Up to 24th
April 2018.
Bottom
blacked .. Batteries checked.. The Boat safety 2018 certificate
issued, no problems.
General
check over from our brilliant mechanic John Brady, we were ready to
head off, back the way we came.
We
have about 5 weeks to kill before we need to be back at Yelvertoft
Marina for the wedding of our next door neighbours Gregg and Jane on
the 24th of May.
We
planned to go past the turn at Norton junction and drop down to the
Northampton arm and visit our old haunts in our home town, but we had
just passed through the first lock at Long Buckby, because of the
very heavy side wind decided to moor up for the night, actually it
was no choice, the wind had pinned us to the bank. It was then we
heard the news the Northampton arm was blocked....DOH !!!
There
are 17 locks which drop you down to the River Nene in Northampton,
all single width, the first 13 very close together. Jenny could walk
between them, there are small cantilever bridges which allow farmers
to get to the fields on the other banks. These are left in the open
position to allow boats easy passage. However, according to the
jungle drums, vandals had cut the chains on one of the bridges,
causing it to fall into the canal and completely blocked it.
It
seem we were again not going to get to the Northampton Arm..I wanted
a plaque to fix onto our boat. We are collecting plaques of the
places we are visiting so when we sell the boat and go into ‘the
home for the bewildered’ we can place them on a board and remember
where we travelled, hopefully.
Next
morning, when we had eaten breakfast I did my usual check around on
Face-book..checked our cousins in Australia and other places and then
Narrowboat Users group. Brilliant site, where people on the cut can
keep in touch, if there is a problem anywhere they are often quicker
to get notification out to boaters than the authorities.
When
CRT had done a survey on the damage, it transpired it wasn’t
vandalism, it was rotten wood.. A crane was ordered and the canal
opened again within 2 days.
We
were on our way again.
The
Whilton / Buckby flight are double width so two boats can breast up
and travel down /up together. We waited at the top for the next boat
to come through, both to conserve water and also energy. Two people
to do the work on the lock paddles.
When
the next boat arrived it was one of two...Oops. . they were sharing
locks...oh dear.
When
we took over the other place, the last boat was left behind...well
the look he gave me !! I should have curled up and died.
Its
horrible when it happens, but its all part of the canal life. Its
happened to us more than once. The other boat was a family of four
Mum, Dad and 2 kids they were lovely and it was a pleasure sharing
part of our life with them albeit only an hour or so.
We
dropped down to Nether Heyford past the old camp-site we used to
caravan on before we bought the boat. A few years ago there was a
program on the TV staring the motor bike racer Guy Martin. They
‘acquired’ a scrap narrow boat on its way to a scrap yard. Over
the weeks of the program they repaired the vessel and cruised it to
various places making things to add to her. The boat was called
‘Reckless’. The series was very good. After the program
finished she was sold off for silly money (as it was famous! ??) It
is now is moored at Roger’s place at Furnace Wharf.
 |
| Reckless |
Stopping
off at the services we turned onto the Northampton Arm. Full of
water. Empty of rubbish and the toilets cassettes empty we were
after an overnight outside Gayton Marina ready for a long next day of
17 locks….
 |
| Lock 1 |
It
was a cloudy but warm day so it wasn’t too bad but...there was a
gentle side wind. The cut here is notorious for a lack of water, when
the water level is low it’s sometimes hard to steer. The sides have
mud banks and when Jenny had to fill a lock, I had to hold the boat
in the wind but it was blowing me into the bank. As the water levels
went down in the pound it left me on a mud bar !! I had to reverse
out more than once.
When
we arrived at lock 6 we had a real surprise..The canal had
disappeared completely !! (see photo’s).
It’s
the first time we had come across this phenomenon, …..HELP !! we
hadn’t a clue what to do. So ..on the mobile to Canal and River
Trust they sent a man out.
Before
he arrived another boat arrived behind us with a very abrupt lady on
board (bordering on extremely rude!!) She knew what to do..looking
back it was obvious what we needed do, walking back up the flight one
paddle was lifted on all the other locks (front and rear) allowing
water to pass down. With 15 minutes the pound was refilled ...whoop’s
just as the man from CRT arrived. We apologised but he was very good
about it. Next time we will know what to do. Canal learning curve !!
 |
| Somebody stole the canal |
By
the time we arrive in the mooring area in Northampton we had just
about had enough!!
We
had planned to moor in the marina in the centre of Northampton by
Beckets park, as we had been told the area was a bit ‘iffie’ when
we checked on availability and cost we thought the cost of £10.00
per night and £9.30 per day river licence we would risk staying
where we were on the canal. The Northampton Canal ends at lock 17 and
then goes on to be the River Nene which is run by another authority
and requires a different licence.
We
spent some of the money saved at the nearest pub...The Pomfret Arms..
Looks
a scruffy run down place from the outside but inside was great.
A
couple of well deserved pints went down lovely. Oldie world bar . .
but big garden full of students in various states of dress (it was
very hot) and different states of inebriation. Covered in studs and
pink. . green. . . purple hair..but they were well behaved.
A
great atmosphere.
Saturday
morning we jumped on the bus and travelled to the town centre and
walked back, down memory lane. How my home town had changed. Sadly
not for the better.
Walking
back we went to the mooring where my love of narrow boats started.
The first lock by the side of Beckett’s Park on to the river was
were it all started for me. ..as a child I would wait by the lock
until a boat came though and offer too...’Hold your rope mister’
as they passed through.. . . The coal barges were off to the old
power station, we would be given a couple of pennies or if it was a
cabin cruiser..(the rich ones) we could get a tanner..6d great fun.
 |
| Where it all started nearly 60 years ago. |
There
used to be a boat house there in the 1960’s hiring out rowing boats
on the river. . .
I
would ‘help out’ there just to get rides on the little pleasure
boat. It was a 12 to 16 seater and the lad who drove it. Tony...
often would let me steer. Happy memories were brought back.
 |
| Carlsberg Brewery |
A
great Sunday morning when our granddaughter and her mum invited
themselves for our famous ‘full English breakfast’ Quality time
with the family ..before we made the return flight on Monday.
We
had been warned of a local character who helps you through locks at
the top of the flight. The only thing is if it is very hot ,,,He’s
buck naked !! A friend who lives on a boat neer the turn onto the
Northampton Arm described him ‘as mad as a box of frogs’ !!
He’s
a down and out but harmless, he turned up halfway up the flight
..fully dressed ….it was a bit chilly.
Chatting
with Jenny he asked to borrow a windlass (the handle we open/close
locks with) he would do the double gate at the bottom of the lock
Jenny would do the single lock and he’d get us to the top lock in
40 minutes. Told us his name was Leon. Possible mid forties bottle of
White Lightning 2lts (half empty) in his hand…..off he went.
Preparing the lock so I could just sail in. Instead of opening one
gate and walking round to open the other, he leaned over then let go
of the railing and leapt over... grabbing the opposing side rail as
he went. Timed to perfection. As promised we went up like a
rocket...saved us time and Jenny a lot of energy. At the top we told
him to keep the windlass as we had a few and I slipped him a fiver.
He
looked really grateful. He’ s lived rough for years a local farmer
allowed him to live on his land until his daughter took over the farm
and evicted him. Now lives in a squat in a local town with junkies
and alcoholics. So sad he came over as a lovely guy..
As
we were leaving he said to us he would buy food today..
 |
| Our helper |
Now
handing over to picture and editor for completion…. bye bye for now
..
And finally just a short video of the journey......
