in the boat for a day or two unconnected to the outside world did not appeal.  So we set off again at 14:30 to ascend the 6 wide Braunston locks hoping to get better reception.  Our journey was made easier by shareing the locks with another boat who had a crew of 4 aboard

We moored again at the top but still no internet signal.

First thing in the morning it was raining but we set off anyway as the first part of the journey was through the 2000 foot Braunston tunnel. But at the other end it was raining heavily and there was still no reception.  By 12:30 the rain had died down so we set off again, turning left onto the Leicester Section of the Grand Union at Norton Junction.

When the rain became heavier he moored near to Watford Locks at 13:40. Finally we were able to get a decent internet link.

Friday 23rd August

4.65 miles, 6 locks,3 hours 50 mins

Saturday 24th August

4.12 miles, 1 hour 45 mins

Back home

 

Densie moored in our home marina

 We are now moored back  in our home marina after an quick and uneventful cruise in dry and breezy weather back from Flecknoe.

Today's details:

5.89 miles  0 locks 2 hours 53 minutes

Total trip details

53.36 miles, 36 locks, 32 hours, 9 days

averaging: 2.79 lock-miles/hour, 3.56 hours/day

Two days 30/5/24 and 31/5/24 to Flecknoe

 No posting yesterday as we did not have any internet connectivity, so I am covering the past 2 days:

 

Entering HS2 Construction area

 

 

HS2  bridge over South Oxford Canal

 

 Canal passes HS2 gravel pile

30/5/24 Fenny Compton to Marston Doles.  At 9:10 on a grey and breezy morning we left Compton as 4th in a convoy of 6 narrowboats. Travel was slow as each boat had to pass in turn through  narrow bridges and past on-coming boats.  Progress was further impeded by the canal being shallow in places when we could not travel faster than 2mph.  The situation was made worse by frequent rain showers.

 We descended both the Marston Doles locks and moored for the day at 13:20 in heavy rain.  After settling down for the afternoon we then discovered there was no internet connection So not a happy day.

 Today's journey

7.9 miles. 2 locks, 4 hours 10 minutes

 

Herd of Water Buffalo at Napton Locks

 

A sorry lookingDenise operating lock in the rain

 

Next to bottom lock on Napton flight

31/5/24 Marston Doles to Flecknoe  We set off this morning in overcast and breezy weather at 9:55 and reached the 7 Napton Locks shortly afterwards which we quickly descended.  We had hoped to moor at the bottom but there were no free spaces so we carried on to near Napton Marina a couple of miles later where we stopped for lunch.

In the afternoon we joined the Grand Union Canal  and stopped for the night near the small village of Flecknoe.

Today's Journey

6.9 miles, 7 locks, 3 hours 20 minutes