tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74677583388380205102024-03-04T23:08:03.244-08:00Travelling the Canals of EnglandAn account of the travels of Narrowboat 'Leo' on the English waterwaysIan and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.comBlogger312125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-40020797168991984422022-08-04T13:45:00.001-07:002022-08-04T13:45:58.686-07:00Chester by boat<p> We are in fact now in Nantwich on the Shropshire Union Canal heading south but here is our experience of visiting Chester by boat. The cruise down into Chester from the junction at Barbridge, where most boats turn south towards Nantwich and Audlem is full of variety with double staircase locks at Bunbury, an iron lock and fine views over the Cheshire countryside.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3VIUbVL3Cq9JnrI-fYfUmLZhXrZO0Pad7kvcUpZviYDjHQTxouERO7Q8GyCgHC9looKrjNKyztWlJWeEOHbRlMI7pFbZG1HX799IxAczkvTMFp-YRAivqSs_5omTUUl_CBZujAR4Z7td_2r4J751kaESORwIdAfb43QjSO_HVMnlu7zJA0oisQ4-/s1200/H018%20Beeston%20Iron%20Lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3VIUbVL3Cq9JnrI-fYfUmLZhXrZO0Pad7kvcUpZviYDjHQTxouERO7Q8GyCgHC9looKrjNKyztWlJWeEOHbRlMI7pFbZG1HX799IxAczkvTMFp-YRAivqSs_5omTUUl_CBZujAR4Z7td_2r4J751kaESORwIdAfb43QjSO_HVMnlu7zJA0oisQ4-/w640-h360/H018%20Beeston%20Iron%20Lock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Beeston Iron Lock. The two locks at Beeston are called the Iron and the Stone locks because of their construction. Stone built locks are fairly conventional but this one was made of iron because the sand it was built in shifted and the only way the builders could guarantee its continued use was to build the whole thing of iron and sink it into the ground. There are warning signs here to use the wide lock only one narrowboat at a time but on the way back we managed two boats together. It may be that a couple of working boats might be too tight a squeeze but leisure boats like ours at 6 foot 10 inches beam are fine.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFVyO1vtW0aldiDf9gkLlCNV78Hz_4j2qhDJxIOmisFXOtokEvSqStMQ6tA00uX0c21biZPfEbxg2sHrF_wC2FC4ay-1UTvvlJhgOZaOei0jg8X3L33BDK5txcoRWUPOsS98bjo5JpudfF1p-iGw0BDxgFnbaCQAzNMm3ELbAW_rr9Bn5gWzGhr9P/s1200/H020%20Beeston%20Castle%20from%20Mooring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFVyO1vtW0aldiDf9gkLlCNV78Hz_4j2qhDJxIOmisFXOtokEvSqStMQ6tA00uX0c21biZPfEbxg2sHrF_wC2FC4ay-1UTvvlJhgOZaOei0jg8X3L33BDK5txcoRWUPOsS98bjo5JpudfF1p-iGw0BDxgFnbaCQAzNMm3ELbAW_rr9Bn5gWzGhr9P/w640-h360/H020%20Beeston%20Castle%20from%20Mooring.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">The view to the south here is of Beeston Castle built in the 14th century on a prominent rocky eminence. On our way back we climbed up to the castle (owned by English Heritage) and admired the view from the top. You do have to pay to get the view (unless you are members) but we could see Liverpool, Manchester, Jodrell Bank, Mow Cop and the Wrekin not to mention the Welsh mountains, Moel Famau being the highest.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa-nshwuVUks5Ua34H5mvr6Egry98i9SW-dHCCgFp2Jd7IuC7ZyNHGnqhoNT6Hs28U1NxsfdeXpxh0UgGlheTgG3Osm6g3z_1miXrhHyRXCpgJsnp3gnnpRLLb0GnuujSrQKihv9L1P81y2iOK7lcG045o54rCugLTcS5qtVrJqmGx3gtsOVLzQoO/s1200/H027%20Looking%20back%20to%20Hoole%20Lane%20Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa-nshwuVUks5Ua34H5mvr6Egry98i9SW-dHCCgFp2Jd7IuC7ZyNHGnqhoNT6Hs28U1NxsfdeXpxh0UgGlheTgG3Osm6g3z_1miXrhHyRXCpgJsnp3gnnpRLLb0GnuujSrQKihv9L1P81y2iOK7lcG045o54rCugLTcS5qtVrJqmGx3gtsOVLzQoO/w640-h360/H027%20Looking%20back%20to%20Hoole%20Lane%20Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This prominent blue water tower is a key feature as the canal descends further locks into the city. It is on the site of waterworks which pumps water up from the River Dee.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggaDDjvQ4-uYRxLENgRgwS-tHw7Z8_zclbu8_D9iZEjHCqWjNrKuik787gqvOrX4qW2w_nwSYeWdfwfjvKNl2LXnXtvuvM8y8rkQNs9SfgvwhmhiYLzvcSR4vdD_aeqLytRvJ5yeKiyoX85jZl5Ih3H9HDyRZvMpQml1J3atJDXMwYXYnb_Bw5nvY/s1200/H028%20Coming%20into%20Chester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggaDDjvQ4-uYRxLENgRgwS-tHw7Z8_zclbu8_D9iZEjHCqWjNrKuik787gqvOrX4qW2w_nwSYeWdfwfjvKNl2LXnXtvuvM8y8rkQNs9SfgvwhmhiYLzvcSR4vdD_aeqLytRvJ5yeKiyoX85jZl5Ih3H9HDyRZvMpQml1J3atJDXMwYXYnb_Bw5nvY/w640-h360/H028%20Coming%20into%20Chester.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is the view as we came down into Chester. Underneath the Steam Mill tower is a restaurant called Artichoke that we had recommended to us, though it was only open in the evenings.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjbslpTrzkK6WzkpubJSNRAYu12DUh92aRqxRfnKsP_-RXtLOZLbNsVTWN3CKldVvu-KhRnv6Xp6QzIx0XF6N2MqYLSYASGdZhubP0OPfZSBwWITLXXDuJc2hrVxmIZL-gYL6ssQ-XdrwKD38qk3OAbz2YPhGLPFwxGS-Ghk2K8rrUA_oSRacZUWu/s1200/H031%20River%20Dee%20from%20the%20walls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjbslpTrzkK6WzkpubJSNRAYu12DUh92aRqxRfnKsP_-RXtLOZLbNsVTWN3CKldVvu-KhRnv6Xp6QzIx0XF6N2MqYLSYASGdZhubP0OPfZSBwWITLXXDuJc2hrVxmIZL-gYL6ssQ-XdrwKD38qk3OAbz2YPhGLPFwxGS-Ghk2K8rrUA_oSRacZUWu/w640-h360/H031%20River%20Dee%20from%20the%20walls.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored in the city for a couple of days and spent a whole day sightseeing. Here we are walking the walls which go all around the city. This part is along the River Dee where you can see the weir and the bridge. There is a canal branch which links with the River Dee but it is not presently navigable. Even if it was, the weir is a great obstruction to going upstream though there are plenty of boats above the weir. Below the weir the river is tidal.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8VaKjd0f3Eq8Hn5PUoRRwyAgZtksZobECEfw1s9UiepB9GgvkaTdXq6qnbm0GlalCgLNHw_uNhlXhRwFMTl8ngSjMowR1svXNsx1HPJ7momzAQeBPxPfcc19uWW2D0Pjx2l9mOzCu6xADONhIgyZ_Gxt9LO4uytQkpwA7B6ImkMtO7YITwempES_/s2133/H035%20Man%20in%20Dragon's%20Mouth,%20Choir%20Stalls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8VaKjd0f3Eq8Hn5PUoRRwyAgZtksZobECEfw1s9UiepB9GgvkaTdXq6qnbm0GlalCgLNHw_uNhlXhRwFMTl8ngSjMowR1svXNsx1HPJ7momzAQeBPxPfcc19uWW2D0Pjx2l9mOzCu6xADONhIgyZ_Gxt9LO4uytQkpwA7B6ImkMtO7YITwempES_/w360-h640/H035%20Man%20in%20Dragon's%20Mouth,%20Choir%20Stalls.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had a look round the Cathedral and later returned for a guided climb to the top of the tower. We admired the carvings on the choir stalls. This one shows a man whose bottom half is in the jaws of a dragon. He doesn't look too worried about this.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sXj7EGzsC-KXqVMKyNC5SDiaIv6YFTrRb_hXfaUrU3lSrPL8X6DDyPPO__3P71msNDpkmI2yFwbJscoY4aV2XWItYW0o4JptGtYNO7-4NTDMluGKNN40wj_aVaMjxvdBVVYA6xUYhV5RewUaPYnJbAmQIsZABSsWJ4e9UW9lOLEXscpLKp9imo5N/s2133/H036%20Choir%20Stalls%20Face.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sXj7EGzsC-KXqVMKyNC5SDiaIv6YFTrRb_hXfaUrU3lSrPL8X6DDyPPO__3P71msNDpkmI2yFwbJscoY4aV2XWItYW0o4JptGtYNO7-4NTDMluGKNN40wj_aVaMjxvdBVVYA6xUYhV5RewUaPYnJbAmQIsZABSsWJ4e9UW9lOLEXscpLKp9imo5N/w360-h640/H036%20Choir%20Stalls%20Face.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And this one shows a man quaffing ale while trampling a child underfoot.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn49xZJOenBW5tM5IlvQkZM8HKJvW897Vg-6DXK-eY28ic-F7ZfNoO2zP1xRDsfaF3_sb1IjV_RWpzcwyB-_VCNTcaztAjyzthPKLVsx9jWSA9curwAa6P386ZD26dqRrlx66E7_mYdTQmd2WqL5oM5ndFGX6JnlaKXBR2AAAg299Il9Qnns_aHXVd/s1892/H037%20Interesting%20Memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn49xZJOenBW5tM5IlvQkZM8HKJvW897Vg-6DXK-eY28ic-F7ZfNoO2zP1xRDsfaF3_sb1IjV_RWpzcwyB-_VCNTcaztAjyzthPKLVsx9jWSA9curwAa6P386ZD26dqRrlx66E7_mYdTQmd2WqL5oM5ndFGX6JnlaKXBR2AAAg299Il9Qnns_aHXVd/w406-h640/H037%20Interesting%20Memorial.jpg" width="406" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ian has a fascination for unusual gravestones. This one makes great play of the fact that the deceased had decided that his relatives had plenty of money and so gave his estate to the Cathedral. The bottom part of the inscription says "This plain monument, with the above inscription upon this cheap stone, is according to the express words of Dean Arderne's will."<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXSt4p0fI0Y6RPBUXzKgcfNE9SUaEITA8x0teP9t3BBmaub84qDw7lJ4q64xPb0VEFQJE0EfeI-_oDXTqv6KAvpCGUztW3vXFKtaqXJLzYCC-g8xtTTfupNb0LSLJQNYMnIuONe9yleqNIBXIQHDPA6IbrZgfpM5BgTldIvZkIaSml-LCA0pFpy_n/s1200/H039%20IWA%20Festival,%20Chester.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXSt4p0fI0Y6RPBUXzKgcfNE9SUaEITA8x0teP9t3BBmaub84qDw7lJ4q64xPb0VEFQJE0EfeI-_oDXTqv6KAvpCGUztW3vXFKtaqXJLzYCC-g8xtTTfupNb0LSLJQNYMnIuONe9yleqNIBXIQHDPA6IbrZgfpM5BgTldIvZkIaSml-LCA0pFpy_n/w640-h360/H039%20IWA%20Festival,%20Chester.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">Below where we were moored are triple staircase locks which are deep and forbidding. These lead down to Tower Wharf where there was a festival during our visit to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Chester Canal. Here you can see the festival boats with bunting.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKmCaNLhOTz5ufVWrrVYvcl2ZMfzgoHAGM8_f8kAzlfg1XHwTewmENQt25WMTC1m782koVAwvwOBZDAef3lfYZYlbY3TTyxSyJy8KNxvHtL7nTkrxL7x8Pb3fBW2KbipEycPpZ7az0V1E-IbTCtHVdWT3e1Pq9eW36WfSWTfSiaSgP2wTTtuAy1OJ/s1200/H042%20Dee%20Branch%20below%20first%20lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKmCaNLhOTz5ufVWrrVYvcl2ZMfzgoHAGM8_f8kAzlfg1XHwTewmENQt25WMTC1m782koVAwvwOBZDAef3lfYZYlbY3TTyxSyJy8KNxvHtL7nTkrxL7x8Pb3fBW2KbipEycPpZ7az0V1E-IbTCtHVdWT3e1Pq9eW36WfSWTfSiaSgP2wTTtuAy1OJ/w640-h360/H042%20Dee%20Branch%20below%20first%20lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the canal branch which leads down three locks from Tower Wharf to the River Dee. Some boats have their moorings down the first lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhvka_P8KVJDDSTFRcoDoB23mg43aSI0ZaAYoVa0QfxfJK_iC9txWdxZLckjvgsR-Wur51jD-esGmMQbAbox7yRQqMNlAtPwSdOeOACWDiFnSKjb_4-m3eici5uukyOTjAbAU-wdX_Q1TBnV1VCVpyUcJfOiybB1rMpwvW94FMZJtxiU1qb7Ohqh1/s1200/H043%20Entry%20to%20River%20Dee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhvka_P8KVJDDSTFRcoDoB23mg43aSI0ZaAYoVa0QfxfJK_iC9txWdxZLckjvgsR-Wur51jD-esGmMQbAbox7yRQqMNlAtPwSdOeOACWDiFnSKjb_4-m3eici5uukyOTjAbAU-wdX_Q1TBnV1VCVpyUcJfOiybB1rMpwvW94FMZJtxiU1qb7Ohqh1/w640-h360/H043%20Entry%20to%20River%20Dee.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is the exit into the River Dee at the end of the branch. Clearly there is work to do to make this navigable even on a high tide on the river. Still it does look more navigable than it did when we were last here 7 years ago. So maybe there is hope.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdN2KUOkdOLJOyhT_LOSyaRkLOuSrCMmg84Ni_nm1vis8rSwEU4z9_J82ec8sdFv_Bs6jNb3uRfnmvl46RYhX9-TpcGJvJwcqVdBG6fr7AKdngTh8fiPKGgGW09DryLKd8Dmh3piGhNcRgLMmU7d3NdGZlgIsrnwoclEcp5ZIcxVZ4-Y7dQJ08vJ8/s1200/H045%20Bridge%20Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdN2KUOkdOLJOyhT_LOSyaRkLOuSrCMmg84Ni_nm1vis8rSwEU4z9_J82ec8sdFv_Bs6jNb3uRfnmvl46RYhX9-TpcGJvJwcqVdBG6fr7AKdngTh8fiPKGgGW09DryLKd8Dmh3piGhNcRgLMmU7d3NdGZlgIsrnwoclEcp5ZIcxVZ4-Y7dQJ08vJ8/w640-h360/H045%20Bridge%20Street.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are in the city looking up Bridge Street. Chester has ancient shopping streets known as the Rows where you can walk along at first floor level past a higher level of shops. You can make out this higher level walkway in the picture.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbJBxgKuoGCjOhLbkMs75xlSJDXiFfQk8orFUGG5OjqxQ6Gh4vNZ1Wb2QozPBnNM5iDRZom9DKQ52NUt6mqvVk2xe3bF_UFT7CFhUnKv9C_Rri7uFkmdY1BxwJhMWlyEB-bJZF_v1rFdDrUUuWzpYhzGziQ7k98VXLQJGTYJvTIoBgvGE_EWFkrcv/s1200/H046%20Grosvenor%20Shopping%20Arcade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbJBxgKuoGCjOhLbkMs75xlSJDXiFfQk8orFUGG5OjqxQ6Gh4vNZ1Wb2QozPBnNM5iDRZom9DKQ52NUt6mqvVk2xe3bF_UFT7CFhUnKv9C_Rri7uFkmdY1BxwJhMWlyEB-bJZF_v1rFdDrUUuWzpYhzGziQ7k98VXLQJGTYJvTIoBgvGE_EWFkrcv/w640-h360/H046%20Grosvenor%20Shopping%20Arcade.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Part way down the street the Grosvenor Shopping Centre opens up to the side. Lined with marble and beautifully preserved.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryH1Y2Q9QpuzjJjSnhQiRGYUvPS_9pX0Z3NFUFDRIuMTDPM0K4Q5kNcCeya_iYkFLmKQ73JEDTXrmpzH7oMdb70nMk0X3EMl5Aa1x98la-CexPBOq8ryXuFtgRtzS5sJeDLhRB_kB21KUohGUQgWohCuZxB9ni32w2G1lDU7EeHUAoK6SPhvXb4Sl/s1200/H049%20Grosvenor%20Shopping%20Centre.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryH1Y2Q9QpuzjJjSnhQiRGYUvPS_9pX0Z3NFUFDRIuMTDPM0K4Q5kNcCeya_iYkFLmKQ73JEDTXrmpzH7oMdb70nMk0X3EMl5Aa1x98la-CexPBOq8ryXuFtgRtzS5sJeDLhRB_kB21KUohGUQgWohCuZxB9ni32w2G1lDU7EeHUAoK6SPhvXb4Sl/w640-h360/H049%20Grosvenor%20Shopping%20Centre.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the street facade of the Grosvenor Shopping Centre.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vKlh0qRObgOUQOcsUzRW9YwC0944KacEgzS_pQwhfnB9SBYXMPQ98PgbLmkkXuHiYDc3Z_uWeaW1bJxl49zjZfU4rr8o3Xxdb4A6z1FE_ps2cNxkw_-6wk_vz__FVwfXqYDhXu7HZB_hP7H2cIctrZIBAgXzNqnzdjpjxhRbXR99VUu6_Y6BSaGv/s1200/H054%20East%20to%20Beeston%20from%20Cathedral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vKlh0qRObgOUQOcsUzRW9YwC0944KacEgzS_pQwhfnB9SBYXMPQ98PgbLmkkXuHiYDc3Z_uWeaW1bJxl49zjZfU4rr8o3Xxdb4A6z1FE_ps2cNxkw_-6wk_vz__FVwfXqYDhXu7HZB_hP7H2cIctrZIBAgXzNqnzdjpjxhRbXR99VUu6_Y6BSaGv/w640-h360/H054%20East%20to%20Beeston%20from%20Cathedral.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">Later in the afternoon we returned to the Cathedral for our trip to the roof of the tower. The views were excellent even on this fairly dull day. This view looking east shows the curious separate bell tower of the Cathedral. The distant hills include the 'lump' where Beeston Castle sits.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGNIfy0m8mpA_VXDxbHjfv1kJmXtdnXoYZg5GCRv0PL6ooTdGRSKBJw3EQ2cHVE0pqJWSfxjsjrKsWk3wErqOzuWgoiwh2HkCBZLmgDZ-Lw3nqF-VeCYJovvHsZwmlU-NRIxNgx_S-0Z4FnLAWab6e5y3SbUbTIJhe3DMmLwJc57vUFyIQ7V_G005/s1200/H056%20West%20to%20Town%20Hall%20and%20Moel%20Famau.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGNIfy0m8mpA_VXDxbHjfv1kJmXtdnXoYZg5GCRv0PL6ooTdGRSKBJw3EQ2cHVE0pqJWSfxjsjrKsWk3wErqOzuWgoiwh2HkCBZLmgDZ-Lw3nqF-VeCYJovvHsZwmlU-NRIxNgx_S-0Z4FnLAWab6e5y3SbUbTIJhe3DMmLwJc57vUFyIQ7V_G005/w640-h360/H056%20West%20to%20Town%20Hall%20and%20Moel%20Famau.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This view looks west towards Wales. The fine building is the town hall.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXaHaJcf3z6npi10MOaxWbRAVRZqY3OAN9-nmP-3J1y77kVdhIMmUqdhMtbiKQgaJvErBbPQDuEYOPzqjBPIL4u90ib1aiR62hnSu0Bv1CqCM1l6pkTA-BgaimjF7wJjuXQc--3_n6XoaY_R5faLq2d7LND_fSgvN2P8S4nV9j3LLvV_NqH2Wsj6p/s1200/H059%20Liverpool%20from%20Chester%20Cathedral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXaHaJcf3z6npi10MOaxWbRAVRZqY3OAN9-nmP-3J1y77kVdhIMmUqdhMtbiKQgaJvErBbPQDuEYOPzqjBPIL4u90ib1aiR62hnSu0Bv1CqCM1l6pkTA-BgaimjF7wJjuXQc--3_n6XoaY_R5faLq2d7LND_fSgvN2P8S4nV9j3LLvV_NqH2Wsj6p/w640-h360/H059%20Liverpool%20from%20Chester%20Cathedral.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here on a long zoom we could see Liverpool. The anglican Cathedral is the tall building in the middle of the photo with the Roman Catholic Cathedral between the two pylons on the far right.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BGGwvHVJYj-gezJgonzY-UpvsSgtLv8OAXWDruRJEO5Q1aQodzu8P18WYrN64sc1ibW7EheR6ZYBQDKa6xfPn5GAUhckMqQWD1IC62oiBc6wg7hDdqFT3Gk9bJfRYIyRohVriT-qmO00Ocm8L4pNfPN_r_GY9s6IA_TOen0yb-TbUnPI2QJ28Rva/s1800/H063%20Mallory%20+%20Irvine%20window%20in%20cloister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BGGwvHVJYj-gezJgonzY-UpvsSgtLv8OAXWDruRJEO5Q1aQodzu8P18WYrN64sc1ibW7EheR6ZYBQDKa6xfPn5GAUhckMqQWD1IC62oiBc6wg7hDdqFT3Gk9bJfRYIyRohVriT-qmO00Ocm8L4pNfPN_r_GY9s6IA_TOen0yb-TbUnPI2QJ28Rva/w426-h640/H063%20Mallory%20+%20Irvine%20window%20in%20cloister.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the cloister of the Cathedral we found this stained glass memorial to Mallory and Irvine who perished on Everest in 1924. It seems they were from Cheshire: we didn't know that.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3N--EldAzEF7ramJ-lS7xrzZTxiZy5ryDSnpu0ycg48jWJsHHewJDSCk__ajpjmC5MW8Rc31LxrFmAyrYldW7idJdxyBxyGjiaJI5u9cpmj9Z5K2JLqsp562NUGZ9Vg_wyXwVcTT2ApFJU5Ft8gjjGKaZszn8mY0FX6C65feXvvWZKkp4EZ3uBd9/s1200/H065%20Canal%20below%20the%20walls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3N--EldAzEF7ramJ-lS7xrzZTxiZy5ryDSnpu0ycg48jWJsHHewJDSCk__ajpjmC5MW8Rc31LxrFmAyrYldW7idJdxyBxyGjiaJI5u9cpmj9Z5K2JLqsp562NUGZ9Vg_wyXwVcTT2ApFJU5Ft8gjjGKaZszn8mY0FX6C65feXvvWZKkp4EZ3uBd9/w640-h360/H065%20Canal%20below%20the%20walls.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a couple of days looking round the city we continued on the canal. Much of the route is cut down through solid sandstone rock forming a gorge below the city walls.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z_VsdVJyqbcjvsKXYGmOiq4W4B9rGnhKwNMiMpWsWtWmGhHow5ZP7YF9JnlXY0aSXi5DS-jeDkR1l1dkGg8QxcLwUG_X7NbmxUqMmsm2X8JQGAEdA7_qcpvN6YbPvdoL6zqCQH9Yq9wdMr6Qj0Otj8MhCl2rL6Yv2vLN8XvSQ5rY53NywGvfel6A/s1200/H066%20Northgate%20Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z_VsdVJyqbcjvsKXYGmOiq4W4B9rGnhKwNMiMpWsWtWmGhHow5ZP7YF9JnlXY0aSXi5DS-jeDkR1l1dkGg8QxcLwUG_X7NbmxUqMmsm2X8JQGAEdA7_qcpvN6YbPvdoL6zqCQH9Yq9wdMr6Qj0Otj8MhCl2rL6Yv2vLN8XvSQ5rY53NywGvfel6A/w640-h360/H066%20Northgate%20Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are cruising under Northgate Bridge at the northern entrance to Roman Chester.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhxKhotqy6_vGRd9oa7-5zMd-j3hLs9Ti15hUb8qaBIpMrYMIK7j6Hzj-OvDm1i-ALGwWsVm3hX5Wz4x697IwXu0fmdoNkcXHCrhoXhvWzm1TpNx89abAaiK-2ABKCp5WMxR0UUwEXlaG9GMw4xh4LHo6KoNvL-9qKyPstXDSZTMRkhGbB70n_QVo/s1200/H067%20Rock%20cut%20channel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhxKhotqy6_vGRd9oa7-5zMd-j3hLs9Ti15hUb8qaBIpMrYMIK7j6Hzj-OvDm1i-ALGwWsVm3hX5Wz4x697IwXu0fmdoNkcXHCrhoXhvWzm1TpNx89abAaiK-2ABKCp5WMxR0UUwEXlaG9GMw4xh4LHo6KoNvL-9qKyPstXDSZTMRkhGbB70n_QVo/w640-h360/H067%20Rock%20cut%20channel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This picture shows the gorge at its deepest and narrowest.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwel7l0j8_V0NtrWycK-YSAds_olyo7szil3Qv83OQUybQ3RzSbApmR9twpRXELOT9kWtfTwopHyKjS1kuUxOecaGSdSA3CXFt_aWfrjrFw_24NQbziWhORV-nRgmy1FK2BJ-Q9AUNNGsz802CEAC-Z9GSPTJZeCj6IMI1zQRt3L8enxhThJdJ_gb/s1200/H068%20Middle%20of%20Northgate%20Staircase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwel7l0j8_V0NtrWycK-YSAds_olyo7szil3Qv83OQUybQ3RzSbApmR9twpRXELOT9kWtfTwopHyKjS1kuUxOecaGSdSA3CXFt_aWfrjrFw_24NQbziWhORV-nRgmy1FK2BJ-Q9AUNNGsz802CEAC-Z9GSPTJZeCj6IMI1zQRt3L8enxhThJdJ_gb/w640-h360/H068%20Middle%20of%20Northgate%20Staircase.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Northgate Staircase falls 33 feet in three deep locks. This photo is taken as we pass through the middle lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4ij2FBCCUS4-XTQ4juoo2MkWKc6IRSP30PdI7FQ0pIWEw3_p2JvVFR5A0T7sgmNtU-ktjQGujBH92tD8FTjUVQ60Ov3f7c-_6gAQaFVHDKUwD7MZGUK4kYjuFEmY0eAOrdtzY-doZAjJdgiugFU3OZAKIoVUlG3ZpHmZACE4WuHcCpX59hV-R3cW/s1200/H071%20Litt;e%20fish%20on%20the%20cill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4ij2FBCCUS4-XTQ4juoo2MkWKc6IRSP30PdI7FQ0pIWEw3_p2JvVFR5A0T7sgmNtU-ktjQGujBH92tD8FTjUVQ60Ov3f7c-_6gAQaFVHDKUwD7MZGUK4kYjuFEmY0eAOrdtzY-doZAjJdgiugFU3OZAKIoVUlG3ZpHmZACE4WuHcCpX59hV-R3cW/w640-h360/H071%20Litt;e%20fish%20on%20the%20cill.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lots of little fish got caught on the cill of the lock as the water went down. They flipped and they flipped and some managed to flip into the water down below the cill.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj9vbZ5UVYW2PbHV6w5l2IvTxvA5XzzyW8aqm9usr-UgFN5QCqY9Tx79y6hgnjC9UhxwHM8X1P-NRWIB5293piJY7cPFd_1M48xb62OIdVFh_hd-IjaOCdYBjUIfXb-ZpZjisb5Pu9rw2j7uIZs-U7erGIIUREFkZo8h8m6pxe4qVCNxivnalxODe/s1200/H072%20Locks%20cut%20into%20the%20rock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj9vbZ5UVYW2PbHV6w5l2IvTxvA5XzzyW8aqm9usr-UgFN5QCqY9Tx79y6hgnjC9UhxwHM8X1P-NRWIB5293piJY7cPFd_1M48xb62OIdVFh_hd-IjaOCdYBjUIfXb-ZpZjisb5Pu9rw2j7uIZs-U7erGIIUREFkZo8h8m6pxe4qVCNxivnalxODe/w640-h360/H072%20Locks%20cut%20into%20the%20rock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This shot shows how the locks have been cut down through solid rock. What an amazing structure.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqGfe3JqS-5XfH1x2UabvS3y_JWM1LIelWYtPqOLA3r0pLWZptROpGdZTDuC2PxsEVUCy7A2OfRfobQIQk0NA0rMWnxEe4riI2GthNtaOA5mn4lI5TP8UPMor1CDS55GNfKTrlWjcCUfATc6h_HySoFfK0qIOhLfaVR9eWMiOyPNuwhuKo4CNz5kE/s1200/H075%20Lots%20of%20Bunting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqGfe3JqS-5XfH1x2UabvS3y_JWM1LIelWYtPqOLA3r0pLWZptROpGdZTDuC2PxsEVUCy7A2OfRfobQIQk0NA0rMWnxEe4riI2GthNtaOA5mn4lI5TP8UPMor1CDS55GNfKTrlWjcCUfATc6h_HySoFfK0qIOhLfaVR9eWMiOyPNuwhuKo4CNz5kE/w640-h360/H075%20Lots%20of%20Bunting.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This photo looking back shows the boats of the festival suitably decorated in the basin below the staircase.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDJaugLIFCCdx9CnfuG8qm0J21d2FlsFHX6wljqZORMjpTkmoPe26NS12fnZWfEj3VL3ev1zWQIzfmNA8Qlo86YBNkfn6Eqd019QpxCB7bZdMfEqW30j1VTvLY3y5MwjoNMwFqnkfMqMWYx_gt1DbLhW6iFSUysRcy14YfIUY8y2fcXVZBq0JQy7P/s3840/J007%20Passing%20in%20the%20staircase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDJaugLIFCCdx9CnfuG8qm0J21d2FlsFHX6wljqZORMjpTkmoPe26NS12fnZWfEj3VL3ev1zWQIzfmNA8Qlo86YBNkfn6Eqd019QpxCB7bZdMfEqW30j1VTvLY3y5MwjoNMwFqnkfMqMWYx_gt1DbLhW6iFSUysRcy14YfIUY8y2fcXVZBq0JQy7P/w640-h360/J007%20Passing%20in%20the%20staircase.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just to finish this posting I've included a couple of photos from our journey back up the Northgate Staircase a couple of days later. In the meantime we had been to Ellesmere Port and visited the Boat Museum there, but that is another story. Coming back up the staircase we had paired with another narrowboat and between the middle and the top locks we passed a boat coming down. This is unusual but not impossible for a pair going one way to pass a single boat going the other way. It requires some shuffling of one boat and that job fell to us. Our paired boat is ahead of us in the picture and Ian has moved Leo across the lock to let the down boat come into the vacant space left behind. Ian then needs to move across in travelling into the next lock. And all without a bow thruster. Who needs one of those noisy cheating devices? The whole exercise is like those toys where you have to move tiles in a frame around to create a pattern.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn6GukVioYc_rfLoKPov6q5ekZUVS6-I0Faiu5jZ2dirJRHzhlr1ZMLIev-spT52bLm7CipgWkHxfrnlwil7t2tQLfV1A5-zB48SeM9n4gxFLur5WK82snyhwIVDKKDNvO4JpwJY2hZlAysNhwQkp3h9m_Ra529duaL6dp3LiDjoJ2X7OyKNiJIjL/s3840/J008%20Depth%20marker%20in%20middle%20lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn6GukVioYc_rfLoKPov6q5ekZUVS6-I0Faiu5jZ2dirJRHzhlr1ZMLIev-spT52bLm7CipgWkHxfrnlwil7t2tQLfV1A5-zB48SeM9n4gxFLur5WK82snyhwIVDKKDNvO4JpwJY2hZlAysNhwQkp3h9m_Ra529duaL6dp3LiDjoJ2X7OyKNiJIjL/w640-h360/J008%20Depth%20marker%20in%20middle%20lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">A double staircase is easy to set up to use - you simply have to ensure that the top lock is full and the bottom lock is empty before you start either going up or going down. But with a staircase of three locks how do you set the middle one? The answer here is that there is a level marker shown here. The middle lock has to be set in the green i.e. part filled. If its level is in the yellow then you have to let water out down into the bottom lock. If its level is in the red band (below the water level in the photo) then you need to add more water from the top lock. Clever but simple.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Well that is about it for our trip to Chester. We would certainly recommend a trip to the city as part of a boating journey. As I said at the start of this posting we are now in Nantwich heading south with a myriad of other boats probably because most of the other northern canals are short of water and closed. However the arm to Chester and Ellesmere Port was very quiet by comparison.<br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-78521017491211617732022-07-08T13:14:00.000-07:002022-07-08T13:14:59.498-07:00Passage into Liverpool<p> We are now in the docks in Liverpool and have been since we came down the Liverpool Canal Link on Monday. We're here for a few days enjoying the sights but I thought it might be useful to show the approach into Liverpool Docks for those that haven't made this journey. The Liverpool Canal Link was opened in 2009 as part of an initiative to revitalise the docks in Liverpool to encourage more visitors. It is now possible to take a narrowboat down from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to moor in Salthouse Dock (next to the famous Albert Dock).</p><p>So this is the story of our trip down here:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs_eKoTclnpIZ2JH06EU8BYoMALqCDqWldlBsdBNbuPaqIUsUFtvlWcpRr2Wau0kv56poJUQ971M4pzjIhDaMoqhAeCGnnfElMB-wTnCZAkpXHXEKU8395eYxMRUjExq8H7CzbwLJ9Td690ILZjZLIaSIQ5g2zpJ-pGbyJALOLNAlQ4WaHvLHIAoq/s1200/E011%20Coming%20to%20Litherland.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs_eKoTclnpIZ2JH06EU8BYoMALqCDqWldlBsdBNbuPaqIUsUFtvlWcpRr2Wau0kv56poJUQ971M4pzjIhDaMoqhAeCGnnfElMB-wTnCZAkpXHXEKU8395eYxMRUjExq8H7CzbwLJ9Td690ILZjZLIaSIQ5g2zpJ-pGbyJALOLNAlQ4WaHvLHIAoq/w640-h360/E011%20Coming%20to%20Litherland.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We arrived on Sunday evening at Litherland. This is not a part of Liverpool where one would normally choose to moor overnight. However there is a CRT services block (toilet, rubbish etc) which is all behind locked gates (CRT key) so no-one other than fellow boaters can access. Alongside the canal is a huge Tesco so stocking up is easily done too.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTzm_KCZa5cebjLpExutAqxAoiwuPiF8BB_s8uy8j_Xouy5IFypdTYgAVlb-5ZVromzZ019fO-Is_GFxqszMq3TwIFN4xUedncE1VPx3SCDZ72RGhHE4B-Op8dO04eBa63cvUUgOzz-4VFLAZByJDxB_iaQvBcWm8EdipsJ0zv0FKCssNP5pK14fx/s1200/E013%20Bootle%20Mural.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTzm_KCZa5cebjLpExutAqxAoiwuPiF8BB_s8uy8j_Xouy5IFypdTYgAVlb-5ZVromzZ019fO-Is_GFxqszMq3TwIFN4xUedncE1VPx3SCDZ72RGhHE4B-Op8dO04eBa63cvUUgOzz-4VFLAZByJDxB_iaQvBcWm8EdipsJ0zv0FKCssNP5pK14fx/w640-h360/E013%20Bootle%20Mural.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday morning we set off to cruise the four miles to the top of the Stanley Locks. No need for an early start as we aimed to be there for 1 pm. The morning contingent of boats coming up out of Liverpool had arrived at Litherland before we left. Boats are taken up from the docks first and then boats are allowed down so you are unlikely to meet a boat coming the other way. The mural in the photo is at Bootle and adds some decoration to a fairly drab part of the world.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHCYuY15EqmvMwE13LgbyHgYea5gq6gukjg8-3-P85YW5VhrTrRqFHGvez8QVVRG0AmDAKjw1GKVgLD26pybGvOyy4V34xUViH4LNU4QRQh8MNhtGcvV9G8GL9ZVveClnMiosaKSSmqMaELdJ9nblQm1n_U7PcLXRFb83JxneePnymd_nMNaOeLiI/s1200/E014%20Old%20arm%20Bootle.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHCYuY15EqmvMwE13LgbyHgYea5gq6gukjg8-3-P85YW5VhrTrRqFHGvez8QVVRG0AmDAKjw1GKVgLD26pybGvOyy4V34xUViH4LNU4QRQh8MNhtGcvV9G8GL9ZVveClnMiosaKSSmqMaELdJ9nblQm1n_U7PcLXRFb83JxneePnymd_nMNaOeLiI/w640-h360/E014%20Old%20arm%20Bootle.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Passing through Bootle we passed this old canal arm left over from the commercial era.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCc-A7BuzsAFaRS22oO9zsxq0nN0n7LC86zlAGhymrQZeHsUISK0wLhTqlXr-e7nl_WixGF0gN8VA-SQkSmkBv-RslXbH_oS5tZ3tQZldZacsdE_xGjQ8mCt1jUXxTBLdcALO-9orxtATZoGVJpcj1tw78Xq33HzI1uiwc9ZNtu8hrpkH2d3cA5nEW/s1200/E017%20Nearly%20there.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCc-A7BuzsAFaRS22oO9zsxq0nN0n7LC86zlAGhymrQZeHsUISK0wLhTqlXr-e7nl_WixGF0gN8VA-SQkSmkBv-RslXbH_oS5tZ3tQZldZacsdE_xGjQ8mCt1jUXxTBLdcALO-9orxtATZoGVJpcj1tw78Xq33HzI1uiwc9ZNtu8hrpkH2d3cA5nEW/w640-h360/E017%20Nearly%20there.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As this milepost shows we are getting close by this point. The milepost shows 2 miles to Liverpool and 125 and a quarter miles to Leeds.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIEeFFLAIP0DJnBunw0AJLmHDZ-UAIUOYW_MyZ-3UlIhmcoppFsppKNQUwzl7Y08JSk9GfaqTu7GI8PjjGw_6AncSEBhNEW7dcHuoVyRPmyVN1VefzuVImIylZU6vmGuCNusduSY6KUjmAlao3OcGYlDstx-BPe4TzxW2V_jQKGEWmRLLM6rTcT7a/s1200/E018%20Industrial%20land.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIEeFFLAIP0DJnBunw0AJLmHDZ-UAIUOYW_MyZ-3UlIhmcoppFsppKNQUwzl7Y08JSk9GfaqTu7GI8PjjGw_6AncSEBhNEW7dcHuoVyRPmyVN1VefzuVImIylZU6vmGuCNusduSY6KUjmAlao3OcGYlDstx-BPe4TzxW2V_jQKGEWmRLLM6rTcT7a/w640-h360/E018%20Industrial%20land.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the route passes through industrial dereliction. An old chimney here has found a new purpose as a mobile phone mast.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBKL4KxrtH9vXgK33yp61XQqLX_bAJDyFpte1yNks2BXBupKdPUb6d2VNDaUb5618af96v5Bjov-yKBHUGjlX6bWPpicwN5f_HJFmZ_8LTBxqY_kYGGusc-EvoNXIt63WUUqkLeRqHus-Wx8aEz3uWRlbtn3pSlhYHDb4S0BIrLk9CBlXFw5O1u9R/s1200/E019%20Unloading%20wharf.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBKL4KxrtH9vXgK33yp61XQqLX_bAJDyFpte1yNks2BXBupKdPUb6d2VNDaUb5618af96v5Bjov-yKBHUGjlX6bWPpicwN5f_HJFmZ_8LTBxqY_kYGGusc-EvoNXIt63WUUqkLeRqHus-Wx8aEz3uWRlbtn3pSlhYHDb4S0BIrLk9CBlXFw5O1u9R/w640-h360/E019%20Unloading%20wharf.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here we are passing an old covered wharf where narrowboats were once loaded and unloaded under cover of the projecting roof.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuLS4WlFD2wawBtYnozuZ_bS6vy6HsAmYN1s1XMNs8U1Eiud3EQhEsVQM_0c3mMlglZpjrJXPZT1Jkg501tRbjfiOnTOHguNAda31FA8Gy0aX4UzNE08pcSFtyDdaW7EpWsGqb5jj4m4lEaZyJ4v67fl_mCSyQiqB29BW7cLMhpnNj7W4Mf0Q4RlL/s1200/E021%20Leigh%20Bridge%20D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuLS4WlFD2wawBtYnozuZ_bS6vy6HsAmYN1s1XMNs8U1Eiud3EQhEsVQM_0c3mMlglZpjrJXPZT1Jkg501tRbjfiOnTOHguNAda31FA8Gy0aX4UzNE08pcSFtyDdaW7EpWsGqb5jj4m4lEaZyJ4v67fl_mCSyQiqB29BW7cLMhpnNj7W4Mf0Q4RlL/w640-h360/E021%20Leigh%20Bridge%20D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This interesting cast iron bridge is near to the top of the locks. Oddly the bridge sign says that it was re-erected by the Health Committee in 1861. Why was the Health Committee involved in bridge building? I do not know but scope for research here I think. The bridge was made at the Union Foundry in Liverpool.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunHNBOaXJcmQAPOMfgPpqU6sjAtys_-YkVc6-w26QYDsEq8RT9CPcAAnR_K7Rmfe8FLLdHQefy6PvC2Nq_xoQqFq4ARCtsDkscAJZWZyaqNz6kDWoH5YmdmYueqGWdKek4CNz4-EZmW-17hwf1PVfo1-pAOEI-hhjotymH6BWRU6NdsGAakxEpeqm/s1200/E022%20Right%20turn%20for%20Stanley%20Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunHNBOaXJcmQAPOMfgPpqU6sjAtys_-YkVc6-w26QYDsEq8RT9CPcAAnR_K7Rmfe8FLLdHQefy6PvC2Nq_xoQqFq4ARCtsDkscAJZWZyaqNz6kDWoH5YmdmYueqGWdKek4CNz4-EZmW-17hwf1PVfo1-pAOEI-hhjotymH6BWRU6NdsGAakxEpeqm/w640-h360/E022%20Right%20turn%20for%20Stanley%20Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are coming to the right turn under the pipe bridge into the top lock of the Stanley Lock Flight of 4 locks which leads down to the docks. This was historically the way in which narrowboats and broad beam 'short boats' went down into the docks to load up from ships that had arrived via the River Mersey. You can go straight on here to Eldonian Basin a couple of hundred yards further but last time we went it was pretty horrible - full of weed and litter. We have read that it has been cleaned up but we don't know that for sure. I'd certainly be reluctant to spend the night there.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8ptKHbCTkO-D7_0Ou2nVKyDIohwH24rlJ-3EmpjjqSf__2hUzj9ipH6Y7VhugvGFy7QyqThNm5BOMESAwhKN0_sax3GzL0pRyJlitd4mU2PKYOvaLvh3q8LDKD4WzQ99Rt91Z0OJKj1pAbvheDlPnHn_1OKNJ-CAt_UjJf892AmcbrHc5XOFfBHM/s1200/E025%20Bascule%20Bridge%20and%20Victoria%20Clock%20Tower%20from%20Lock%203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8ptKHbCTkO-D7_0Ou2nVKyDIohwH24rlJ-3EmpjjqSf__2hUzj9ipH6Y7VhugvGFy7QyqThNm5BOMESAwhKN0_sax3GzL0pRyJlitd4mU2PKYOvaLvh3q8LDKD4WzQ99Rt91Z0OJKj1pAbvheDlPnHn_1OKNJ-CAt_UjJf892AmcbrHc5XOFfBHM/w640-h360/E025%20Bascule%20Bridge%20and%20Victoria%20Clock%20Tower%20from%20Lock%203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were so many volunteer lock keepers on duty on Monday that we did not have to lift a paddle or push a lock gate as we came down the four locks with another boat. Our plan had been to have lunch at the top of the flight and wait until people turned up at the appointed time of 1 pm to let us down. However at about 11.45 we arrived to find another boat just going into the lock, so we joined them. The trip through the Link took about an hour and a half. The picture is taken from the entry to lock 3 and looks through a railway arch towards the Victoria Clock Tower and to the left of that you can see the bascule bridge between Stanley and Collingwood Docks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2eIUOZvIqUEeQ_ZAY7n_v4eUAfxsiuY-mBIeBqWGhuAkELxYRuspL4A2DCJ5vOVhAEu9ECV_6PQByj_H3Ftkp-LaIu_6pBh0kA56r3jzan50JkRS_NGC3Sfd_GHfaGYCe9cA7AVU9VSzbvNzhXJm9RM_C8ShpShsnxpxGl7zrca8ykQKTaeYr49f/s1200/E026%20Tobacco%20Warehouse%20from%20Lock%204.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2eIUOZvIqUEeQ_ZAY7n_v4eUAfxsiuY-mBIeBqWGhuAkELxYRuspL4A2DCJ5vOVhAEu9ECV_6PQByj_H3Ftkp-LaIu_6pBh0kA56r3jzan50JkRS_NGC3Sfd_GHfaGYCe9cA7AVU9VSzbvNzhXJm9RM_C8ShpShsnxpxGl7zrca8ykQKTaeYr49f/w640-h360/E026%20Tobacco%20Warehouse%20from%20Lock%204.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are in the bottom lock about to go forward into Stanley Dock. To the left is the huge Tobacco Warehouse which is still said to be the largest brick building in the world. 27 million bricks we're told but we've not counted them!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SH0aRf28XC84a9ixXxgTVsPO88gdPQwSU5x_86_2ykMpzrIfv5NZxMvJegI5qYpzVn82kACBy02ngJlamHri00XX84e3RdjodRF0r48iW7VU66gk07X1MiWUR9L69ZDcFlMAc-IKBkd7bDrt5TfdWx6cVoMioJIgXpCi09rm9ng5TL5ylTyFq0ZY/s1200/E028%20Stanley%20Dock%20and%20Bascule%20Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SH0aRf28XC84a9ixXxgTVsPO88gdPQwSU5x_86_2ykMpzrIfv5NZxMvJegI5qYpzVn82kACBy02ngJlamHri00XX84e3RdjodRF0r48iW7VU66gk07X1MiWUR9L69ZDcFlMAc-IKBkd7bDrt5TfdWx6cVoMioJIgXpCi09rm9ng5TL5ylTyFq0ZY/w640-h360/E028%20Stanley%20Dock%20and%20Bascule%20Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first of the docks is Stanley Dock. The Tobacco Warehouse is to the left and is being converted into flats while on the right is the Titanic Hotel in another old warehouse.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP54AN7Q1GZj8VU-j7dCmTv0NsdF0i7_n1TwOxd2MavcQu7-Kavy5bXKMUgXl8Qi9cr_5rcmbtJ7YgiG3TCeExV1qrUb4IurSadJG0CI1i9FJ3Eyd6xxvZ3db_Tgb4kLX87yiExmoZSwACC1GIoYw95pefAMuKXrsuBLOiupfS9MaEU990AXtNUHbd/s1200/E030%20Cleaning%20the%20windows.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1200" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP54AN7Q1GZj8VU-j7dCmTv0NsdF0i7_n1TwOxd2MavcQu7-Kavy5bXKMUgXl8Qi9cr_5rcmbtJ7YgiG3TCeExV1qrUb4IurSadJG0CI1i9FJ3Eyd6xxvZ3db_Tgb4kLX87yiExmoZSwACC1GIoYw95pefAMuKXrsuBLOiupfS9MaEU990AXtNUHbd/w640-h472/E030%20Cleaning%20the%20windows.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chaps were in the process of cleaning the windows of the Hotel by abseiling down.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVTOnG-k9rbU3PiG-f78LEpoWD3j4OAZ8ciWbOvehZnGRwi5g_NlgymvLR4nfGjkrBWEhc_8xHz8Qu_lI_LdWEwHhHbEREpEGhgk8sVn_sWU7xRt7s708xTNqwpzYP8S3sVyaXTUOaSMBFn-a7-7zteG6epTkOOHpGRRLg2lkmI4P5a3uN3nAzsO0/s1200/E031%20Choppy%20water%20in%20Salisbury%20Dock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVTOnG-k9rbU3PiG-f78LEpoWD3j4OAZ8ciWbOvehZnGRwi5g_NlgymvLR4nfGjkrBWEhc_8xHz8Qu_lI_LdWEwHhHbEREpEGhgk8sVn_sWU7xRt7s708xTNqwpzYP8S3sVyaXTUOaSMBFn-a7-7zteG6epTkOOHpGRRLg2lkmI4P5a3uN3nAzsO0/w640-h360/E031%20Choppy%20water%20in%20Salisbury%20Dock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we crossed the Salisbury Dock towards the Victoria Clock Tower the strong wind was whipping up some significant waves and the left turn into 'Sid's Ditch' was a bit tricky. Beyond the Clock Tower is the River Mersey.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMlgnXKS1n4Uigk_Zyj_t7Mk-BtgRcqKOZ4rvxo6xGB-F15oCogy8R05aXegky9vLkaSWyGoSWHXDXpskPHP8v_VOm-H33pd42Ww8x5MG-WnStdpiSbYiUVpaNness_Smk0TT7qGObDTFunkPapY1GUGAc1cMZ7UbCJ6WF7zIU_yeRW7VpJSDuRsn/s1200/E033%20Tobacco%20Warehouse.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMlgnXKS1n4Uigk_Zyj_t7Mk-BtgRcqKOZ4rvxo6xGB-F15oCogy8R05aXegky9vLkaSWyGoSWHXDXpskPHP8v_VOm-H33pd42Ww8x5MG-WnStdpiSbYiUVpaNness_Smk0TT7qGObDTFunkPapY1GUGAc1cMZ7UbCJ6WF7zIU_yeRW7VpJSDuRsn/w640-h360/E033%20Tobacco%20Warehouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking back you can see the stupendous size of the Tobacco Warehouse.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9wrUDQmO_H96uBCVJ_sfOdWbkGX_-dNILMyZRQN_9b2pRorzjMcEVokCchaYci7MWaDhZgsfMrAQ0wt1yOPqTki341VbVx4Rtxd_q47mWMkTPVQSSmaWxhgwAolBIJpIq42Ds29Cv56uDT8UgDs5I95SzaVkJdSQMEh91jJAj5WP3mPsJey7aEWY/s1200/E034%20Turning%20into%20Sid's%20Ditch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1200" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9wrUDQmO_H96uBCVJ_sfOdWbkGX_-dNILMyZRQN_9b2pRorzjMcEVokCchaYci7MWaDhZgsfMrAQ0wt1yOPqTki341VbVx4Rtxd_q47mWMkTPVQSSmaWxhgwAolBIJpIq42Ds29Cv56uDT8UgDs5I95SzaVkJdSQMEh91jJAj5WP3mPsJey7aEWY/w640-h442/E034%20Turning%20into%20Sid's%20Ditch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are about to make the left turn to run parallel to the Mersey, but thankfully in a separate channel and so not subject to its speedy tidal currents and choppy waters.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB50DP7ZXvCoJLOgyUI3BkLQyqB1RlqrVC9Jplo6FQ_6q1wjJ9rJGFEQayf8qwbLr7hYvTeUOayyNpvvNyKUJYElpGtDn6M7twPtYpigEv7mnMN-5Eli5glta78se5G-56Xp7PXCwrnmRklk5No2aEfYAva0bLDSXDRsQUjepilBR_dM2bStwzfMZQ/s1200/E036%20Sid's%20Ditch.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB50DP7ZXvCoJLOgyUI3BkLQyqB1RlqrVC9Jplo6FQ_6q1wjJ9rJGFEQayf8qwbLr7hYvTeUOayyNpvvNyKUJYElpGtDn6M7twPtYpigEv7mnMN-5Eli5glta78se5G-56Xp7PXCwrnmRklk5No2aEfYAva0bLDSXDRsQUjepilBR_dM2bStwzfMZQ/w640-h360/E036%20Sid's%20Ditch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the start of Sid's Ditch. For just over half a mile the route lies outside (i.e. on the river side) of the old docks but an embankment has been made to separate the channel from the river. Keep away from the right hand side of the channel because it slopes gradually down and it might be possible to ground the boat.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe45ZtHJU1c0d07ZlPLDuW6Lgu0s8-5zwNdaUKpDptdj9LZnKJtIh-naKvsd4HxSXOrJWr5nQMYgCe3sq2T-vPqnmVGj9Fa1VxgsbKO2T4RbVPs66aZ9Aj4YkW47rwSuzIWsydYlxEqvDE55fUY95OcfdWFAKgah0RKxVT4ZFN0JFqtscyUfsfq0h/s1200/E039%20Crossing%20Prince's%20Dock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe45ZtHJU1c0d07ZlPLDuW6Lgu0s8-5zwNdaUKpDptdj9LZnKJtIh-naKvsd4HxSXOrJWr5nQMYgCe3sq2T-vPqnmVGj9Fa1VxgsbKO2T4RbVPs66aZ9Aj4YkW47rwSuzIWsydYlxEqvDE55fUY95OcfdWFAKgah0RKxVT4ZFN0JFqtscyUfsfq0h/w640-h360/E039%20Crossing%20Prince's%20Dock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By this point we did feel we were getting there with the distant view of the Liver Building ahead. Under the sloping bridge ahead we entered Prince's Dock between the modern buildings.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI3h-SIQv5GbTulOgmqv0fMmkuyJN4TQ5ste1-TJgGiJPoRs75IyK2wxVNzGiPeeaELx2XSkaXCgwr8cfPzjGdWAnYt6ppO2rwe68JSPySDa8ZMacJHbdWTKNWvqaLyj4B8IwwpVflEBDw7sri5fYiZFOx3Jif4H47RrP91IWdPRiH1wQKkphjkC9/s1200/E040%20Prince's%20Dock%20Lock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI3h-SIQv5GbTulOgmqv0fMmkuyJN4TQ5ste1-TJgGiJPoRs75IyK2wxVNzGiPeeaELx2XSkaXCgwr8cfPzjGdWAnYt6ppO2rwe68JSPySDa8ZMacJHbdWTKNWvqaLyj4B8IwwpVflEBDw7sri5fYiZFOx3Jif4H47RrP91IWdPRiH1wQKkphjkC9/w640-h360/E040%20Prince's%20Dock%20Lock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are crossing Prince's Dock and heading towards Prince's Dock Lock. This is a modern lock which takes the boat down a couple of feet to a new channel in front of the 'Three Graces' - the splendid waterfront buildings from the beginning of the 20th century. A CRT chap who had hitched a lift on the boat in front of us, let us through the lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHT4eW0HTeJLRMYlRcFd__Hw09CaoGL_jwzXEhZ2fZIOZi0arTy7BiPE47pQSvjCALT5Evt12593QybGo2nEP87pOkoUZg-es8NU-5v02hcFo8D4jKiYJ0IHOfFx9QhaDWE8VvPPOG-TF_Wy0uLtLKsUgF08BQvW4BEyYzeERhOrFp0Ib0xDS0JwP/s1200/E043%20Past%20the%20Pier%20Head.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHT4eW0HTeJLRMYlRcFd__Hw09CaoGL_jwzXEhZ2fZIOZi0arTy7BiPE47pQSvjCALT5Evt12593QybGo2nEP87pOkoUZg-es8NU-5v02hcFo8D4jKiYJ0IHOfFx9QhaDWE8VvPPOG-TF_Wy0uLtLKsUgF08BQvW4BEyYzeERhOrFp0Ib0xDS0JwP/w640-h360/E043%20Past%20the%20Pier%20Head.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Three new concrete lined tunnels follow. The building ahead is the Museum of Liverpool (well worth a visit) while on the left is first the Cunard Building and then the Port of Liverpool Building which, together with the Liver Building, form the 'Three Graces'.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQY4glbv9qWg67KOVi0D2WoJ4oK4o578xDW1iNH95kQPZppHxeMOlo7g3FAnfAiO9t2vO979VZ1SPQ09r8bNPO_Z4MOsoatSSFws7PKURXopeJjB4_HKQlOcZ4H0M9NOA2CM43CoZ8l9wTjWJh-DbdTwKMgKuQBNXXNV3isDFpo_kICWbFJ-3G22Y/s1200/E044%20Liver%20Building%20from%20the%20channel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQY4glbv9qWg67KOVi0D2WoJ4oK4o578xDW1iNH95kQPZppHxeMOlo7g3FAnfAiO9t2vO979VZ1SPQ09r8bNPO_Z4MOsoatSSFws7PKURXopeJjB4_HKQlOcZ4H0M9NOA2CM43CoZ8l9wTjWJh-DbdTwKMgKuQBNXXNV3isDFpo_kICWbFJ-3G22Y/w640-h360/E044%20Liver%20Building%20from%20the%20channel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are looking up as we passed the Liver Building at almost one o'clock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufRY7Wf-cVepdSU51ngVPsvPX5-pOZ51TdwovryqGGHRwNh5-GEK-2P_3Y2ocxW66xJ_yaBqv_pLhxW1u_mRI7L92Tmdluow4DUiOaZyiTt_NWCLXYdotgUjXYxdPB3K_pmsn-O3hnmO2yxrUDAASRw0rO30IrakG96FPuDdmqdQWpJk4lltmonWt/s1200/E045%20Crossing%20Canning%20Dock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufRY7Wf-cVepdSU51ngVPsvPX5-pOZ51TdwovryqGGHRwNh5-GEK-2P_3Y2ocxW66xJ_yaBqv_pLhxW1u_mRI7L92Tmdluow4DUiOaZyiTt_NWCLXYdotgUjXYxdPB3K_pmsn-O3hnmO2yxrUDAASRw0rO30IrakG96FPuDdmqdQWpJk4lltmonWt/w640-h360/E045%20Crossing%20Canning%20Dock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After the three tunnels we passed through the final lock - Mann Island Lock which let us down just a short way to the level of Canning Dock. The tall chimney is on the Pump House, now a pub but originally for pumping hydraulic pressure to operate all the gates and paddles and cranes around the docks. From Canning Dock we passed the end of two 'graving docks' for ship repair and then turned right into Canning Half Tide Lock. At the end of this one is another gate allowing access to the Mersey.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGzczVOJfedmq1neJdfBPpYdoWQZc3omDrZ0AhJJS9q3IQiq51jNFEqPwGD6qEtucXiOn38Zh_bdYZB_Gb0TXDeoFAs5jgOi_S6nxjYYrIvv_Fo8aYTby2MGp9doYsbW6yEbVrga9OYmmgWTqbzdS_DAsH9nom_LbpK1y1bjHRq90lOk3HbDAyXSq/s1200/E047%20Canning%20Dock%20Passage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGzczVOJfedmq1neJdfBPpYdoWQZc3omDrZ0AhJJS9q3IQiq51jNFEqPwGD6qEtucXiOn38Zh_bdYZB_Gb0TXDeoFAs5jgOi_S6nxjYYrIvv_Fo8aYTby2MGp9doYsbW6yEbVrga9OYmmgWTqbzdS_DAsH9nom_LbpK1y1bjHRq90lOk3HbDAyXSq/w640-h360/E047%20Canning%20Dock%20Passage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are passing the Pump House and heading for the fine brick buildings which surround the Albert Dock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPg0cLGUCUxq_JuEoTTYPMw-6SFteI0Ac6Y0bom2_0sWMIsJ46VWxorsqcC8gf5xqi9PxKavdWaXxBJjhiirsSDkxXW4ubIcJJL8WfGVkLT1XTe4eSODpyCWtP2ndBMQykqrXXg3S_VZVaZCTGkWL5FAj_eyuuHTnh9MJZ5Sed6vKFD3PqJEA0F9T/s1200/E048%20Left%20into%20Albert%20Dock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPg0cLGUCUxq_JuEoTTYPMw-6SFteI0Ac6Y0bom2_0sWMIsJ46VWxorsqcC8gf5xqi9PxKavdWaXxBJjhiirsSDkxXW4ubIcJJL8WfGVkLT1XTe4eSODpyCWtP2ndBMQykqrXXg3S_VZVaZCTGkWL5FAj_eyuuHTnh9MJZ5Sed6vKFD3PqJEA0F9T/w640-h360/E048%20Left%20into%20Albert%20Dock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Near the river end of Canning Half Tiide Lock we followed our companions and turned left under a swing bridge into the Albert Dock. The multicoloured 'T' is beside Tate Liverpool which is on the river side of Albert Dock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JKw6rBa-iT2oWQ7k9BNXy15Uu9yp7uGPDmQMdZCjh2JFlg68laRWqGqgwkBHSa0nxQHa0AKDfagB4iD3p-QNaJbO4Kk5_AjT_DknrOwyB6izqyEWquewYcBcBNlBrPgAwV4OeF1RiHnKNqMuCVSK2OjQWHzYq3cYo0TMcln7ZDxKh1ouF_GvlXc4/s1200/E050%20Crossing%20Albert%20Dock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JKw6rBa-iT2oWQ7k9BNXy15Uu9yp7uGPDmQMdZCjh2JFlg68laRWqGqgwkBHSa0nxQHa0AKDfagB4iD3p-QNaJbO4Kk5_AjT_DknrOwyB6izqyEWquewYcBcBNlBrPgAwV4OeF1RiHnKNqMuCVSK2OjQWHzYq3cYo0TMcln7ZDxKh1ouF_GvlXc4/w640-h360/E050%20Crossing%20Albert%20Dock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And this is Albert Dock which Michael Hesletine memorably saved from demolition and conversion into a car park! The warehouses were designed to be fireproof because they were mainly used to store cotton and tobacco which are a major fire risk. So there is no wood in the warehouse construction only steel, brick and stone. So sure was their builder that it would work he arranged to have a fire lit in one to demonstrate how resilient they were. Albert Dock is now a major tourist attraction and home to the Tate and many restaurants as well as showers for boaters!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Fbcwon4q6oruUKK48ugVmQ4QUSlpuXd6YTuMQcrf3_q63jTtqbtr4ERZjg-K5KmNesHLz_SVUuEgpg2_qu5IL30X6s-FhhKL_nLglIRZ0sjKMEtrZKARYGjkmzaMHp8v_M9FQxrAkpge0gPsNdvDx4BpVowcXaqqUYyIg53hNMrS-RtTJuSbDUUN/s1200/E051%20Leo%20in%20Salthouse%20Dock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Fbcwon4q6oruUKK48ugVmQ4QUSlpuXd6YTuMQcrf3_q63jTtqbtr4ERZjg-K5KmNesHLz_SVUuEgpg2_qu5IL30X6s-FhhKL_nLglIRZ0sjKMEtrZKARYGjkmzaMHp8v_M9FQxrAkpge0gPsNdvDx4BpVowcXaqqUYyIg53hNMrS-RtTJuSbDUUN/w640-h360/E051%20Leo%20in%20Salthouse%20Dock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the far side of Albert Dock we passed under another bridge to enter Salthouse Dock, our final destination and our mooring for five nights.You can just see Leo below where it says 'John Lewis'. Salthouse Dock was where salt was loaded onto boats. On the landward side now is the Liverpool One shopping area, so handy for visiting boaters.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>So there you have it - the Liverpool Canal Link - a wonderful initiative. As I type and publish this we have come almost to the end of our stay in Liverpool and tomorrow (Saturday 9th) we leave to return up the link to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.It is worth adding that there are lots of things to do in Liverpool so we have not been idle and would happily come again.<br /><p><br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-47652197085742899622022-06-24T13:07:00.001-07:002022-06-24T13:07:16.904-07:00Descending the Anderton Lift<p> We are now down 50 feet from the Trent and Mersey on the River Weaver after coming down the Anderton Lift this afternoon. So I thought it would be interesting to share some photos of our descent. Normally the lift has two caissons each capable of holding a wide beam boat or two narrowboats. Usually one caisson goes up as the other goes down. However at present only one caisson is working so passage is restricted and you need to book passage rather than just turning up and waiting your turn. However we booked our passage only yesterday so there didn't seem to be much problem, indeed a phone call after our arrival gave us the option to go down an hour before we had booked as there was a cancellation. We have however also booked our return for next Monday, so let's hope it's still working then!</p><p>Here are some pictures of the process. You have to arrive on the waiting moorings at the top half an hour before the lift time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdap3T5WLaUTuFEl2S19tcrEkecdXyFdxJZSHGhiCVWFENp4br5bybVNlK3082pn0tbmqOz8xtjOQKfxl_ZoI_DSVlw2jwTmQdmYr4z2ZB8ilrMa3-R_E0W28VW1ZvI59EOk6lDzsBEZ_dtftC8pSO25MpdjLMlcYaeNYz6z5Df65h9OItXC_7dAL/s1200/D044%20Anderton%20Lift.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdap3T5WLaUTuFEl2S19tcrEkecdXyFdxJZSHGhiCVWFENp4br5bybVNlK3082pn0tbmqOz8xtjOQKfxl_ZoI_DSVlw2jwTmQdmYr4z2ZB8ilrMa3-R_E0W28VW1ZvI59EOk6lDzsBEZ_dtftC8pSO25MpdjLMlcYaeNYz6z5Df65h9OItXC_7dAL/w640-h360/D044%20Anderton%20Lift.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the view of the lift from the River Weaver below. The level approach to the right at the top connects with the Trent and Mersey Canal (Anderton is between Middlewich and Preston Brook). <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05Q_uT3YSa7utmyjVfjwNxpLgIOet4ijKNf0-ReCgPbe1X60Amo950w9hWs7ChIw3mHnQ90m3IFi7v2lZrbtBS8h_Lzh2Isvh_IuUpVA1drECBS2r0-fFid31BipXTts7Wd3cuzFICyNnZhxJleJM5BBFKPMyy3P9ye8Ien-a-LG4lv5PXwD3VrO5/s1200/D033%20Leo%20enters%20waiting%20pen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05Q_uT3YSa7utmyjVfjwNxpLgIOet4ijKNf0-ReCgPbe1X60Amo950w9hWs7ChIw3mHnQ90m3IFi7v2lZrbtBS8h_Lzh2Isvh_IuUpVA1drECBS2r0-fFid31BipXTts7Wd3cuzFICyNnZhxJleJM5BBFKPMyy3P9ye8Ien-a-LG4lv5PXwD3VrO5/w640-h360/D033%20Leo%20enters%20waiting%20pen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once we were given the 'all clear' we turned into this level section passing under the first of two gates seen here. The industrial works you can see to the left of the lift is in fact on the other side of the Weaver below.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTidUXrPAGgix8RMxE7h_oriIVPUjFoem5JlDHQN3Cl3bcYcowLz0Yo8LH7wvqhTaqriUoQIG3Nu-T97mSU-s-Olq8N5F1DOt-epPld3UF1Z9OBuiFXW5NnhmQXECce_r9rMzQQYebwNu2ov-mnN9eSgVAM4-zAFauXBpBZeOTdyJJJgjt3QtEyzZ/s1200/D034%20Leo%20in%20waiting%20pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTidUXrPAGgix8RMxE7h_oriIVPUjFoem5JlDHQN3Cl3bcYcowLz0Yo8LH7wvqhTaqriUoQIG3Nu-T97mSU-s-Olq8N5F1DOt-epPld3UF1Z9OBuiFXW5NnhmQXECce_r9rMzQQYebwNu2ov-mnN9eSgVAM4-zAFauXBpBZeOTdyJJJgjt3QtEyzZ/w640-h360/D034%20Leo%20in%20waiting%20pen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once we were through the gate we stopped, waiting for the cabin cruiser that was supposed to come down with us. For some mysterious reason he missed the turn (how embarrassing is that) and after waiting some time, we went down alone. Beyond Helen on the bow and at water level you can see the barrier that needs to be lifted before we can move forward into the caisson.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWEloZEqg4SpTEMpTZ09C9Tr8rsy_1FqlxHETwVGSGEbyx9RO4b9v6nD4IsrxcVGygqDdaPo05T6OEmX0UxHLmF1w8e4AZm2cTe4m1Wr18slnlgAp8xXnTPIdtVmhyT9E2uFUH9OJEYEK0eUFxtpRL5RmQv_ajtQAUkfx9DFiAozst_AM3m7uVMQr/s1200/D035%20Gate%20closing%20behind%20us.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWEloZEqg4SpTEMpTZ09C9Tr8rsy_1FqlxHETwVGSGEbyx9RO4b9v6nD4IsrxcVGygqDdaPo05T6OEmX0UxHLmF1w8e4AZm2cTe4m1Wr18slnlgAp8xXnTPIdtVmhyT9E2uFUH9OJEYEK0eUFxtpRL5RmQv_ajtQAUkfx9DFiAozst_AM3m7uVMQr/w640-h360/D035%20Gate%20closing%20behind%20us.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This view is taken looking back and shows the gate descending and closing off the access to the Trent and Mersey behind us. Presumably this is so that, if something goes wrong then the lift does not drain the canal.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFZnzOKuBb1r--wgiMyYSUZoIufjcQLH2mDIqp_Fq_ty9L4AgEE_E1cvCF3Wm1jiv-arf1TDnbWQjKFx86LDJFdMycmd_52MmUNtwZbQYL0u9frpAQxOX-5cHNBgiKS8GnybHnzst4iwX3jPpnCmZfay9FTslKgaU5l01zBIqNaIIaWn42FfWr5et/s1200/D037%20Weaver%20from%20lift.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFZnzOKuBb1r--wgiMyYSUZoIufjcQLH2mDIqp_Fq_ty9L4AgEE_E1cvCF3Wm1jiv-arf1TDnbWQjKFx86LDJFdMycmd_52MmUNtwZbQYL0u9frpAQxOX-5cHNBgiKS8GnybHnzst4iwX3jPpnCmZfay9FTslKgaU5l01zBIqNaIIaWn42FfWr5et/w640-h360/D037%20Weaver%20from%20lift.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a view looking down to the River Weaver some 50 feet below us. The view is looking upstream towards Northwich.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmNROEazsxN9vEujB0S_TnyAX6OsZecLesMxa4MWL0SuRdhDjw4hKxgffVUshK7jaLWT6WPKA-Xirr7bB4Ky3Ucq98UuIh2voKBplh31MwJQuyQ97qSFtHTietJfITftljnMOkOjd9fUSfA4yiipxpMctRowwFnzu_GNm83UORVIEnSMd64UmGjnC/s1200/D038%20Waiting%20to%20go%20down.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmNROEazsxN9vEujB0S_TnyAX6OsZecLesMxa4MWL0SuRdhDjw4hKxgffVUshK7jaLWT6WPKA-Xirr7bB4Ky3Ucq98UuIh2voKBplh31MwJQuyQ97qSFtHTietJfITftljnMOkOjd9fUSfA4yiipxpMctRowwFnzu_GNm83UORVIEnSMd64UmGjnC/w640-h360/D038%20Waiting%20to%20go%20down.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once the water gate in front of us was raised the lift attendant beckoned us into the caisson. A gap between the double gate behind us was then emptied of water and the two linked gates separated so that the caisson with its water can be lowered. Here we are still at the top - notice the white railings to our left and compare that to the next photo.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4KCQInJhVB3Q_BY4IaOHPKgSQBPuy91xf2pdPF2f0UoTxKdOY_CLwESj3h91i4dXUrqgsqYUfdtN2onBs0lMnuDuufhOFPEiVyxKkKE6dbynUx4JGs7wLzn9ra0GEsxxIm-ewXbVDyZxREphfeNcEiYIQoyvVnt7MgUGZpSNuB5dZPvqdEBUZqfC/s1200/D039%20Descending.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4KCQInJhVB3Q_BY4IaOHPKgSQBPuy91xf2pdPF2f0UoTxKdOY_CLwESj3h91i4dXUrqgsqYUfdtN2onBs0lMnuDuufhOFPEiVyxKkKE6dbynUx4JGs7wLzn9ra0GEsxxIm-ewXbVDyZxREphfeNcEiYIQoyvVnt7MgUGZpSNuB5dZPvqdEBUZqfC/w640-h360/D039%20Descending.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This photo is taken part way down and you can see the white railings are now above us. The movement is extremely smooth and slow and it is easy not to notice that you are going down. I did try to post a video showing just how slow the descent is, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work on Blogger. It takes about 10 minutes to go down but that is a lot quicker than 5 or more locks.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycQoxymF4bLFm89_FvK0-z_2gnPiP89b03bPCB5WT2BymiUxWOdL8mcOg2H2kKBHM8tNE-QYwUEJXAeCFAeik5emUGKNqYujY6umyheoMgQFxi_qLqN0hvFTVNrpJ-hnsyYvljIOB54e0Q0sW8fsujiOin5GvGIc7SUSRiyIg_Ip3EjvoY82wM-Fc/s2133/D041%20Looking%20up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycQoxymF4bLFm89_FvK0-z_2gnPiP89b03bPCB5WT2BymiUxWOdL8mcOg2H2kKBHM8tNE-QYwUEJXAeCFAeik5emUGKNqYujY6umyheoMgQFxi_qLqN0hvFTVNrpJ-hnsyYvljIOB54e0Q0sW8fsujiOin5GvGIc7SUSRiyIg_Ip3EjvoY82wM-Fc/w360-h640/D041%20Looking%20up.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a view looking up once we were near the bottom of the lift at River level. Through the grill overhead you can see the gear wheels that used to work the lift when each caisson was suspended by cables from the top. The lift started life as hydraulic and was later converted to electricity with cable suspension because the river water corroded the hydraulic rams. Finally in 2002 it was converted back to hydraulic power with high tech ceramic rams below each caisson. It appears that erosion of the surface of the ram is once again causing problems and is the reason the west caisson will be out of action for the rest of this season.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02EbLFZaoc_E4OvPALfIvO1ASVtEoUXg7iSp0XGOOieKaxmpoVlanp0oFQPKHOrl0rs7WioSSwJJSXipXiYOlKXDt3C8RBdNspajPESabg3-zNMy9_w6vAMN5z6ZJY9APuPTcINvUdMJG9ZRZ6KIc0kwb_CA-XiovVdeWM-lTbc4jN8rntC7GpZXa/s1200/D042%20Pulleys%20on%20top.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02EbLFZaoc_E4OvPALfIvO1ASVtEoUXg7iSp0XGOOieKaxmpoVlanp0oFQPKHOrl0rs7WioSSwJJSXipXiYOlKXDt3C8RBdNspajPESabg3-zNMy9_w6vAMN5z6ZJY9APuPTcINvUdMJG9ZRZ6KIc0kwb_CA-XiovVdeWM-lTbc4jN8rntC7GpZXa/w640-h360/D042%20Pulleys%20on%20top.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here again looking up you can see the gear and pulley wheels.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgTtXJea6ELYTvauqFArpqwOEef3whrFVIZazyExs-i2pkreR8hvat28qqINV_ALiggWpZzdBySSv8WwmJ1VMKDkcxRdbVTcIRoKtuimE_cr32nVu2BD3oy410VteD572XvzmmlNz_TjdjHxN3q1Kf0tFi2rGdGVXCgbwUHCpvlygqaY0yQILIQVh/s1200/D043%20Leaving%20the%20lift.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgTtXJea6ELYTvauqFArpqwOEef3whrFVIZazyExs-i2pkreR8hvat28qqINV_ALiggWpZzdBySSv8WwmJ1VMKDkcxRdbVTcIRoKtuimE_cr32nVu2BD3oy410VteD572XvzmmlNz_TjdjHxN3q1Kf0tFi2rGdGVXCgbwUHCpvlygqaY0yQILIQVh/w640-h360/D043%20Leaving%20the%20lift.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I took this view looking back as we drove Leo out of the lift at the bottom, having waited for a similar double gate to be lifted. You can see the right hand caisson is open where we have just left.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeofq4MisjaBBNR-TV5amPTmkwWov_Gui19Ycd3wExkfPmNfVoV56Am_Kz3lALl-IlfEiRqw_cs0SAX8jFRxZusvv-mP41mSMnspzN4f8_t6LOCC_J0GmWq1ZimxZPu7S7J-BBMdRyAq9XNlcqvPGtHyujdQFy17EHKu0AjRurIzjaDQvw3SHWMrT-/s1200/D044%20Anderton%20Lift.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeofq4MisjaBBNR-TV5amPTmkwWov_Gui19Ycd3wExkfPmNfVoV56Am_Kz3lALl-IlfEiRqw_cs0SAX8jFRxZusvv-mP41mSMnspzN4f8_t6LOCC_J0GmWq1ZimxZPu7S7J-BBMdRyAq9XNlcqvPGtHyujdQFy17EHKu0AjRurIzjaDQvw3SHWMrT-/w640-h360/D044%20Anderton%20Lift.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here once more is the picture from down below showing this wonder of the waterways with its Victorian engineering.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we hope that was interesting and now look forward to a few days on a river. We've been on the Weaver before and it is certainly worth a visit. After we return to the Trent and Mersey we will be heading north to Liverpool.<br /></div><br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-2540889245000647362022-06-10T13:21:00.003-07:002022-06-10T13:21:32.327-07:00Caldon Canal Delights and Challenges<p> We've now explored as much of the Caldon Canal as a narrowboat can. People often ask us which is our favourite canal? Well the Caldon Canal must certainly be in the top three. It has so much variety - a staircase lock, two tunnels (one barely navigable), an intriguing junction, beautiful contryside and places of interest nearby. It is however quite a challenging canal and should not be cruised if you are expecting an easy time. It is often narrow and shallow and the offside is badly overgrown (or at least that has been so in 2022). So here are some photos of its key features with information added.<br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOg466Bxf-kbnyDyKBXfhhHnq_Y39_-sFrOZltCpWCw2_5NpLUMQK4a8xnUIqQG51hxS40H4uDwTfIIerykKUns7KpdJh0mnFuc8B0IIQdf61LF5O1YbXIMDQSDAebsgATd_DVEoxTZzwIjYHq0XC3No6TqWZNGZGVyYq1I5mGJ6VJS2xotr7Nnub/s1200/B042%20Etruria%20Canal%20Festival.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOg466Bxf-kbnyDyKBXfhhHnq_Y39_-sFrOZltCpWCw2_5NpLUMQK4a8xnUIqQG51hxS40H4uDwTfIIerykKUns7KpdJh0mnFuc8B0IIQdf61LF5O1YbXIMDQSDAebsgATd_DVEoxTZzwIjYHq0XC3No6TqWZNGZGVyYq1I5mGJ6VJS2xotr7Nnub/w640-h426/B042%20Etruria%20Canal%20Festival.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The day we arrived (Sunday 5 June) was the second day of a canal festival at Etruria where the Caldon Canal turns off the Trent and Mersey near Stoke on Trent. Lots of historic narrow boats were moored two abreast making it difficult but not quite impossible to navigate through to the Bedford Street Staircase Locks.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEKVrof3udIxoSrZ2wXJJ1snwN7n6PfNJ7e3L1bq_oAh4jMnFdVjsuYtSgLOHKq12jkhbVek1vz-tGetz7rrlneP8Llo4DA7Mr8ikOAQdCHGNRAcus070u-mFwK8GfISu9ulc1KeYqmc78QpKdDs-n8L4Ffgp_acFmb0nWCj6EoKGfpVfaQ4JEx5l/s1200/B043%20Etruria%20Staircase.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEKVrof3udIxoSrZ2wXJJ1snwN7n6PfNJ7e3L1bq_oAh4jMnFdVjsuYtSgLOHKq12jkhbVek1vz-tGetz7rrlneP8Llo4DA7Mr8ikOAQdCHGNRAcus070u-mFwK8GfISu9ulc1KeYqmc78QpKdDs-n8L4Ffgp_acFmb0nWCj6EoKGfpVfaQ4JEx5l/w640-h426/B043%20Etruria%20Staircase.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bedford Street is a staircase of two locks which rises nearly 20 feet.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDSJ7RCvRkVoNYmKOAbkthNGSGpNCYlnPs_CrvcBGirmXkV6MbAbijiUGMBGG9mbsKad8U9zh0wnSZ22P5JLyOf63I0AiIC_QSdsSBmND06lFeIm0qoaLdwFm-knnI_zYzUPd7PgeYKPFu6a8aSpNZr9xtg5DZo_eyGkVU83ApgOPPWNboXUVqXfA/w426-h640/B044%20Bottle%20Kilns%20on%20Caldon,%20Stoke.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once up the staircse the canal continues on the edge of Stoke. Two bottle kilns have been left in a modern housing development, so you know you are in the Potteries.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPvxLhLxi0KS8IFYDs6sbIX9GPBz6XEMQEYJ1ssFF4W_RjQpw9_RcPm_25C6NefdCUBHenVjxUq8BhTxkuOC5usXO-2CsyGYo5v3Irjm8fRooCXRqf_dXQLDVgAkpGxA5tmFRl3s5a8w/s1200/B045+Ivy+House+LIft+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPvxLhLxi0KS8IFYDs6sbIX9GPBz6XEMQEYJ1ssFF4W_RjQpw9_RcPm_25C6NefdCUBHenVjxUq8BhTxkuOC5usXO-2CsyGYo5v3Irjm8fRooCXRqf_dXQLDVgAkpGxA5tmFRl3s5a8w/w640-h426/B045+Ivy+House+LIft+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a further lock we came through Ivy Lift Bridge, fortunately electrically controlled. Though the advice is not to moor overnight in Stoke on Trent the towpath was closed above this bridge and so we decided to chance an overnight mooring. It had been a very wet morning as we came up the five deep locks at Stoke and we needed to stop. In fact we only saw one person pass along the closed towpath and had no problems.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFAZIQ3GW1cT_cyH3d6YGEjbwI8L4E75tCHcaW1OKJNNkE5x650tWetiZ1QDLzzKmhnlLvO8RrchPcf9PL1XANkWwT_x6OJWu3UjziF5wINoHwA4ya-_Ns6oZze2aXv_T4lDIzOrvIhNaXQkL-unms4gbXlnX6q0ACD6rxZYI2-Zfd5w6iLjpMfyc/s1200/B050%20Mason's%20Mark,%20Stockton%20Brook%20Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFAZIQ3GW1cT_cyH3d6YGEjbwI8L4E75tCHcaW1OKJNNkE5x650tWetiZ1QDLzzKmhnlLvO8RrchPcf9PL1XANkWwT_x6OJWu3UjziF5wINoHwA4ya-_Ns6oZze2aXv_T4lDIzOrvIhNaXQkL-unms4gbXlnX6q0ACD6rxZYI2-Zfd5w6iLjpMfyc/w640-h426/B050%20Mason's%20Mark,%20Stockton%20Brook%20Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a view of the stones forming a wall of one of the five Stockton Brook locks. The star shaped mark is a mason's mark when this lock was built in the 1700s. Fascinating to think of a man 250 years ago inscribing his mark for the future.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZFbd5FGL51tBJxGVO79h3QYvfKjFUW_qwaRUIkjjen18wC96TrQj8DQloNYbtP84w8w0x8sQ08B0i4pgv641R2jjBdFq11Zj1u9K-9tiPMLYs9ScTb0igS9jiu_uz_po4N-rrijQT3LBdc2YK11u1NGFL4rCzianYiRqsh-KjbELjgoGAoJqn5xK/s1200/B052%20Island%20in%20Canal,%20Endon.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZFbd5FGL51tBJxGVO79h3QYvfKjFUW_qwaRUIkjjen18wC96TrQj8DQloNYbtP84w8w0x8sQ08B0i4pgv641R2jjBdFq11Zj1u9K-9tiPMLYs9ScTb0igS9jiu_uz_po4N-rrijQT3LBdc2YK11u1NGFL4rCzianYiRqsh-KjbELjgoGAoJqn5xK/w640-h426/B052%20Island%20in%20Canal,%20Endon.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Approaching an old canal arm at Endon there is a small roundabout in the middle of the canal. Boats are directed to the left and clearance is very tight. So why is this curious obstruction there? The answer is that this was a pivot for a railway swing bridge for a mineral line that crossed the canal here to reach the main line. The canal arm is now the home of the Stoke on Trent Boat Club.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19WZL3TcvK47oacrNL2XY7zh29yPaOi9JndQLkZaQONPMbQLCh-t5c9QpUQYBBrKU5Z5YH0iRQL1dCUD0Lhq2LB6cDY9uhtKRrqKyx8lEitGPIjncbSNooSLxfVPlzxe2tMDxY9MhsosvhmU9pAhr0ZvU9LzP7sEIcZwuIuVGDJFKgQpRLdTZUrqG/s1200/B054%20Well%20Dressing,%20Endon%20Bank.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19WZL3TcvK47oacrNL2XY7zh29yPaOi9JndQLkZaQONPMbQLCh-t5c9QpUQYBBrKU5Z5YH0iRQL1dCUD0Lhq2LB6cDY9uhtKRrqKyx8lEitGPIjncbSNooSLxfVPlzxe2tMDxY9MhsosvhmU9pAhr0ZvU9LzP7sEIcZwuIuVGDJFKgQpRLdTZUrqG/w640-h480/B054%20Well%20Dressing,%20Endon%20Bank.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored on Monday evening near Park Lane Services and walked around local villages. In Endon Bank we found the well dressed for the well dressing ceremony over the weekend. The patterns are formed of real flowers.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGKIgXUKEEy5gFmPTpaao5O8jmtMrDQSc-bqh9F2wRye4WBTi9imkBzKEmOjVZ2wfA3yqAItF2f9U7AsP79ByiG0nRQbFxSEz0HSy23N3_htwLyg1IP_OCoGeW6HaZh06PPN7WztwcFvAg5Ix55ML_QPWupTvhM5Wppp5rFYQCQzRRqcBfWYgzs2_/s1600/B055%20Decorated%20Phone%20Box,%20Endon%20Bank.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGKIgXUKEEy5gFmPTpaao5O8jmtMrDQSc-bqh9F2wRye4WBTi9imkBzKEmOjVZ2wfA3yqAItF2f9U7AsP79ByiG0nRQbFxSEz0HSy23N3_htwLyg1IP_OCoGeW6HaZh06PPN7WztwcFvAg5Ix55ML_QPWupTvhM5Wppp5rFYQCQzRRqcBfWYgzs2_/w480-h640/B055%20Decorated%20Phone%20Box,%20Endon%20Bank.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Endon Bank also had a Jubilee decorated phone box!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgN3uKpwVKJuowtJkp4uwyjd8mK_P6kf76BKreD1JvDzYPQ9MEZ6KaxkVscAiA8qaryKGZ4DNhUzTcIcUBX5C7wubVtLFmmysAbHB8IbFzVGm6LOF1myfQWFaQjMu8iLtM4rsFW9ffa5m4e6PKdN_ndwhplDR9iVqObuQw8QoAymA1CpgGz7U2wt1q/s1200/B059%20Hazelhurst%20Signpost.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgN3uKpwVKJuowtJkp4uwyjd8mK_P6kf76BKreD1JvDzYPQ9MEZ6KaxkVscAiA8qaryKGZ4DNhUzTcIcUBX5C7wubVtLFmmysAbHB8IbFzVGm6LOF1myfQWFaQjMu8iLtM4rsFW9ffa5m4e6PKdN_ndwhplDR9iVqObuQw8QoAymA1CpgGz7U2wt1q/w640-h426/B059%20Hazelhurst%20Signpost.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Tuesday morning we cruised on to the junction at Hazelhurst. The photo is of the signpost. We had come from Etruria and the two branches go to Leek and to Froghall. To go to Leek you turn right and then swing left to cross on an aqueduct the branch to Froghall which by this point has dropped down 3 locks to pass underneath. Like a few other canal junctions it is most similar to modern motorway junctions.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJatZnQ1ARj_mEwRuvUnqGy5VpO__4nVwYUaSe7r3D3xxMQt6uztlZ1u4VVckUNN0jE24DBabNiZwLb06k712i-jvXABf_WddVreaPKa73YQtPU5bqei3iVMpUWeSiu_Z7x-uJuEH0JuP5rnOiWCfIODh-vnkLtAh6IwPfdcQDqYvt8_pZ50ZY8-jx/s1200/B061%20Leek%20Tunnel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1200" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJatZnQ1ARj_mEwRuvUnqGy5VpO__4nVwYUaSe7r3D3xxMQt6uztlZ1u4VVckUNN0jE24DBabNiZwLb06k712i-jvXABf_WddVreaPKa73YQtPU5bqei3iVMpUWeSiu_Z7x-uJuEH0JuP5rnOiWCfIODh-vnkLtAh6IwPfdcQDqYvt8_pZ50ZY8-jx/w640-h452/B061%20Leek%20Tunnel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We took the Leek branch first and near the end of this branch is a short tunnel.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdolEgOBQyWLd5ZINrEZb-Wb5sZsBcFwNgRGB5x_kAWvNJCJflZaHukyDoIr2FRNIF2MsXSsjlhAFBlOqrUiZ9Zu0N68k4x-mQQZYBXK6YLr1xlvpPLOW_vt3gaxU1Wwq-ZqiXkD6gVHCAxcNsN1U8vx0Lg_GIDcMH86Ph78I65cqfmQnKtur7SwW/s1200/B065%20Church%20St,%20Leek.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdolEgOBQyWLd5ZINrEZb-Wb5sZsBcFwNgRGB5x_kAWvNJCJflZaHukyDoIr2FRNIF2MsXSsjlhAFBlOqrUiZ9Zu0N68k4x-mQQZYBXK6YLr1xlvpPLOW_vt3gaxU1Wwq-ZqiXkD6gVHCAxcNsN1U8vx0Lg_GIDcMH86Ph78I65cqfmQnKtur7SwW/w640-h426/B065%20Church%20St,%20Leek.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From the end of the Leek branch there is a steady climb to visit the attractive town of Leek. It does however have an excessive volume of heavy and noisy traffic. This view up Church Road shows some of the historic buildings.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHYFoeUH4lMeMt-GbIlgwHmnpLvslgB6imBCXl2g1fpXg5UbTyaj8-c5peNbgNRXD-xANL6eOnMz8_JYROra7n4hmctjioDzk2ZQhIjUHdRhDnHu2WcmMGNBtHDhuAs-_3A0H5stcqkX87yqT6_7XBWGd7pinzLUA8qxAgt4999Bh49dIU-cQJ_ai/s1200/B069%20Looking%20back%20on%20sharp%20bend.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHYFoeUH4lMeMt-GbIlgwHmnpLvslgB6imBCXl2g1fpXg5UbTyaj8-c5peNbgNRXD-xANL6eOnMz8_JYROra7n4hmctjioDzk2ZQhIjUHdRhDnHu2WcmMGNBtHDhuAs-_3A0H5stcqkX87yqT6_7XBWGd7pinzLUA8qxAgt4999Bh49dIU-cQJ_ai/w640-h426/B069%20Looking%20back%20on%20sharp%20bend.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This view looking back shows a very tight turn coming out of the very narrow bridge on our return along the Leek branch.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_dpALtfOKpkSkSiSdW9qkzLoFQ6DKPRW4POyoLhVonWnugX2lIL5YvWlmbQmbOLg_SdP48hOAgqmzUY9C0xbZUqXGhxLRQThdjh6WAHIYBZIpMGgBY-y7xXjvZtsygpqdOx-VPKTjDmtuZrdknEfDntztorhMXz-HjlICElPKlVV4TkRUzFGbMFu/s1200/B070%20Moored%20at%20Hazelhurst%20Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_dpALtfOKpkSkSiSdW9qkzLoFQ6DKPRW4POyoLhVonWnugX2lIL5YvWlmbQmbOLg_SdP48hOAgqmzUY9C0xbZUqXGhxLRQThdjh6WAHIYBZIpMGgBY-y7xXjvZtsygpqdOx-VPKTjDmtuZrdknEfDntztorhMXz-HjlICElPKlVV4TkRUzFGbMFu/w640-h426/B070%20Moored%20at%20Hazelhurst%20Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored on Tuesday evening on the Leek branch close to the Hazelhurst Junction. It was a lovely spot with a fine view opposite.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KgtT8X8Oqkjw2omwfPBLsdIoHQcL669vZJf8Vtp_n8rFkv9Bz3bYj9NcdYe0rulgTMGu68m6R5311i1XKzdmde5SFIAZCBPjn77LKofNMN0_IayZX2BVOsZRaBOGs15BnwdyPEqtilPdIkGKoEo4Sfx310F8CKhmXBzKKunlvrFnGWRFV1EAWkFL/s1200/C001%20Hazelhurst%20Top%20Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KgtT8X8Oqkjw2omwfPBLsdIoHQcL669vZJf8Vtp_n8rFkv9Bz3bYj9NcdYe0rulgTMGu68m6R5311i1XKzdmde5SFIAZCBPjn77LKofNMN0_IayZX2BVOsZRaBOGs15BnwdyPEqtilPdIkGKoEo4Sfx310F8CKhmXBzKKunlvrFnGWRFV1EAWkFL/w640-h426/C001%20Hazelhurst%20Top%20Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday saw us turning sharply right at Hazelhurst junction to drop down the 3 locks on our way to Froghall. Here we are going into the top lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U_DvVsrB2xhwHVkMy2jwg7cmA-8oX-P2mhSiyWhJlJ6Fn_3nst1nzkoXX4SlNxu7UDyW59LBDTymvmVtb4ZJz_fV05XlSsMl-1su6LvfBAu7Z2sJONzIC1P-RApBIdLCCPAJSOvD7_Dd0RRlOEvdZPqIbjzGxVgRNIbRxSXvcRVseVWe6JGG8upZ/s1200/C003%20Hazelhurst%20Aqueduct.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U_DvVsrB2xhwHVkMy2jwg7cmA-8oX-P2mhSiyWhJlJ6Fn_3nst1nzkoXX4SlNxu7UDyW59LBDTymvmVtb4ZJz_fV05XlSsMl-1su6LvfBAu7Z2sJONzIC1P-RApBIdLCCPAJSOvD7_Dd0RRlOEvdZPqIbjzGxVgRNIbRxSXvcRVseVWe6JGG8upZ/w640-h426/C003%20Hazelhurst%20Aqueduct.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And underneath the Leek branch on an aqueduct built by John Rennie in 1841.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLfU-a64CU1wv3WlGzULzBxyMSTqGgfWvE0GFTsvG5TgPY_L3e7AmT3INOgGGChz2Dk6hkoGDGBAvYKoY3ZkFgr_Oa9pd2vn48ur5L2j3nskJQi-gJJi3CeuO31FH0bJ_PWyebR1BbUCsB5hf8aUoUHm-kH642x8VGuj9r9shlANctFwo1AiYucwv/s1200/C005%20Cheddleton%20Flint%20Mill.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLfU-a64CU1wv3WlGzULzBxyMSTqGgfWvE0GFTsvG5TgPY_L3e7AmT3INOgGGChz2Dk6hkoGDGBAvYKoY3ZkFgr_Oa9pd2vn48ur5L2j3nskJQi-gJJi3CeuO31FH0bJ_PWyebR1BbUCsB5hf8aUoUHm-kH642x8VGuj9r9shlANctFwo1AiYucwv/w640-h426/C005%20Cheddleton%20Flint%20Mill.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We soon passed the Flint Mill at Cheddleton. Here flints were baked in a furnace and then ground by a water mill to a powder used in the pottery industry.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywFrm8L-OsWv_z8C6ziZ6uM0nLVe2oiZSQ46Krh5xM6aWaoACuv1g51cHRmdDJiCIf3vWk7I3vQyGgy6vOmOUQ__c-usKt6SPzD3kCv_wvz1LwZWBXQOT-1ycmQ36HSXKpo5ILOCVOBWdcL3YWWpN3MEh81HPBWW3UoDMSvLjGPQROVLmg7z7FS_F/s1200/C009%20On%20the%20River%20Churnet.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywFrm8L-OsWv_z8C6ziZ6uM0nLVe2oiZSQ46Krh5xM6aWaoACuv1g51cHRmdDJiCIf3vWk7I3vQyGgy6vOmOUQ__c-usKt6SPzD3kCv_wvz1LwZWBXQOT-1ycmQ36HSXKpo5ILOCVOBWdcL3YWWpN3MEh81HPBWW3UoDMSvLjGPQROVLmg7z7FS_F/w640-h426/C009%20On%20the%20River%20Churnet.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few locks further down the canal which follows the valley of the River Churnet we came out onto the river itself for a mile and a half or so. The river is fairly fast flowing and has a series of sweeping bends. Keep to the outside of the bends if the river level is low to avoid beaching on a shingle bank.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15yqY9R_IBynIdHQfOhij2HAbsWZ0JFrbxISJ92rUYcDrtdWEwPMC0jIqe4tFD2qEsnMYan3RIFkGn7zy_MqUDgRgA1su6tVJ24WZzTHoH1joRRAs4adYD7FSxgDv3-0MRyl05Y5HSAcDhZRRirzyaEq_ybQddv0uYL_ApaClDMLCWJv6COqFK_t2/s1200/C013%20Churnet%20Valley%20Railway.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15yqY9R_IBynIdHQfOhij2HAbsWZ0JFrbxISJ92rUYcDrtdWEwPMC0jIqe4tFD2qEsnMYan3RIFkGn7zy_MqUDgRgA1su6tVJ24WZzTHoH1joRRAs4adYD7FSxgDv3-0MRyl05Y5HSAcDhZRRirzyaEq_ybQddv0uYL_ApaClDMLCWJv6COqFK_t2/w640-h426/C013%20Churnet%20Valley%20Railway.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the canal continues down the valley the Churnet Valley Railway accompanies it. At Consall Forge where the canal turns off the river it passes under the railway. We were so lucky to find that a steam hauled train arrived at the same time.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlztWy2PBfG55PCQ0L78C91yjCUmpEDwgBV3O8zANC7mzxFWGQu1ovg5w3_pFVjnI8RB5Wef0Uq49S1OhwE7teEB7F6EpD2ccmHG4reTnGyO3X81NhG3ts7iSawRjH-1UQ4KN3zpERsRnCNqjU_Lm3mRB-jcSjBHotQh2UceytdCxFqDXVtRgBBeY/s1200/C014%20Waving%20passegers.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlztWy2PBfG55PCQ0L78C91yjCUmpEDwgBV3O8zANC7mzxFWGQu1ovg5w3_pFVjnI8RB5Wef0Uq49S1OhwE7teEB7F6EpD2ccmHG4reTnGyO3X81NhG3ts7iSawRjH-1UQ4KN3zpERsRnCNqjU_Lm3mRB-jcSjBHotQh2UceytdCxFqDXVtRgBBeY/w640-h426/C014%20Waving%20passegers.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The passengers on the train waved to us on the canal below them. A little further on the platform of Consall Station is actually cantilevered out over the narrow canal. This is one of a number of sections where the canal is too narrow to allow two boats to pass each other. Fingers crossed there is no boat coming the other way!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iLodIKH2l7K9dOsDvUKV6e01t1vo6zhs7nhKKz9c3xZ8xj4WDXN9tNjSFxAGt2840PIFRJ3KEzjy4jyOXFlIZOddrgamLLpeK-ykaA9lrYABX4jHt9_k5GUtF5EStpneQhC1CqqMt4eHAsj-V2qGp-m3okCBcil029Ag6Q2qKIwpzwpLTICa52-F/s1200/C016%20Cherry%20Eye%20Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iLodIKH2l7K9dOsDvUKV6e01t1vo6zhs7nhKKz9c3xZ8xj4WDXN9tNjSFxAGt2840PIFRJ3KEzjy4jyOXFlIZOddrgamLLpeK-ykaA9lrYABX4jHt9_k5GUtF5EStpneQhC1CqqMt4eHAsj-V2qGp-m3okCBcil029Ag6Q2qKIwpzwpLTICa52-F/w640-h426/C016%20Cherry%20Eye%20Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This bridge is called Cherry Eye Bridge. Its arch has a rather novel shape. The name comes from the ironstone miners here who used to rub their eyes with red stained hands giving them cherry eyes.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSjVBKVegNNOXvzCq_TSUYbL1zG_0Qr8zjUzKYyCobJETj-IIxE7rO1buOHkkvfHHJlrkHnqoEczvQoNQz8n5PqlZ8t9hodcRsRBQdvg1yEQXzY3w5o12qoc5K6DB4rAuavygWvZJ8XtLoUugUnXPHl9y6XI3nYPjoy19nS_IdhAvZoo_5jWvtKVj/s1200/C024%20Lining%20up%20for%20Froghall%20Tunnel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSjVBKVegNNOXvzCq_TSUYbL1zG_0Qr8zjUzKYyCobJETj-IIxE7rO1buOHkkvfHHJlrkHnqoEczvQoNQz8n5PqlZ8t9hodcRsRBQdvg1yEQXzY3w5o12qoc5K6DB4rAuavygWvZJ8XtLoUugUnXPHl9y6XI3nYPjoy19nS_IdhAvZoo_5jWvtKVj/w640-h426/C024%20Lining%20up%20for%20Froghall%20Tunnel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Near the end of the Froghall branch of the Caldon Canal is a tunnel which we think is the second lowest on the system. It is only 76 yards long but is so low that most boats cannot fit through. We had done it before so we knew that Leo would fit through but it is very tight even so. At the last lock before this point - Flint Mill Lock - there is a gauge below the lock that you can use to measure whether your boat will then fit through the tunnel. The gauge is slightly pessimistic. To get through we turned the engine off and pulled the boat through using hands on the roof of the tunnel. Doing this means with Helen on the front and Ian on the back we can talk to each other and take action when the rails at the top of the boat are close to touching. This photo is taken in fact on returning through the tunnel but it does show how close the clearance is. In fact we picked up a few scratches on the way through and none at all on the way back, but we did fill with water before returning and put the anchor on the foredeck and two water filled toilet cassettes in the well deck.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis80H22luIkkbQ1SW-Vo8-J7oT9UtRZoOfcTEldzUzWeh5MWoFd-qnhp7410klafSkuD-PYbkMwYhLyOffupoIp41pUVsmJdAhMe3gVvcLQM2PFxlUDd9d5XZcKYO35cYvtg23PZWS5FUb1jS9-k2JRBA-AqdGU6uUX489ySSBJQJzFSbQ8iYW0mME/s1200/C018%20Leo%20in%20Froghall%20Basin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis80H22luIkkbQ1SW-Vo8-J7oT9UtRZoOfcTEldzUzWeh5MWoFd-qnhp7410klafSkuD-PYbkMwYhLyOffupoIp41pUVsmJdAhMe3gVvcLQM2PFxlUDd9d5XZcKYO35cYvtg23PZWS5FUb1jS9-k2JRBA-AqdGU6uUX489ySSBJQJzFSbQ8iYW0mME/w640-h426/C018%20Leo%20in%20Froghall%20Basin.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On the other side of the tunnel you can turn right through a lock which lets you down to a delightful canal basin that would hold 8-10 boats. Because of the difficulties with the tunnel we were on our own! In fact the lock and the basin formed the first part of the Uttoxeter
Canal which used to go to the town of Uttoxeter about 13 miles away.
Much of the course of that canal now has a railway track along it and
there is little prospect of it being restored beyond this point.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>So there you have it - the Caldon Canal. It is certainly one of our favourites. <br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-24209153544259099132022-05-20T12:51:00.000-07:002022-05-20T12:51:27.402-07:00Our first blog for 2022 and a new approach to blogging for this year<p> We have given some thought to how often we update this blog and what we put on it. Over the years we have been boating and now that we have covered nearly all the inland waterways in England and Wales updating the blog is not always the pleasurable occupation it once was. So this year we will be trying some new approaches. Mainly we will focus any blogs on significant days on the canals particularly on less frequented waterways. For instance later this summer we hope to cross onto the Lancaster Canal using the tidal Ribble Link and that will certainly feature on the blog. But on more routine parts of the system which are well travelled by others we will likely just put up some nice photos on Helen's Facebook Page. I hope this link will lead you to that page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010379438009">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010379438009</a>. I think you will need to be a member of Facebook before this will work.</p><p>In the meantime here are a few photos of our last two days on the River Trent. This year, we have started out rather later than usual principally because we have spent nearly 3 weeks on a car trip to Orkney. So it was not until yesterday (Thursday 19 May) that we set off from Nottingham to go out on the river Trent and downstream towards Newark:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeBNdHxzhguJc3tFhWHbYwBJ6VRZPQqgtuXmv3qSmd42JtkmWaSIHtElg1axp-7X-euYj41rOcaDDHsJQh6Pp7J3B6e8nk-TGgYvw6PphlGLof0J6Fx6Uv8ZlnYg_AUugWao-SPMfczjktJBcw75Hse_18k_xfcm7KsIcJJMRJUVaT9iFhFJXsMgh/s1200/004%20Coming%20into%20Nottingham.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeBNdHxzhguJc3tFhWHbYwBJ6VRZPQqgtuXmv3qSmd42JtkmWaSIHtElg1axp-7X-euYj41rOcaDDHsJQh6Pp7J3B6e8nk-TGgYvw6PphlGLof0J6Fx6Uv8ZlnYg_AUugWao-SPMfczjktJBcw75Hse_18k_xfcm7KsIcJJMRJUVaT9iFhFJXsMgh/w640-h426/004%20Coming%20into%20Nottingham.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are, having left the marina cruising the Nottingham Canal into the city.</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUFxTvbRyplFoOHQ8bfMMMjL7022FUmlwBAq2M5Fh1KA06f8kwRHZbAOhJooBXHlYu3vdPDKYHIl0H2upnbc7qJYSh1FThW6nurGj4-l3tugkBAbkVBdQCJOIUVlHgw6Bq5rmfo_4ar2d7Sosw-uGO7aOD8lSo9a-dy7N6yWcOi9Pfnk7CD_3XExW/s1200/005%20Castle%20Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUFxTvbRyplFoOHQ8bfMMMjL7022FUmlwBAq2M5Fh1KA06f8kwRHZbAOhJooBXHlYu3vdPDKYHIl0H2upnbc7qJYSh1FThW6nurGj4-l3tugkBAbkVBdQCJOIUVlHgw6Bq5rmfo_4ar2d7Sosw-uGO7aOD8lSo9a-dy7N6yWcOi9Pfnk7CD_3XExW/w640-h426/005%20Castle%20Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first lock of the year was Castle Lock</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjprnenLLLpZF2FXSVc4iyzgFPWQYIoRPKLpbYk7qV6KLncJFsXpFq-1rrewHRuVaSgtD2Y-aF-g6oeAStLCV5Bvnw1YuWH_7h22fsgfmCFfIeNJeJLjlBW8PGBhWE2REJqmlKNlL1pklrIyc7rOX78cUtPlKGQyHxrPuDS2CzE1bDDMkThvi7LAIP/s1200/007%20Lady%20Bay%20Brdge%20on%20Trent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjprnenLLLpZF2FXSVc4iyzgFPWQYIoRPKLpbYk7qV6KLncJFsXpFq-1rrewHRuVaSgtD2Y-aF-g6oeAStLCV5Bvnw1YuWH_7h22fsgfmCFfIeNJeJLjlBW8PGBhWE2REJqmlKNlL1pklrIyc7rOX78cUtPlKGQyHxrPuDS2CzE1bDDMkThvi7LAIP/w640-h426/007%20Lady%20Bay%20Brdge%20on%20Trent.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After two locks we are now out on the River Trent about to go under Lady Bay Bridge and heading downstream out of Nottingham. As is apparent we had a lovely day for the start of boating this year.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx1-cRxjf99gLq6QrGb379CJKNl1EuofsOO5qekwU83i-LNAEB4nriAimGoK5YlYu7F5mM6rm2G9YttZHvNmixFB-fgVDKW_iomcs1JZ-8WCiCNRmHKolbKs9PCQGRwh6BXyWONSrPIThbZn1P3bG7bgWxrev5Tbh220zZ5XXcKJPR1YRVSWt5WOT/s1200/011%20Gunthorpe%20Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx1-cRxjf99gLq6QrGb379CJKNl1EuofsOO5qekwU83i-LNAEB4nriAimGoK5YlYu7F5mM6rm2G9YttZHvNmixFB-fgVDKW_iomcs1JZ-8WCiCNRmHKolbKs9PCQGRwh6BXyWONSrPIThbZn1P3bG7bgWxrev5Tbh220zZ5XXcKJPR1YRVSWt5WOT/w640-h426/011%20Gunthorpe%20Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a night above Holme Lock where we could see brave canoeists on the white water course alongside the lock, today was not such good weather but we have carried on downstream to Fiskerton. In the picture we are about to go under Gunthorpe Bridge, the only road bridge over the river between Nottingham and Newark.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So there you have it, a brief introduction to this blog for 2022.<br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-11212729978770254832021-09-25T11:00:00.000-07:002021-09-25T11:00:40.025-07:00Through Leicester, and on to Nottingham<p> I have been remiss in not updating this blog before. We are now home having left Leo for the winter. I was planning on doing two more updates to our blog, but time has marched on so you have a bumper edition covering our last couple of weeks boating for 2021. This update then covers our cruising to and then through Leicester to Trent Junction and down the river Trent. It is always a bit sad coming to the end of cruising for the year, but nights are closing in, leaves are falling and it is time for us to go back to being landlubbers for the winter. In the meantime here is the last update from us for this boating season.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14gXGbUElmYmJpRhHJbulCgLNwz57yd2geAw1ccN23tiuh64yBDouxdWjSrrg6pN5Kp_JBYoDRUhFeJUjTE1neynHvySPcLg-w4EVTgNVip4_Fw2dOU7nPpU6nen70visoQkybKHOcMo/s1200/S032+Cow+peeping+MH+Arm.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14gXGbUElmYmJpRhHJbulCgLNwz57yd2geAw1ccN23tiuh64yBDouxdWjSrrg6pN5Kp_JBYoDRUhFeJUjTE1neynHvySPcLg-w4EVTgNVip4_Fw2dOU7nPpU6nen70visoQkybKHOcMo/w640-h426/S032+Cow+peeping+MH+Arm.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our last update took us to the bottom of the Foxton Locks. We moored on Thursday 9th having just turned onto the Market Harborough Arm. This takes a winding course for about five and a half miles into Market Harborough. The arm was originally built to be the main route of the canal with the idea of going to Northampton. It would have been a broad canal allowing wider vessels to gain access to the canal system heading north. But it never happened and now the arm is a dead end. Why the picture of a cow? Well, as we were pottering along, we spotted something brown appearing round a tree and then disappearing. It proved to be this cow.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwyYoe0Hu6udIfZMnZNGhWucQV3Yd_BOG-vGDVwffeAVUxhPAqbM1X1D-HGB2NIlhX-LCbl6VAEgsdlpgn7SLCrExuyLy7lE1qQ8sfWOxi9yicuOu_lO2QANKFk_xPeAYkfO1frA7iKo/s1200/S036+MH+Basin.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwyYoe0Hu6udIfZMnZNGhWucQV3Yd_BOG-vGDVwffeAVUxhPAqbM1X1D-HGB2NIlhX-LCbl6VAEgsdlpgn7SLCrExuyLy7lE1qQ8sfWOxi9yicuOu_lO2QANKFk_xPeAYkfO1frA7iKo/w640-h426/S036+MH+Basin.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the basin at the end of the Arm. Hire boats are based here and there is ample space to turn as well as services to the left.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2_gN5FF9SGcWJZMgITjdnLTGej5tLxiU5QAn1gjJoTI_S5ilbxD_LT8I7E_q6sYtnqE2qHGoytfeyHE2Vu87JQm48K9po6UKxCsVnoOYAt3bDekydruFTNRM5zNkdhazs5LrW-bRZEk/s1200/S040+Symington+Building%252C+MH.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2_gN5FF9SGcWJZMgITjdnLTGej5tLxiU5QAn1gjJoTI_S5ilbxD_LT8I7E_q6sYtnqE2qHGoytfeyHE2Vu87JQm48K9po6UKxCsVnoOYAt3bDekydruFTNRM5zNkdhazs5LrW-bRZEk/w640-h426/S040+Symington+Building%252C+MH.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having moored, we walked into town. This is the Symington building which used to be a corset factory but is now the headquarters of the town council and also has a cafe where we had lunch, and upstairs is an interesting museum.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yGskOdNSxtFv4P8cZohPFf682kXdTINY3qpOzV-wZdX9-X4aDZmIgTg31qI28Bxiyq86hd-T-YQKeDosGBz2VJWXxdZQxbZ4LndYQs0UIOtam803-JzFc0aqaKD6GlMWJJuAzTjg4PA/s1800/S041+Roman+helmet+earpiece%252C+MH+Museum.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yGskOdNSxtFv4P8cZohPFf682kXdTINY3qpOzV-wZdX9-X4aDZmIgTg31qI28Bxiyq86hd-T-YQKeDosGBz2VJWXxdZQxbZ4LndYQs0UIOtam803-JzFc0aqaKD6GlMWJJuAzTjg4PA/w426-h640/S041+Roman+helmet+earpiece%252C+MH+Museum.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the musuem were extensive displays of finds dating to the early Roman period which were part of a hoard buried at Hallaton, south east of Leicester. The photo is of an ear protector of a Roman soldier's helmet.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpICiK8siuAWBx6aIsvBaVC8fwhL5MAYnBmhNgZSpq1A-FPn9SrZ23D684QrC2v8vXZ55_VuZ-g6JhwK3R8EMhUVwMutgWpMSpFaXabYVR6ofWkl8tXgyO0TLNH27p6IhciIuzWiaYnE/s1200/S042+River+Welland%252C+MH.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpICiK8siuAWBx6aIsvBaVC8fwhL5MAYnBmhNgZSpq1A-FPn9SrZ23D684QrC2v8vXZ55_VuZ-g6JhwK3R8EMhUVwMutgWpMSpFaXabYVR6ofWkl8tXgyO0TLNH27p6IhciIuzWiaYnE/w640-h426/S042+River+Welland%252C+MH.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Market Harborough is on the river Welland which flows out into the Wash close to the mouth of the river Witham near Boston. This overgrown water channel is the river Welland in the town.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2vnpmPOpQ0lcPl_d7Ck8fjHJ1db5HqecNo-95nNY0qB9WL3Uj5auWhU0dtQ87YP5EW4Av6kof1UaAvQxsmTXSH8YeFfLQQ1EkM6xTojhNmEePlcODVVwODWN8jQVotiH5wyTbDx8SbE/s1200/S044+Main+Street%252C+MH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2vnpmPOpQ0lcPl_d7Ck8fjHJ1db5HqecNo-95nNY0qB9WL3Uj5auWhU0dtQ87YP5EW4Av6kof1UaAvQxsmTXSH8YeFfLQQ1EkM6xTojhNmEePlcODVVwODWN8jQVotiH5wyTbDx8SbE/w640-h426/S044+Main+Street%252C+MH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The road from the basin to the town is a broad street with some </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">fine </span>old houses along it.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1hI8Qw4Rxd56fqHdCbLMk4UookwhGzd4R7b1fZLH0pXoZHq4SP4R8WW3RKe0U_o56R9XPJNM687olyR4hZe513RqWs1pd-QrtSX6QzhRxDdFpcmYqYmAwR3oZ4aZgxZoEROqMU8wGZc/s1200/S048+Rural+Leicestershire.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1hI8Qw4Rxd56fqHdCbLMk4UookwhGzd4R7b1fZLH0pXoZHq4SP4R8WW3RKe0U_o56R9XPJNM687olyR4hZe513RqWs1pd-QrtSX6QzhRxDdFpcmYqYmAwR3oZ4aZgxZoEROqMU8wGZc/w640-h426/S048+Rural+Leicestershire.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We liked the peacefull Leicestershire countryside. This photo was taken on Saturday after retracing our way to Foxton and turning right to head north. From here the canal is on the level to Saddington Tunnel and then starts a gradual fall down 24 locks to Leicester where it joins the river Soar.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNOx1OPILF6mDbZfIU7hQ5j5juGhaNzzmVAe1B6Nxp7vyDCZ9dnwfE9_mR8hyphenhyphenepS8Z-Q4L1D4TfAcIzaaCJYVrMr5ys6g2Jy-Xhixj94flGngJP2qgRtz2RdV5RVB984xr6ij6DSuBjs/s1200/S051+Saddington+Feeder.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNOx1OPILF6mDbZfIU7hQ5j5juGhaNzzmVAe1B6Nxp7vyDCZ9dnwfE9_mR8hyphenhyphenepS8Z-Q4L1D4TfAcIzaaCJYVrMr5ys6g2Jy-Xhixj94flGngJP2qgRtz2RdV5RVB984xr6ij6DSuBjs/w640-h426/S051+Saddington+Feeder.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just before the entrance to Saddington Tunnel is this feeder channel which supplies water from a reservoir nearby. We moored and followed a footpath close to the feeder to.....<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16SmkZrrH6m9wIdTG-YtPqVhFlMqZipTP2YWHmS9V7DjS1cwnQNTdy-0bTHsGzNZmtNJx2SejtIfdH0wCITUJvT68AgayfCPf_-XIuQMCBQRF9d7HX9tuO2SkBywdpN5iBMY7Kqkuli0/s1200/S053+Saddington+Reservoir.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16SmkZrrH6m9wIdTG-YtPqVhFlMqZipTP2YWHmS9V7DjS1cwnQNTdy-0bTHsGzNZmtNJx2SejtIfdH0wCITUJvT68AgayfCPf_-XIuQMCBQRF9d7HX9tuO2SkBywdpN5iBMY7Kqkuli0/w640-h426/S053+Saddington+Reservoir.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">.....Saddington reservoir. The water level seemed a bit on the low side, but we haven't had a lot of rain this summer so perhaps that's not surprising.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSFoj8M04wiVGk9t0TZH3h6Qxp-FPttGMVLu5gBbGjnf8WsSJkyT1CaikrgxWlorbgJxM4MSuc5Kg7HbTr1Pvsp0ZTj31Uc42H5UawGv-nJ6NS3PPOykTe8QoBU2TlG6N86czUFGaqoE/s1200/S055+Kibworth+Top+Lock+with+Andy+%252B+Cary.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSFoj8M04wiVGk9t0TZH3h6Qxp-FPttGMVLu5gBbGjnf8WsSJkyT1CaikrgxWlorbgJxM4MSuc5Kg7HbTr1Pvsp0ZTj31Uc42H5UawGv-nJ6NS3PPOykTe8QoBU2TlG6N86czUFGaqoE/w640-h426/S055+Kibworth+Top+Lock+with+Andy+%252B+Cary.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Sunday 12th we cruised through the half mile Saddington Tunnel and soon came to the first of the locks leading down to Leicester. This boat, Thomas Henry, joined us down the locks. Here we are sharing the first - Kibworth Top Lock. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRVGqsVmg-9zbRhNsMftF-dhzrZ9IMLbOuTWMAHxChWYuOXFzujrraSUOOQCL7rmsQg78aFkMrY7hPWIxjwfORJDcYYwOBjjYt5SasERI6qUSUXKCFvP79pEm5AgIrfIQwRgVYxQ5Io8/s1200/S058+Wistow+Church.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRVGqsVmg-9zbRhNsMftF-dhzrZ9IMLbOuTWMAHxChWYuOXFzujrraSUOOQCL7rmsQg78aFkMrY7hPWIxjwfORJDcYYwOBjjYt5SasERI6qUSUXKCFvP79pEm5AgIrfIQwRgVYxQ5Io8/w640-h426/S058+Wistow+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Wistow church near the canal. There is a lovely mooring here which we have used before but on Sunday we carried on for several more locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9ObXWXzFg_z4cWGhwFtCHyURyOHFUZA7fB8qt0mAN9lvfIqjzVWW9gqkPPmtT_ka-S3BXuw9EHeXbw-WXViOj6jV83prNZboxH49GC9dLQOIst6azfNMOT4QmBNh8I6tzrhtVtmc2E4/s1200/S062+Bumblebee+Lock+wall+damage.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="1200" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9ObXWXzFg_z4cWGhwFtCHyURyOHFUZA7fB8qt0mAN9lvfIqjzVWW9gqkPPmtT_ka-S3BXuw9EHeXbw-WXViOj6jV83prNZboxH49GC9dLQOIst6azfNMOT4QmBNh8I6tzrhtVtmc2E4/w640-h246/S062+Bumblebee+Lock+wall+damage.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a wide angle view of the wall of Bumblebee Lock. Clearly there is some work to do here to repair the damage. We did alert a CRT maintenance man to the problem which could catch a boat rising in the lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6f_ktQM2K_7_gfTF0Dzh6QX-XeYdi5riNtUdHLXXzfhY07XOZWdkNPuov91d1evPrEOunAP1E9UOU-8SZUQvQ0z4bRfU44OOHE3WcyZWxbgRO2EqibB6KB5VyDy8zb8AvXIb1UwlLG7A/s1200/S064+Double+Rail+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6f_ktQM2K_7_gfTF0Dzh6QX-XeYdi5riNtUdHLXXzfhY07XOZWdkNPuov91d1evPrEOunAP1E9UOU-8SZUQvQ0z4bRfU44OOHE3WcyZWxbgRO2EqibB6KB5VyDy8zb8AvXIb1UwlLG7A/w640-h426/S064+Double+Rail+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday we carried on through Kilby Bridge towards the centre of Leicester. This lock (shared with Matt aboard a boat called Tinker Too) is called 'Double Rail Lock'. The origin of the name is obvious in this picture and it is like this because a footpath crosses these lock gates and the double set of handrails gives more protection to passing pedestrians.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_oxKMOkfUG-JEspDc7nZxrGKrXFOTDMgZmEHUOKEsefpCnf24nuXJ6E-gTNPzOe0Ex5GXzwSblVzFC_iz0xXgl5y5tU9lPiYok6fMZkxvg_3yQybU_jrK3Bw-ycWzZW9RbVl87x7Ihw/s1200/S067+King%2527s+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_oxKMOkfUG-JEspDc7nZxrGKrXFOTDMgZmEHUOKEsefpCnf24nuXJ6E-gTNPzOe0Ex5GXzwSblVzFC_iz0xXgl5y5tU9lPiYok6fMZkxvg_3yQybU_jrK3Bw-ycWzZW9RbVl87x7Ihw/w640-h426/S067+King%2527s+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having stayed the night near Glen Parva we cruised down to Leicester on Tuesday. It was a very wet morning. We are pictured waiting to go down King's Lock. Below this lock the canal joins the River Soar for the first time. The Soar has a reputation for rising very quickly but the mornings rain did not cause us any problems.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRgjrOJ9yJYCtRX7UGq7XO34qbVBr4ELLA7cgvaSP3w0mmGTjNC6cgSN9kS_X-lCGPXvFMgk_pmYJ-EWE4LJt7ZJ6nQOV7adtcclIytJOOfO6Oyz-8VbCpOfSc5Wx2D9GlKh7uQ0Pbws/s1200/S071+Freeman%2527s+Meadow+weir.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRgjrOJ9yJYCtRX7UGq7XO34qbVBr4ELLA7cgvaSP3w0mmGTjNC6cgSN9kS_X-lCGPXvFMgk_pmYJ-EWE4LJt7ZJ6nQOV7adtcclIytJOOfO6Oyz-8VbCpOfSc5Wx2D9GlKh7uQ0Pbws/w640-h426/S071+Freeman%2527s+Meadow+weir.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This picture is of Leo waiting to go through Freemans Meadow Lock. As the photo shows there is a huge weir above this lock which, in flood conditions, would pull boats towards it. To the left of the weir and out of sight is the ground of Leicester City Football Club.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1TSWhiiTQ7fKWKkBIoSxzkfX2dVt1KtijIoc53xzU4g1M2OzAu3D4-W3TCh8YrqhH1CgLO6CSjVF0ml-yGKj2BaIIj_vVs76ohfbhnDzjs8jkV_brANR1iHPYI0MXx_NBb_8fwsAfvk/s1200/T001+Kingfisher+leaving+Leicester.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1TSWhiiTQ7fKWKkBIoSxzkfX2dVt1KtijIoc53xzU4g1M2OzAu3D4-W3TCh8YrqhH1CgLO6CSjVF0ml-yGKj2BaIIj_vVs76ohfbhnDzjs8jkV_brANR1iHPYI0MXx_NBb_8fwsAfvk/w640-h400/T001+Kingfisher+leaving+Leicester.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored at the good floating pontoon at Friars Mill in the centre of Leicester and after the rain stopped later on Tuesday afternoon, our friends Tim and Dianne on narrowboat Kingfisher arrived from downstream. The rest of the afternoon was spent </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">catching up with where we had each been this year over</span> tea and cake (including apple cake made that morning by Dianne) . This is Tim and Dianne leaving on Wednesday morning to go upstream while we set off by bike to visit the National Space Centre a couple of miles downstream.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTskNevHhC4DYYybi9kVN4l1qqGiTuc0Pq92l9wqIzfZlmJyEqgyrG_20OSbgs7y00cJnKzX3ZIUhoGqn40OlcL06_9jV5E8Dz9cIcYhPBJpUPa141WtgilOoy0gBQ4cRc-Np0Ts0hquE/s1684/T003+Cat+in+spacecraft%252C+NSC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1684" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTskNevHhC4DYYybi9kVN4l1qqGiTuc0Pq92l9wqIzfZlmJyEqgyrG_20OSbgs7y00cJnKzX3ZIUhoGqn40OlcL06_9jV5E8Dz9cIcYhPBJpUPa141WtgilOoy0gBQ4cRc-Np0Ts0hquE/w456-h640/T003+Cat+in+spacecraft%252C+NSC.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Behind this novel model of a cat climbing out of a spacecraft you can see the characteristic shape of the Centre. The tall 'bubble' protects the Blue Streak and Thor-Able rockets inside.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM4rokAGZzbqlmkvC_CU_RQnXsHGrs1WFZ0C3t64PEbFzqxGPYiLcRwi7ouD1ffN7R0sPsLx07cO6mPGZqKhlsCgw2ueObPuvffDOA-7kHCyiM4R5RpvypXqNBa2hHDZAyv3mx_x6emM/s1200/T004+Thor+Able+Spacecraft+top+and+Pumping+Station.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM4rokAGZzbqlmkvC_CU_RQnXsHGrs1WFZ0C3t64PEbFzqxGPYiLcRwi7ouD1ffN7R0sPsLx07cO6mPGZqKhlsCgw2ueObPuvffDOA-7kHCyiM4R5RpvypXqNBa2hHDZAyv3mx_x6emM/w640-h480/T004+Thor+Able+Spacecraft+top+and+Pumping+Station.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is taken from near the top of the bubble building. The foreground shows the nose cone of the Thor-Able rocket. Through the inflated plastic material of the space centre, you can see the building and tall chimney of a pumping station which is also now a museum and which we shall have to visit another time. The National Space Centre gives a good introduction to the space race as well as presentations about the planets and the wider universe. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqIqx_rdUohYuxGsJdd6MfrQ6UXPqpWEV2QHI8sW_eUM77Re40UXi8kLwCQG902mgX4prz5t-4mMQCjo6Al9rHQf6rOsyb3tmheCrGU6kDw5J_lnkVVQTEe7Q7w9MLXgdm5Ici4iodJo/s1600/T006+Wolsey+Grave.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqIqx_rdUohYuxGsJdd6MfrQ6UXPqpWEV2QHI8sW_eUM77Re40UXi8kLwCQG902mgX4prz5t-4mMQCjo6Al9rHQf6rOsyb3tmheCrGU6kDw5J_lnkVVQTEe7Q7w9MLXgdm5Ici4iodJo/w480-h640/T006+Wolsey+Grave.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On our way back to Leo we cycled through Abbey Park where the foundations are all that remains of Leicester Abbey. This is a modern memorial to Cardinal Wolsey who died here. It is in what is thought may be the site of his grave in a side chapel of the Abbey church. The quote is from Shakespeare's Henry VIII.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6U06119N3oIH7pKfsJ-fc0vpIX8bmnboPLlssZ7qPA2uXOl5YsEG4nzkAsTKERptW4VK3HUAAISGMNd6OmFpGS2fVn71uUxtQpF0ESGWQMEbVO9u3PwHdWouJ7EVHSSlgnQyX2SGedA/s1200/T007+Moored+at+Friary+Mill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6U06119N3oIH7pKfsJ-fc0vpIX8bmnboPLlssZ7qPA2uXOl5YsEG4nzkAsTKERptW4VK3HUAAISGMNd6OmFpGS2fVn71uUxtQpF0ESGWQMEbVO9u3PwHdWouJ7EVHSSlgnQyX2SGedA/w640-h480/T007+Moored+at+Friary+Mill.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a view from across the river of the Friars Mill Moorings. Leo is in the middle of the three boats.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m0rWVsV4d439_EVdQewrGmxDAhiUdp5PpPpX4X7HyMyHzzS-1cNpUTwo4OOt03lmL4q5prXQLK7wFiO-Sxnyu6mP0jPjw_ZmNnqYlgHMrV5P3zoZnwAQ5nEH69srQPd8jFoZPuBz4zQ/s1200/T009+Paintings+above+North+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m0rWVsV4d439_EVdQewrGmxDAhiUdp5PpPpX4X7HyMyHzzS-1cNpUTwo4OOt03lmL4q5prXQLK7wFiO-Sxnyu6mP0jPjw_ZmNnqYlgHMrV5P3zoZnwAQ5nEH69srQPd8jFoZPuBz4zQ/w640-h426/T009+Paintings+above+North+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday we left Leicester heading past these painted panels towards North Lock. There is much redevelopment going on along the canal and the otter hides a building site.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gpd-cq48nkcVcULa6sdzYPc_cpsh43fEYrSovlb3fFcimAGYyDq_3cNmykjC0JqIxmdebn9ZjVqgO-wQFnD-Tmn8m_xYwtZ40O-wcbJBIhOViZcbstZEogg0a97WURumnizJPLh0OZo/s1200/T012+Mural+by+Limekiln+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gpd-cq48nkcVcULa6sdzYPc_cpsh43fEYrSovlb3fFcimAGYyDq_3cNmykjC0JqIxmdebn9ZjVqgO-wQFnD-Tmn8m_xYwtZ40O-wcbJBIhOViZcbstZEogg0a97WURumnizJPLh0OZo/w640-h426/T012+Mural+by+Limekiln+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This mural is next to Limekiln Lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8IjIzuwbUSXIhJLjjg8mHvyo3NME2zxh2hMWvCvszYdflPNHD3O9kOfF7rYGwnEpoMWHnjkcu6-7GIJAkFO_YgUjasZgTx0FQsoa76OKgjvk6KeVBtfGby47tqzhQtynbOzNgFJ0Fh0/s1200/T014+Space+Centre+from+below+Belgrave+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8IjIzuwbUSXIhJLjjg8mHvyo3NME2zxh2hMWvCvszYdflPNHD3O9kOfF7rYGwnEpoMWHnjkcu6-7GIJAkFO_YgUjasZgTx0FQsoa76OKgjvk6KeVBtfGby47tqzhQtynbOzNgFJ0Fh0/w640-h426/T014+Space+Centre+from+below+Belgrave+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Below Belgrave Lock we got a good view back over the weir to the National Space Centre.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkvIgrRqvySAbWPG3CBc1gQJdtKN3VCuUrSzXTPdQetgxRjz4rSFiDfJrwhUugwjynkf_e7RYJCeLA9d6_Xrbcp0ckxXhUXpr2-tl6Uw8lpXKeqqJsdJprf2AlhhT-aRYFocWTuwhYAs/s1200/T018+Wreake+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkvIgrRqvySAbWPG3CBc1gQJdtKN3VCuUrSzXTPdQetgxRjz4rSFiDfJrwhUugwjynkf_e7RYJCeLA9d6_Xrbcp0ckxXhUXpr2-tl6Uw8lpXKeqqJsdJprf2AlhhT-aRYFocWTuwhYAs/w640-h426/T018+Wreake+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An oddity of the route to the north of Leicester is that the canal cuts across from the river Soar to its tributary the river Wreake. In this photo the Wreake comes in under the bridge to the right. The Wreake used to be navigable upstream to Melton Mowbray and from there by the Oakham Canal to Oakham.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OkUW0dfZRPKlq2NMwm1ZWYD55b9HDwqz0Qt8fvlGr1qTQvzCuJcGrpDZwr2fLJ7hg-GVqt2JGX_PxN13JLJKqNoRHnfQGi7xCdqj0J9xEbV9AkJfbNb1h1eaQFJ8USfn64RoWws8uQg/s1200/T021+Little+Egret%252C+Cossington.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1200" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OkUW0dfZRPKlq2NMwm1ZWYD55b9HDwqz0Qt8fvlGr1qTQvzCuJcGrpDZwr2fLJ7hg-GVqt2JGX_PxN13JLJKqNoRHnfQGi7xCdqj0J9xEbV9AkJfbNb1h1eaQFJ8USfn64RoWws8uQg/w640-h512/T021+Little+Egret%252C+Cossington.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored on Thursday night on the Wreake above Junction Lock. In the afternoon we walked into the village of Cossington past some lakes and saw this Little Egret. These birds used to be rare in the UK but are becoming increasingly common.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSn7Dm2tHEFwUcddVxbW4PjWbfwg8mNR6XitSWX88os0giYHfHQ1QV4CwONK-ewtGyuediysBofEKNYG6cNR3JmzqwTTF445GLYKETlmYNMI6nEytTYlSvvfc1N5mEqEkyKDgxhw709s/s1200/T023+Wreake-Soar+joining.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSn7Dm2tHEFwUcddVxbW4PjWbfwg8mNR6XitSWX88os0giYHfHQ1QV4CwONK-ewtGyuediysBofEKNYG6cNR3JmzqwTTF445GLYKETlmYNMI6nEytTYlSvvfc1N5mEqEkyKDgxhw709s/w640-h426/T023+Wreake-Soar+joining.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The following day we came down Junction Lock and soon came to the confluence of the rivers Wreake and Soar. This photo was taken looking back and shows the Wreake to the left where the arrows point and the Soar straight on where the boats are moored.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHl0-Zc8CYarbvsJ042yx4UDXKRA4tbW7l4a7rPHI_ZWNbs3UWG09LNvMz9fOFBMyhMw2GiHQNi1vyl29KZle0wK4a9Rg29Ywgr_K5XriPsHsciPGup49_n9O3-E3iWWEOIJV3lmqC0Vs/s1200/T032+Fun+boats+at+Barrow.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHl0-Zc8CYarbvsJ042yx4UDXKRA4tbW7l4a7rPHI_ZWNbs3UWG09LNvMz9fOFBMyhMw2GiHQNi1vyl29KZle0wK4a9Rg29Ywgr_K5XriPsHsciPGup49_n9O3-E3iWWEOIJV3lmqC0Vs/w640-h426/T032+Fun+boats+at+Barrow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored overnight at Barrow upon Soar. In a basin near our mooring were all these fun boats, mostly pedalos, ready for hire.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvsri8pqdD_NJbv_x2eqaf37tJqybugyexxm8szEuwYs2c51ep8Yml-na9aWQLZIx-LEA3wWaQfFMsBw4xHyRNzSg5AsbBGMe399XwazG7km8ZUtMpuTppuyxOK_sWSafQ3EMFEzCcsE/s1200/T035+From+Barrow+bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvsri8pqdD_NJbv_x2eqaf37tJqybugyexxm8szEuwYs2c51ep8Yml-na9aWQLZIx-LEA3wWaQfFMsBw4xHyRNzSg5AsbBGMe399XwazG7km8ZUtMpuTppuyxOK_sWSafQ3EMFEzCcsE/w640-h426/T035+From+Barrow+bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This boat viewed from the town bridge has come down Barrow Lock towards the left, which at over 9 feet deep is a big one, and is rejoining the main river before going under the bridge.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6mu5bkpY-AZtUJI27QG7vJxCzELnPrlHnPB71e9aiDgQRhCzG7SVoqJjNvZuAing95sRtTtr6a2BGtAczie-CyhVMsIK1_yJ42R8_wsbri5m3h_wDyfKzSfYPyIURId6ze5y1DV3p-o/s1200/T042+Pilling+Flood+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6mu5bkpY-AZtUJI27QG7vJxCzELnPrlHnPB71e9aiDgQRhCzG7SVoqJjNvZuAing95sRtTtr6a2BGtAczie-CyhVMsIK1_yJ42R8_wsbri5m3h_wDyfKzSfYPyIURId6ze5y1DV3p-o/w640-h426/T042+Pilling+Flood+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our route on Saturday took us down Barrow Lock and soon to this flood lock close to Pillings Marina. A flood lock normally has both sets of gates open (as this one does if you look closely) but during floods it can be closed to protect the canal beyond from flooding. So normally you just cruise straight through without stopping.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AhwHIg63NcIbmKqyXORnE15CpoNmtVbEy5uAv7gw0PGeW4T-AJSqi3sIfiGA1_jdj5A_35Tj7zVQOuF-jDQ5rCq7whGkQoWl5aTqgumDbYofX0n0N0k9jz9TmPPRKNlhprRdgArgeiY/s1200/T045+Coming+to+turn+at+Loughborough.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AhwHIg63NcIbmKqyXORnE15CpoNmtVbEy5uAv7gw0PGeW4T-AJSqi3sIfiGA1_jdj5A_35Tj7zVQOuF-jDQ5rCq7whGkQoWl5aTqgumDbYofX0n0N0k9jz9TmPPRKNlhprRdgArgeiY/w640-h426/T045+Coming+to+turn+at+Loughborough.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a nice day on Saturday (18th September) as we came through Loughborough. In this photo we are just coming to the T junction where you can turn left for Loughborough Basin or right to continue following the Soar. We turned right and didn't stop in Loughborough though we have visited the town before.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8A2yK73SZ4b_L0ufPZZnT91Y_Ov_Y65NwzT0J3OWokZKld3_rHf4-d6e7OmxpMvpV1f9EWRK-bI5dritpnaDpaYA3LShs9DKlNOmvXKO6j0vlc8rSK8n4mn1zF6_HxY-RYnEY1CENh20/s1200/T053+Kegworth+Deep+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8A2yK73SZ4b_L0ufPZZnT91Y_Ov_Y65NwzT0J3OWokZKld3_rHf4-d6e7OmxpMvpV1f9EWRK-bI5dritpnaDpaYA3LShs9DKlNOmvXKO6j0vlc8rSK8n4mn1zF6_HxY-RYnEY1CENh20/w640-h426/T053+Kegworth+Deep+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kegworth Deep Lock lives up to its name. It was built to replace two locks and is about 12 feet deep. We met old friends Jen and Jim on 'Dire Straits' coming the other way. It's a shame that you don't get much time to chat on these occasions.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUkIlEex1p03ERu8AC-d6CJvYiLkJI4tSolfkfEyx4-5WGivHUQuAFZrteU1kdyz4ACU0plShcZhgBrYtDZ7ykbQuDttDBWMcPuoNvZeTV1N5r9Oy3OMoW3_qlVO0m1XSl0T0xNEezmE/s1200/T057+Ratcliffe+Power+Station.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUkIlEex1p03ERu8AC-d6CJvYiLkJI4tSolfkfEyx4-5WGivHUQuAFZrteU1kdyz4ACU0plShcZhgBrYtDZ7ykbQuDttDBWMcPuoNvZeTV1N5r9Oy3OMoW3_qlVO0m1XSl0T0xNEezmE/w640-h426/T057+Ratcliffe+Power+Station.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming down the last few miles of the Soar we kept our eyes open for the familiar sight of the huge cooling towers of Ratcliffe Power Station seen here.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6Iwq1hMeRNsXppU2d79PSpxltWinpsL0P4rPq1rA6kqm8mVMg1ZUI457j7JsYPKQ1AdbIqyPWW9A79RKW5HAsz6r-C34kZUeXBQrERVi1kB-3qO_-EENrw1Ne2zECcN8MHoX3LvWEZg/s1200/T059+Old+Lock%252C+Ratcliffe.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6Iwq1hMeRNsXppU2d79PSpxltWinpsL0P4rPq1rA6kqm8mVMg1ZUI457j7JsYPKQ1AdbIqyPWW9A79RKW5HAsz6r-C34kZUeXBQrERVi1kB-3qO_-EENrw1Ne2zECcN8MHoX3LvWEZg/w640-h426/T059+Old+Lock%252C+Ratcliffe.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Sunday we had a spell of quite heavy rain as we went through Ratcliffe Lock. Here are the remains of the old lock shown here alongside the new one.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCosrDYqr5yed2N7Qe6r5O51h37sdGi10PdBNypjctACNNBaGS25sJI9IHu6IiHZCgnCWOZEn6a0q-aZTBnw5wWLZEh_VrGpBUg70CIDX75-A0BxuKBx9AuV0msW66MOEIiSPzknNQn8s/s1200/T062+Redhill+Flood+Lock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCosrDYqr5yed2N7Qe6r5O51h37sdGi10PdBNypjctACNNBaGS25sJI9IHu6IiHZCgnCWOZEn6a0q-aZTBnw5wWLZEh_VrGpBUg70CIDX75-A0BxuKBx9AuV0msW66MOEIiSPzknNQn8s/w640-h426/T062+Redhill+Flood+Lock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here you can see more clearly an open flood lock, this one is at Redhill just before the Soar meets the river Trent.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2U5uSpdKDDxmDlMwWOilA0ubuqatGySXlSA2lVyaioupxdrSSmKBcmFXMpW4yR5Sscr4KIUn_ZtseYyPCIXeWXVsI595H6pubSxTZ6pDQTL_2Qdx2jVLp5m_hd2_JRlFNLOCPsluosk/s1200/T063+Coming+to+the+Trent.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2U5uSpdKDDxmDlMwWOilA0ubuqatGySXlSA2lVyaioupxdrSSmKBcmFXMpW4yR5Sscr4KIUn_ZtseYyPCIXeWXVsI595H6pubSxTZ6pDQTL_2Qdx2jVLp5m_hd2_JRlFNLOCPsluosk/w640-h426/T063+Coming+to+the+Trent.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And finally here is the meeting with the Trent. The arrows point left which is advisable as the huge Thrumpton Weir lies to the right. You can just make out the sail of a small dinghy to the far left of the picture. There was so little wind that this dinghy had drifted downstream and was being towed back to the sailing club at Trent junction.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDBmF1XEh97fmx3wbWoP8oTcrMTXYw-Puugh3EtaldAYUYum_ZRPryiuafO5G0WkVv7avOaqv0OAPb3w8LZ2LEUaFHSF9qBjjKsYMv5ekW1cDNW7xEtu3ZOZEVeCpGI-ziAHR9_Z5WCg/s1200/T068+Sunset+at+Trent+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDBmF1XEh97fmx3wbWoP8oTcrMTXYw-Puugh3EtaldAYUYum_ZRPryiuafO5G0WkVv7avOaqv0OAPb3w8LZ2LEUaFHSF9qBjjKsYMv5ekW1cDNW7xEtu3ZOZEVeCpGI-ziAHR9_Z5WCg/w640-h426/T068+Sunset+at+Trent+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Sunday we moored overnight on the floating pontoon at Trent junction. There was a magnificent sunset. Trent junction is a major crossroads on the canal system with the Trent navigation crossing from west to east, the Soar to the south and the Erewash Canal to the north. We had come through here back in May and had now come full circle and have travelled all four branches this year.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9ciY2tE_NyqrcCQ14FMYcF6I1GZ9zOHr9x96EjDZSYL4HHgJYBhtK3FOn6ZoX-nL1yEtaQ-cg7NQ-KH3JGuFtfFvZsHro5pEfic-aY0wfvVZkIsRlt-xBGF3v0J958X73qN-hG0UCRw/s1200/T073+Cranfleet+Lock+Garden.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9ciY2tE_NyqrcCQ14FMYcF6I1GZ9zOHr9x96EjDZSYL4HHgJYBhtK3FOn6ZoX-nL1yEtaQ-cg7NQ-KH3JGuFtfFvZsHro5pEfic-aY0wfvVZkIsRlt-xBGF3v0J958X73qN-hG0UCRw/w640-h426/T073+Cranfleet+Lock+Garden.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday (19th September) we completed our journey for the 2021 boating season. First our route took us along Cranfleet cut (to avoid Thrumpton weir) and through Cranfleet Lock which had this fine lock gate garden.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweMg5u0yaUuV4Xobs8y-iEKE7Mnk1eMZCeuIxBT3mvF6o8xDurG7z8LmjR8fbaGnIPXgtteM0WA_dpCpfRX5NbVNeySTsM8Lzg_VGG0c50mU7ofyOJtfO9BdsqqIszyRJt2J4XHpvZeY/s1200/T074+Looking+back+to+Cranfleet+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweMg5u0yaUuV4Xobs8y-iEKE7Mnk1eMZCeuIxBT3mvF6o8xDurG7z8LmjR8fbaGnIPXgtteM0WA_dpCpfRX5NbVNeySTsM8Lzg_VGG0c50mU7ofyOJtfO9BdsqqIszyRJt2J4XHpvZeY/w640-h426/T074+Looking+back+to+Cranfleet+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This view is taken looking back below Cranfleet Lock where the route rejoins the river Trent. The lock is where the arrows point on the right of the picture.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDZKKqJ0kjtZCFHansPwtgfNYxAlzCqzPNkIOHbrsRsMsPQcUTKuony31_R01EZhZcBShjSGxpoeNfTUD7ckXF3bg3Wx1nGV_1gSvVpr52cycDxYuPhy-7mtwKZN75N2RyCs5k5rDxoc/s1200/T076+River+Trent.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDZKKqJ0kjtZCFHansPwtgfNYxAlzCqzPNkIOHbrsRsMsPQcUTKuony31_R01EZhZcBShjSGxpoeNfTUD7ckXF3bg3Wx1nGV_1gSvVpr52cycDxYuPhy-7mtwKZN75N2RyCs5k5rDxoc/w640-h426/T076+River+Trent.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had a lovely day for our last cruising. The Trent is wide and was quite low with relative lack of rain so we were on the look out for shallows.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLO2_B4awk1qHu9DBOPVeEbtR3usSY4xVzp7MDHWMmsFwAcajlq99AWjKQQ09iC8nSVVHg2YSqltHI2JPdnxYR_WSlH-hpcJEnAvM5ulivWzpfAEU2jow_qtCtikoL_hmSz3EEwr5ZWM/s1200/T078+Coming+to+the+Barton+Island.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLO2_B4awk1qHu9DBOPVeEbtR3usSY4xVzp7MDHWMmsFwAcajlq99AWjKQQ09iC8nSVVHg2YSqltHI2JPdnxYR_WSlH-hpcJEnAvM5ulivWzpfAEU2jow_qtCtikoL_hmSz3EEwr5ZWM/w640-h426/T078+Coming+to+the+Barton+Island.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are approaching Barton Island where the navigation route is to the left of the island.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>So that brings us to the end of our boating for this year. We have left Leo in a safe mooring in Nottingham. We hope you have enjoyed the account of our travels and wish you all a happy winter. Next year we have vague plans of going north but we have plenty of time to think about that. Thank you for reading our blog.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-36117911708656421952021-09-12T09:51:00.001-07:002021-09-12T10:13:49.630-07:00Heading north on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union<p> Having turned right at Napton Junction we are now heading north on the Leicester branch of the Grand Union so here are some highlights particularly of the delights of the summit section from Watford to Foxton Locks:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdj4-CuNyvMbRrrUT50Q9_7FWoRSEKk14TUCFqvJ0wwdBnnMBuXrLd_HtdmL6Q20hfGRX8LP09xbxrAYVOohru4qQ9H7y8ZAAR4jZl6rAT-jLAYXyeuByq7tNZz8XVsZ4kgVJW0x8_vhk/s1200/R040+Originally+a+pub%252C+Weedon.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdj4-CuNyvMbRrrUT50Q9_7FWoRSEKk14TUCFqvJ0wwdBnnMBuXrLd_HtdmL6Q20hfGRX8LP09xbxrAYVOohru4qQ9H7y8ZAAR4jZl6rAT-jLAYXyeuByq7tNZz8XVsZ4kgVJW0x8_vhk/w640-h426/R040+Originally+a+pub%252C+Weedon.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First I promised in our last update to give more information about Weedon where we arrived last Sunday (5 September). Here you can see Helen standing outside a lovely old thatched building in the village. This used to be a pub but is now a private house.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4SVbJs_Ga5nVjm6yA1vgwKZ9vjiz7SKbDGQNIE14WxCknCgDKjwI2oesarlKquIIb6BxxZlTXSrpK0T3yt8Eo9e31nbcc1P_gRypxd-vQ7c0VvEtSdI7a8vmivRG26X_BUrVkbq7lRA/s1200/R043+Ordnance+depot%252C+Weedon.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4SVbJs_Ga5nVjm6yA1vgwKZ9vjiz7SKbDGQNIE14WxCknCgDKjwI2oesarlKquIIb6BxxZlTXSrpK0T3yt8Eo9e31nbcc1P_gRypxd-vQ7c0VvEtSdI7a8vmivRG26X_BUrVkbq7lRA/w640-h426/R043+Ordnance+depot%252C+Weedon.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the early 1800s we were at war with France and the government took the decision to find a place to store weapons and explosives for war well away from the coast where it might be taken by invading French forces. So the Royal Ordnance Depot was built at Weedon and it was linked to the Grand Union Canal by means of a branch canal so armaments could be moved by boat. In this picture you can see the separate buildings for storing armaments either side of the branch canal and further down there were magazines for storing ammunition. Since the last time we came here, a visitor centre has opened giving more details of the history and is well worth a visit. Entry is free but donations are, of course, welcome. The volunteer guide was also keen to show us the collection of Lee Enfield rifles including allowing us to handle them but not to fire them!<br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd55dRLfR1SIvQHV0rAERajIJ11md6Eg1JimvIBynOjOlCqtwul6d1eYeEb9rJl2_pNV1_gqRHtJPPKwp2BKVMSKZoiezhKQsul6CPLSYpMPU4Js9JAlAZExZ9a0JUjicEnO8LSv9JBQ/s1200/R044+Fireman%2527s+Houses.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd55dRLfR1SIvQHV0rAERajIJ11md6Eg1JimvIBynOjOlCqtwul6d1eYeEb9rJl2_pNV1_gqRHtJPPKwp2BKVMSKZoiezhKQsul6CPLSYpMPU4Js9JAlAZExZ9a0JUjicEnO8LSv9JBQ/w640-h426/R044+Fireman%2527s+Houses.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This terrace of upstairs and downstairs flats is just across the road from the depot and was built to house the firemen attached to the Ordnance Depot. There were only three significant fires in its history but clearly there are obvious risks in storing ammunition.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsjB7_iUjMXTyiBKd6mYiVBelAjnU5k2H0E-zzWsn80dNg7HjlWcGnXDQONFOoddUKZy5IrPq4CketcN1n7KK-8K2xJieBI6BT1q5LIBc1v-JQSN0Vbc0B0sfXBIlFg4qqSphlxte2Zc/s1800/R045+Weedon+village+sign.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsjB7_iUjMXTyiBKd6mYiVBelAjnU5k2H0E-zzWsn80dNg7HjlWcGnXDQONFOoddUKZy5IrPq4CketcN1n7KK-8K2xJieBI6BT1q5LIBc1v-JQSN0Vbc0B0sfXBIlFg4qqSphlxte2Zc/w426-h640/R045+Weedon+village+sign.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the village sign for Weedon Bec (effectively part of Weedon). The top pictures, left to right, are of a soldier at the Ordnance Depot, a Saxon princess and a bargee with horse towing a narrowboat out of the Depot. The main west coast mainline runs through Weedon and this explains the steam engine, a streamlined A4 pacific.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdX4jQ-47baI1PisnI1LzBCYg5Ioq0VcUWlY7b8c7SoQFF-0UZux02wVSjMJQrE0VQ9nhI6fzp6G4uN3fzuOvqkz9cnVMfyzYDAsiQYCaXH-lFx6__Obw04I_K_M224S9sxss2NUJO8s/s1200/R052+Buckby+bottom+lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdX4jQ-47baI1PisnI1LzBCYg5Ioq0VcUWlY7b8c7SoQFF-0UZux02wVSjMJQrE0VQ9nhI6fzp6G4uN3fzuOvqkz9cnVMfyzYDAsiQYCaXH-lFx6__Obw04I_K_M224S9sxss2NUJO8s/w640-h426/R052+Buckby+bottom+lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We left Weedon on Monday and here we are approaching the bottom of the 7 Buckby locks, sharing with another boat called Halcyon. It was a pleasure and so much easier with two boats in the lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5j3BFYYVm0xBlnxpxFy4P_nfY5cA8u9UrmMCGT15Vm7KckxKUqvRqmsgMMR9S1JBOWJRDnvZY-zUuHIDa4EH4d0ZvBqOvKQoPZvIUXp9GJ0MzUM24ahcQrrj2vDVmQ95jh0KAoHDCRCc/s1200/R053+Hotel+boat%252C+Lock+9.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5j3BFYYVm0xBlnxpxFy4P_nfY5cA8u9UrmMCGT15Vm7KckxKUqvRqmsgMMR9S1JBOWJRDnvZY-zUuHIDa4EH4d0ZvBqOvKQoPZvIUXp9GJ0MzUM24ahcQrrj2vDVmQ95jh0KAoHDCRCc/w640-h426/R053+Hotel+boat%252C+Lock+9.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here at lock 9 (I think) we waited for this widebeam hotel boat, Tranquil Rose, to come out.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc1j6DAUFcUJSvwzUQFF5XDJ3fwfkTCwjNlWu05kSnr_2e5YT8tipsKsySwVCLzU8z7m1OpA_OZZA8TVkbbUrB2hjgUli8_elvwHVHCOB8rmftcSZB_GjQtZnncHlugwsTPeqrbdA2SM/s1200/R056+Evening+scene%252C+Buckby.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc1j6DAUFcUJSvwzUQFF5XDJ3fwfkTCwjNlWu05kSnr_2e5YT8tipsKsySwVCLzU8z7m1OpA_OZZA8TVkbbUrB2hjgUli8_elvwHVHCOB8rmftcSZB_GjQtZnncHlugwsTPeqrbdA2SM/w640-h426/R056+Evening+scene%252C+Buckby.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored in the long pound below the top lock and this picture was taken in the evening light showing our view across the canal. It's a lovely spot and several boats were moored here. The shop in Anchor Cottage nearby sells ice creams and also an assortment of traditionally painted ware including plant troughs of which we bought two last year.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6FcDeDtUOvR6Za_BdRXI1vDVoDTgzWR9U9zARdgsRep0Lt4Ep5WyjELDXHFH6UAnCyNfoZhGwuvIkHfLQKBQLX3JEzBquEm-r5Zr3CFWysNWfVb9mL3H42-zdDjDnoTojD9dzelXr00/s1200/R057+Norton+Junction.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1200" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6FcDeDtUOvR6Za_BdRXI1vDVoDTgzWR9U9zARdgsRep0Lt4Ep5WyjELDXHFH6UAnCyNfoZhGwuvIkHfLQKBQLX3JEzBquEm-r5Zr3CFWysNWfVb9mL3H42-zdDjDnoTojD9dzelXr00/w640-h454/R057+Norton+Junction.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moved on and up the top Buckby lock on Tuesday. A short way above the locks is Norton Junction where the Leicester branch of the Grand Union turns right off the main line. In the picture the Leicester line goes to the right of the weeping willow tree and the main line to Braunston goes left behind the gates.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs_jq0dOp-TEqdx0qzOHFOHDHlYfK68Zk4l6-Kf4oBQOQzYtm2tnQWlx8Hv0pS0KYRo0NHDbRAyvQocHc5eqkY91W54u3X4cBT9-L6wagNrpVPEU89LezITi-w9AUqnxPX6L7yOkJvnM/s1200/R058+Norton+Junction+sign.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs_jq0dOp-TEqdx0qzOHFOHDHlYfK68Zk4l6-Kf4oBQOQzYtm2tnQWlx8Hv0pS0KYRo0NHDbRAyvQocHc5eqkY91W54u3X4cBT9-L6wagNrpVPEU89LezITi-w9AUqnxPX6L7yOkJvnM/w640-h426/R058+Norton+Junction+sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is the sign at the junction. We had come from the direction of Brentford and were turning towards Leicester.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvNraA2QvZEGoUKUEVPmso3hXVm_dzbzYvOf9YdD_0X1yWayfGmu7gWKFnvoZdXnzk34Vipli5PYH5cRqI5mh2RzMW3wHnRmWXFdSALQtMRXSqQ08gfyq3JAUPXMLYOZw0T2J2uwbqBk/s1200/R060+Queue+below+Watford+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvNraA2QvZEGoUKUEVPmso3hXVm_dzbzYvOf9YdD_0X1yWayfGmu7gWKFnvoZdXnzk34Vipli5PYH5cRqI5mh2RzMW3wHnRmWXFdSALQtMRXSqQ08gfyq3JAUPXMLYOZw0T2J2uwbqBk/w640-h426/R060+Queue+below+Watford+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few miles up the Leicester Line we joined a queue of boats waiting to go up the Watford flight of locks. There are 7 narrow locks here, two singles then a staircase of four locks and finally a single lock at the top. It tends to be a bottleneck on this popular canal and we had to wait for about one and a half hours for our turn to go up. This is managed by volunteer and full time lock keepers who assist boats through. The name Watford might ring bells with non-boaters as the canal here is alongside Watford Gap Services on the M1. Here the narrow valley carries the A5, the M1, the canal and the railway all very close together.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlThmhnqlFo1zeOnzv_gBh005P9UUgtdC8invh9DbV9ehPFgUeRh-pd-CAUEICYQ8Iok6paZ0ewpj8byGGZowCxg62eMyQOFLd8ksCiXupu6101HOZ2kbCjfW_Fu3Uf2NS9YtLTv8IhU/s1200/R062+Watford+Bottom+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlThmhnqlFo1zeOnzv_gBh005P9UUgtdC8invh9DbV9ehPFgUeRh-pd-CAUEICYQ8Iok6paZ0ewpj8byGGZowCxg62eMyQOFLd8ksCiXupu6101HOZ2kbCjfW_Fu3Uf2NS9YtLTv8IhU/w640-h426/R062+Watford+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our turn at last, and Leo is in the first lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSpei3yg7_jiHW2wEgi3IFngk94X7ll3do3Dy4JNy4lS9v3-3gNZhn3zg25cXYWGuW-THNvEb8nwU594uFAerN6fbmZ5vxDdnwu0ERY1WV9J-KA_wWUQTL_g-oeOkMtvLKpI8dXR_KVE/s1200/R064+Entering+staircase.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSpei3yg7_jiHW2wEgi3IFngk94X7ll3do3Dy4JNy4lS9v3-3gNZhn3zg25cXYWGuW-THNvEb8nwU594uFAerN6fbmZ5vxDdnwu0ERY1WV9J-KA_wWUQTL_g-oeOkMtvLKpI8dXR_KVE/w640-h426/R064+Entering+staircase.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having come up two locks we are now lining up to enter the bottom lock of the staircase. There are side ponds to the left of the canal which are still in active use. Each lock has two paddles one of which connects to the side pond and the other to the lock above. You must open the red paddle (linked to the side pond) before the white one (linked to the next lock). Remember "red before white, you'll be alright: white before red, you'll wish you were dead!"<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmYZGY1_FIiDQVmD34BGfSxYE8rFujPA2j_IZ4Jh5E-ks3W2Cu8MAeYlXgSOU7dwD7_cTdATQgBSNSm2oeqBgW_m5yRoKkJkC2Jgr4EkYi0E_LF9oUESDnWX-ukIU9KAucsP2FjqzaqU/s1200/R068+Looking+down+staircase.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmYZGY1_FIiDQVmD34BGfSxYE8rFujPA2j_IZ4Jh5E-ks3W2Cu8MAeYlXgSOU7dwD7_cTdATQgBSNSm2oeqBgW_m5yRoKkJkC2Jgr4EkYi0E_LF9oUESDnWX-ukIU9KAucsP2FjqzaqU/w640-h426/R068+Looking+down+staircase.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are in the top lock looking back down the flight to the top of the staircase.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKQyuLqwv5hMxeU7xAW4TEhb3TCHU8Ak2JCLW5RZ-x_q0WmYQfWaythQLCMUsnmnrSCRzcuptDqhiRaogXN3haGaxQxoMqegpy6Tw5fR4-T7GPvZGIKVVuWblxeGCRgrG3x1aATUptPU/s1200/R069+In+Top+Lock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKQyuLqwv5hMxeU7xAW4TEhb3TCHU8Ak2JCLW5RZ-x_q0WmYQfWaythQLCMUsnmnrSCRzcuptDqhiRaogXN3haGaxQxoMqegpy6Tw5fR4-T7GPvZGIKVVuWblxeGCRgrG3x1aATUptPU/w640-h426/R069+In+Top+Lock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And this is looking forward from the top lock with the service block to the left. There were lovely flowers all the way up the locks making it all very attractive.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfedM-RZsCb19FLLheBlRbO7Sruave_gaD6AKH9RfYJQyuE6v3ovsQzsrHR63DNiz-f2bo-mgujeHBAkeDrTjn5aw5XV0Dm2Slcptw696LfpOAfhEpT4hjJj5UfJJs6Av2vkgDgbTBDs/s1200/R073+Speckled+Wood.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1200" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfedM-RZsCb19FLLheBlRbO7Sruave_gaD6AKH9RfYJQyuE6v3ovsQzsrHR63DNiz-f2bo-mgujeHBAkeDrTjn5aw5XV0Dm2Slcptw696LfpOAfhEpT4hjJj5UfJJs6Av2vkgDgbTBDs/w640-h484/R073+Speckled+Wood.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Above the top lock the canal passes under the M1 and we moored as soon as we were a reasonable distance beyond the noise of the motorway. We walked into Watford village and found several Speckled Wood Butterflies on the way. Back on the boat in the evening, we watched bats hunting insects up and down the canal.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJVrdmyy0JwaWesQtZ05L6hkyYYABmabjvRcistoUr8cbGfDsy-ZXGy0PsU3ucITYCTmf6XFhhZalmxNdaizC3JHAZNiW7fcmo8sgGg_G43r1VYiX3iNgf0m6o-pQ_WTTJkfWv0vQynw/s1200/S001+Crick+Tunnel+%2528S%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1200" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJVrdmyy0JwaWesQtZ05L6hkyYYABmabjvRcistoUr8cbGfDsy-ZXGy0PsU3ucITYCTmf6XFhhZalmxNdaizC3JHAZNiW7fcmo8sgGg_G43r1VYiX3iNgf0m6o-pQ_WTTJkfWv0vQynw/w640-h444/S001+Crick+Tunnel+%2528S%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Wednesday we set off on the 20 mile summit pound of the canal which has two tunnels. Here we are approaching the southern portal of Crick Tunnel which is about three-quarters of a mile long. You can see the headlight of a boat in the tunnel coming towards us. Fortunately two narrowboats can pass each other in this tunnel and in fact we passed four on our way through (going the other way that is - not overtaking).</span><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFFAXsGjJlKdjuZJSTKlv3gN14LMGefNmp37XQNBJ1Q7tm3RyOMPHoeMLPfi14zRJAMhioL6CYtKalONCcMmYiKQaCOmRz5OBOag_kCAQb8ywJwr_jgVBGtRZNSYjV90u6rHGkuwRYfQ/s1200/S003+Crick+Wharf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFFAXsGjJlKdjuZJSTKlv3gN14LMGefNmp37XQNBJ1Q7tm3RyOMPHoeMLPfi14zRJAMhioL6CYtKalONCcMmYiKQaCOmRz5OBOag_kCAQb8ywJwr_jgVBGtRZNSYjV90u6rHGkuwRYfQ/w640-h426/S003+Crick+Wharf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are out in the daylight once more passing through Crick village.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19Ngu8PxrxJV-rKEZcO28qV3RTqnQKvDqshgJqLMJDxfUkSUzSgVLDZElHzviNo5_JzAUq18vREDzdbj9so4T2aoj22i8mM9mpkhyeStu15B1a5Sj_NU14SjPd7FhtFc2qKVnW3tkt3c/s1200/S010+Crack%2527s+Hill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1200" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19Ngu8PxrxJV-rKEZcO28qV3RTqnQKvDqshgJqLMJDxfUkSUzSgVLDZElHzviNo5_JzAUq18vREDzdbj9so4T2aoj22i8mM9mpkhyeStu15B1a5Sj_NU14SjPd7FhtFc2qKVnW3tkt3c/w640-h380/S010+Crack%2527s+Hill.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Beyond the village the canal goes round three sides of Crack's Hill seen here. We have walked to the top in the past and there is a beacon at the top and a good view.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIcQVPGTZXrabSlZLVXr_J4XgexaukuGKm4_sMqpGTnGSgkWk8ET8HwMYuAgbxTyJa_2qD4PxdAIVc-uLswQq12Iyp6fhJG6nCY_GidXkrIgrkj0QWxhx_pZHGMlezJ1LoVVJUA0XJoA/s1800/S012+New+Postman+Pat+in+Welford.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIcQVPGTZXrabSlZLVXr_J4XgexaukuGKm4_sMqpGTnGSgkWk8ET8HwMYuAgbxTyJa_2qD4PxdAIVc-uLswQq12Iyp6fhJG6nCY_GidXkrIgrkj0QWxhx_pZHGMlezJ1LoVVJUA0XJoA/w426-h640/S012+New+Postman+Pat+in+Welford.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored on Wednesday night out in the wilds but a couple of miles across the fields from the village of Welford. We decided not go down the canal branch to the village this year but to walk in from the main canal. You will recognise these two. The first time we came to Welford there was a Postman Pat statue made out of wire but the second time we came he was in a sorry state. Last year it seems the statue was replaced by this carved wooden one.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveQTGaIiPl8-B7bhWAd1vBnibc7U_b30kDBRwnJ04hdXcgFKGZ-_9oD0tP8ZPHwcxqhs15IozTtW51zhOUpP33E49YNPB3cjaO1WOQY70SIRpZLxbLgL-k6PtpODdnOsYFbU6MR62IQE/s1200/S019+Sculpture+above+Foxton+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveQTGaIiPl8-B7bhWAd1vBnibc7U_b30kDBRwnJ04hdXcgFKGZ-_9oD0tP8ZPHwcxqhs15IozTtW51zhOUpP33E49YNPB3cjaO1WOQY70SIRpZLxbLgL-k6PtpODdnOsYFbU6MR62IQE/w640-h426/S019+Sculpture+above+Foxton+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday we cruised on across the rest of the 20 mile summit passing through Husband's Bosworth Tunnel and on to the top of the Foxton Locks. This bronze sculpture of a lad with the towing horse is on the left approaching the top lock. Foxton has 10 narrow locks in two flights each of five staircase locks. It is another bottleneck and this time we had to wait about two and a quarter hours for our turn to go down. But time passed quickly what with having lunch and accepting help from other boaters to join several hoses together to fill the boat's water tank.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN_qFXPc91VEUJ3JiYZvAwqUWHn3E0Q5-d3os5rxH4akVqUnSZB3i8B-gAQIKwO7qw2lxJAESM_d0ix0hsEV7-I8qWOWvvcEnaVHkjRjVVJPzjQWAtc9c5dHJGCuNVLIfnIo5iEeRfTo/s1200/S021+Coming+into+Foxton+Top+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN_qFXPc91VEUJ3JiYZvAwqUWHn3E0Q5-d3os5rxH4akVqUnSZB3i8B-gAQIKwO7qw2lxJAESM_d0ix0hsEV7-I8qWOWvvcEnaVHkjRjVVJPzjQWAtc9c5dHJGCuNVLIfnIo5iEeRfTo/w640-h426/S021+Coming+into+Foxton+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is Leo finally approaching the top lock. This flight really is on the brow of a significant hill with a fine view as you go down. For a short period (1900 to 1911) as well as the 10 locks, boats had the option of a quicker descent or ascent on a boat lift with two caissons holding boats floating in water running on rails down or up an inclined plane. You can visit the remains of this by the side of the locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YduGqgxsps3AJuK8xz43WzcWsNjh0q8w_Q74SFKiIQgYmMpqOnUhMtdxx83fnmZM85wRsSNF0brdHe9X2PGA453VLjdBLiOxAM29lkJpg-a0VQ0A_g66Q1E1hqX85EIk59rqstPEnrY/s1200/S022+View+from+Top+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YduGqgxsps3AJuK8xz43WzcWsNjh0q8w_Q74SFKiIQgYmMpqOnUhMtdxx83fnmZM85wRsSNF0brdHe9X2PGA453VLjdBLiOxAM29lkJpg-a0VQ0A_g66Q1E1hqX85EIk59rqstPEnrY/w640-h426/S022+View+from+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are in the top lock. Again we have red paddles and white ones just as at Watford and the same adage applies.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLd7rycjnnahwTiyGaFhd62OkTYgnAVMW8mlmDYVVKwiDyI2fJqPRRzp42Y8xJFODMlTRWIlfchBNUWhlWdzkoXqIep8A_CoROGA9-Tvc-eaux8wjXXtXh81Gi7AaZT7QTavCa18hcroM/s1200/S023+View+back+from+Lock+3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLd7rycjnnahwTiyGaFhd62OkTYgnAVMW8mlmDYVVKwiDyI2fJqPRRzp42Y8xJFODMlTRWIlfchBNUWhlWdzkoXqIep8A_CoROGA9-Tvc-eaux8wjXXtXh81Gi7AaZT7QTavCa18hcroM/w640-h426/S023+View+back+from+Lock+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In this photo we are looking back up the first staircase from lock 3. The house at the top used to be for the lock keeper but today it is mainly used for a cafe.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoTS0V3Wn8Pvr0ofXwoAaJ12ATy2PxcUm8JX2o8nda831NGwSTSoHrsBSj_Hhoy_pJzI_f1xJgdX5Iy0CTAB0R_ifvUa4GqI0QZw4HAgPENp0o0XB2ik7BxxG6Nia0VuyS30QboHuTWQ/s1800/S024+Boat+ahead+of+us.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoTS0V3Wn8Pvr0ofXwoAaJ12ATy2PxcUm8JX2o8nda831NGwSTSoHrsBSj_Hhoy_pJzI_f1xJgdX5Iy0CTAB0R_ifvUa4GqI0QZw4HAgPENp0o0XB2ik7BxxG6Nia0VuyS30QboHuTWQ/w426-h640/S024+Boat+ahead+of+us.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The lock keepers allow several boats to follow each other down (or up) the flight, so we had six or seven going down before a number were allowed up. Here we are looking down on the boat in front of us from a footbridge over the locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje01Y112BJ__OmbmWDcO5tLOMf67eAPusCNeIru1WHrmJ46Vv2J6pvvki9lOxlFIvNkgprJsTZCbi1_CZeC_OE9uYyc3Oji0sWZ4jbg4nmGR1keJZaF5nNGIyJJEgDvLsr32_xFTrNCS0/s1200/S026+End+of+first+5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje01Y112BJ__OmbmWDcO5tLOMf67eAPusCNeIru1WHrmJ46Vv2J6pvvki9lOxlFIvNkgprJsTZCbi1_CZeC_OE9uYyc3Oji0sWZ4jbg4nmGR1keJZaF5nNGIyJJEgDvLsr32_xFTrNCS0/w640-h426/S026+End+of+first+5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here Leo is in the bottom lock of the first staircase. Beyond us is a very small pound and then the top lock of the second staircase of five locks. You can see that there is an upcoming boat in this pound that was obliged to wait until all of our six or seven boats came down before it could continue up the flight.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9litzT6xlmQIHz2uIYXgrPNOB5QOOKeEkJb_MtQstomhrvNu38FQSUZA-F_XohILR8h2gcmqrzqBnEin5ujnmPXN-3Cr3fJEi9o7s_3rgxJOXsy9Y2nI5ZsocnnojAGtR78ke4fU-LM/s1200/S027+Boat+following+us.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9litzT6xlmQIHz2uIYXgrPNOB5QOOKeEkJb_MtQstomhrvNu38FQSUZA-F_XohILR8h2gcmqrzqBnEin5ujnmPXN-3Cr3fJEi9o7s_3rgxJOXsy9Y2nI5ZsocnnojAGtR78ke4fU-LM/w640-h426/S027+Boat+following+us.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Going down a staircase the gates behind you seem enormously tall above you and it was unnerving to see another narrowboat nudge these gates as it followed us down.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumokT6ugw7BTppVPFKGwPL1dw9d0gT_ktuEFW0ds-tUJc7n8CU9xJ-Vrsj71riFk8DbVpm9TxbyftnN2JENZ4tMukqmN8FPZlo51GNwZJsFKNrnCNCDbGHTSDUvn7bMzqLCu-YZq8w1c/s1200/S029+Bottom+of+Foxton+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumokT6ugw7BTppVPFKGwPL1dw9d0gT_ktuEFW0ds-tUJc7n8CU9xJ-Vrsj71riFk8DbVpm9TxbyftnN2JENZ4tMukqmN8FPZlo51GNwZJsFKNrnCNCDbGHTSDUvn7bMzqLCu-YZq8w1c/w640-h426/S029+Bottom+of+Foxton+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But all good things come to an end and this view looks back to the bottom of the flight of 10 locks as we came out and turned right. It had taken us only 50 minutes to come down assisted by various volunteer lock keepers and helpful boaters.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYX-95cik5Eek3WqkeOfUHElQABY1DKK8KiFXq_v6jA-soYeQaBioFrUo6Oc4CGprLAC6ib4qbBdngJPY_f9EHrlv9ETIoCpt1YFR9nBRih0lH50m6B2reiqOTrGlhOllel-gS3zL_40/s1200/S030+Swing+Bridge%252C+Foxton+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYX-95cik5Eek3WqkeOfUHElQABY1DKK8KiFXq_v6jA-soYeQaBioFrUo6Oc4CGprLAC6ib4qbBdngJPY_f9EHrlv9ETIoCpt1YFR9nBRih0lH50m6B2reiqOTrGlhOllel-gS3zL_40/w640-h426/S030+Swing+Bridge%252C+Foxton+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the bottom of the locks is another canal junction. The main route to Leicester carries straight on while a five and a half mile winding branch leads right to Market Harborough. We took the branch line and having done so almost immediately we had to go through a swing bridge. So Helen walked across from the Foxton bottom lock to join Ian at the bridge. There are lots of tourists at Foxton and you have to wait for a gap in the pedestrian traffic to open the bridge.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Soon we were through and moored shortly afterwards. That evening (Thursday 9th September) we met our friends John and Ali who have a narrowboat called Triskaideka (I hope I've spelt it right). We had a lovely meal at the Black Horse at Foxton and enjoyed catching up with them. On Friday it was off to Market Harborough but that is a tale for another day.<br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-5734824465038247862021-09-07T08:54:00.001-07:002021-09-07T08:54:50.614-07:00Leaving the Nene for the canals<p> After two and a half months of cruising the East Anglian rivers we have finally come up the Northampton locks and back onto the Grand Union Canal. Here are some highlights from our last few days on the Nene and of our climb up the 17 narrow locks from Northampton:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTluNGJkvU7TOoKiW1WOImpQeCMxlxub9VQyHn6weA-g7QQSeFlB45gejQ3QPJGY6YKYcIN1_WMhVSdelQteaMdjak3BT5duCpd7aVvkUmjjgZGWe0XcdYnDNEfNXrUKYMtrr900HQkFA/s1200/Q117+Woodford+Church.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTluNGJkvU7TOoKiW1WOImpQeCMxlxub9VQyHn6weA-g7QQSeFlB45gejQ3QPJGY6YKYcIN1_WMhVSdelQteaMdjak3BT5duCpd7aVvkUmjjgZGWe0XcdYnDNEfNXrUKYMtrr900HQkFA/w640-h426/Q117+Woodford+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday (30th August) we moored on a delightful grassy mooring (FOTRN - Friends of the River Nene) at Woodford and walked up to the village. This photo of the church though was taken as we cruised past on the river.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjks1s5WGYDpTzff4F9UBTsYVSHq2iZHmsPrDtwl-FN62wQ89gt2J0krHEXGWlUFACLuJq_SeVIa10xnUk0k_liUSI1hLn9IXtZy4-s_DUi46HGVsOdI00o3ZN-iytXweRolAOZIfx2Y/s1200/Q120+Woodford+thatch.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjks1s5WGYDpTzff4F9UBTsYVSHq2iZHmsPrDtwl-FN62wQ89gt2J0krHEXGWlUFACLuJq_SeVIa10xnUk0k_liUSI1hLn9IXtZy4-s_DUi46HGVsOdI00o3ZN-iytXweRolAOZIfx2Y/w640-h426/Q120+Woodford+thatch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One thatched house in the village had some wonderful animals also made out of thatch.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF040zCgigXmQ2eVWONqMzyPYWkfYX3MgJRr7f-k47MlzbgMcma23jlPYVlv7enNJHc70LZZnpiBiXr54D7q7qttVN_S0NsLo3miFQYkP16OUwWMmfG4IL4GKRaZUPSDY0QY4SSAn-nHc/s1200/Q121+Woodford+thatch.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF040zCgigXmQ2eVWONqMzyPYWkfYX3MgJRr7f-k47MlzbgMcma23jlPYVlv7enNJHc70LZZnpiBiXr54D7q7qttVN_S0NsLo3miFQYkP16OUwWMmfG4IL4GKRaZUPSDY0QY4SSAn-nHc/w640-h426/Q121+Woodford+thatch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another gable from the same house has hares and a spider. The thatcher certainly had a creative surge here - perhaps the thatcher lives in the house?<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUUgblYeANDCDnjjkREPpsvjmWBXjHGInKz-Qin0SOi19a1caCV_jL120JS-1PtmDcsZTgjMuFra4ihX5_PWByqdBNKPH8ky0_F9ABvr3DQK9DWTCrh0XDE_4KfaJBig25aTgVRsZWWw/s1200/Q122+Sunflowers+at+Woodford.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUUgblYeANDCDnjjkREPpsvjmWBXjHGInKz-Qin0SOi19a1caCV_jL120JS-1PtmDcsZTgjMuFra4ihX5_PWByqdBNKPH8ky0_F9ABvr3DQK9DWTCrh0XDE_4KfaJBig25aTgVRsZWWw/w640-h426/Q122+Sunflowers+at+Woodford.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A friend in France sends us pictures of fields of sunflowers, so this was the best we could do to copy him. We found these in some allotments at Woodford.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLw2mQrtgoYL9AIwdTM0MNh7yqTSSXnNe07AKfPAHDyrinlGZOiGtL3ZNwIVj6C9T9UOBgex2y-WyaLOEfoPlddZwsv7w-0ZER8sAqdWOtfXV0z30VwhFAdOehBGUcr9FhBIgAlVpqHM/s1200/Q126+Tree+Tunnel%252C+Irthlingborough.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1200" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLw2mQrtgoYL9AIwdTM0MNh7yqTSSXnNe07AKfPAHDyrinlGZOiGtL3ZNwIVj6C9T9UOBgex2y-WyaLOEfoPlddZwsv7w-0ZER8sAqdWOtfXV0z30VwhFAdOehBGUcr9FhBIgAlVpqHM/w640-h498/Q126+Tree+Tunnel%252C+Irthlingborough.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday we carried on just a short way to Irthlingborough where we knew there was a level EA mooring ideal for completing part of the present painting project, namely painting the rails on the top of the boat. Having done the starboard rail (a long job in every sense of the word) we went for a walk, passing through this tree tunnel which is between the mooring and the lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O27qnLP7AbVle-fdWPZVYy4FP9-OoDYkKFg0Zj0Pda2XyfMrT2JKKaEQDVD5-EN_suBwHcj4arklA-J1G9ZcAFLYQq3FkujuiJNbM-lT1IO1sPQ8bPcPDJBpNzOgIlJnMy-eh3fXgO8/s1200/Q127+Frog+at+Stanwick+Lakes.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O27qnLP7AbVle-fdWPZVYy4FP9-OoDYkKFg0Zj0Pda2XyfMrT2JKKaEQDVD5-EN_suBwHcj4arklA-J1G9ZcAFLYQq3FkujuiJNbM-lT1IO1sPQ8bPcPDJBpNzOgIlJnMy-eh3fXgO8/w640-h426/Q127+Frog+at+Stanwick+Lakes.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We crossed the river by the lock and came into Stanwick Lakes park. There are quite a few giant frogs there!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I1KOevhC016ucGUJPGIv3ngxHoR3-QxXNZnNUm-Csk6vWTqZYmnue5sVvM7MYZIThTGdPEb5k2mtcBsWSsJoqpLTV4SqfTXVPlXBx37ptWkiI7IReVeDVi0bWBwimAFNUaXnBTmbTb8/s1200/Q128+%2527Beach%2527+at+Stanwick+Lakes.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I1KOevhC016ucGUJPGIv3ngxHoR3-QxXNZnNUm-Csk6vWTqZYmnue5sVvM7MYZIThTGdPEb5k2mtcBsWSsJoqpLTV4SqfTXVPlXBx37ptWkiI7IReVeDVi0bWBwimAFNUaXnBTmbTb8/w640-h426/Q128+%2527Beach%2527+at+Stanwick+Lakes.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stanwick Lakes has attractions for all the family including this 'beach' area. The children's play area was excellent - Helen tried one of the slides.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BJNGlkFHWjdCQ6_q5wWm8mRuhpU2-Vej3KLj3wUJShkZoth_yzrqIuaiWtWc0uG7XuznDz1PtoM-jfzlmCwrsOBxHNedNobACPB4eVsaU32nwT20SMtJLjKugljy0qvQ6QC9sYA7uZY/s1200/R001+Irthlingborough+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BJNGlkFHWjdCQ6_q5wWm8mRuhpU2-Vej3KLj3wUJShkZoth_yzrqIuaiWtWc0uG7XuznDz1PtoM-jfzlmCwrsOBxHNedNobACPB4eVsaU32nwT20SMtJLjKugljy0qvQ6QC9sYA7uZY/w640-h426/R001+Irthlingborough+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just above the mooring at Irthlingborough is the bridge shown here which could be quite tricky to navigate if the river was flowing fast. Fortunately it wasn't and some reaches lately have been almost stationary as there has been no rain for quite a while.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nk3PdvnvQdeuhDO_fAq4auU9z7bnZ7nHUQpb_bEGlloBw4Eowina2T_N7EN2NhFhmZ3-gmcBOmbGjfwSWzCbl46SJ2YXxiFMWYjTNxxIvPUlALW4ouTNbp-_p1PNCJKJJQ2DzhChyLw/s1200/R003+Ditchford+Lock+radial+gate.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nk3PdvnvQdeuhDO_fAq4auU9z7bnZ7nHUQpb_bEGlloBw4Eowina2T_N7EN2NhFhmZ3-gmcBOmbGjfwSWzCbl46SJ2YXxiFMWYjTNxxIvPUlALW4ouTNbp-_p1PNCJKJJQ2DzhChyLw/w640-h426/R003+Ditchford+Lock+radial+gate.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At first glance this may look like one of the many guillotines at locks on the Nene, but look closely. This is Ditchford Lock which has a radial gate which turns on a pivot to open and close. It is the only one on the Nene though we have seen this arrangement elsewhere.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxK38KXSBSrwFCvBS7nt7Xws9dxm4PAu6scpeD5Cn-KVwou_4YrFe8cU1_eupUmrGcMTM1xfKKQ0Ki6Uk59zF4PunPkYO0E50Bed4LSK4eonr016pJ_0OSMq3ywM38b8xDnAGYXzyUHA/s1200/R005+Green+weed+nr+Wellingborough.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxK38KXSBSrwFCvBS7nt7Xws9dxm4PAu6scpeD5Cn-KVwou_4YrFe8cU1_eupUmrGcMTM1xfKKQ0Ki6Uk59zF4PunPkYO0E50Bed4LSK4eonr016pJ_0OSMq3ywM38b8xDnAGYXzyUHA/w640-h426/R005+Green+weed+nr+Wellingborough.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A couple of places on the Nene were full of floating weed which was not the case when we came down the river a couple of months ago. This weed above Wellingborough is not the usual duckweed but something with a small lobed leaf that we didn't recognise. It didn't seem to interfere with the propellor too much so that was OK. It does however give the impression of cruising across a lawn.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw7eVwHW0OtRahBiprwq8TnyGo3j4K2HfxfQCma35WaO3NqC43wcy21oghHBYGmT17jq0Mx63k48mqH4MWryQLSi9tcz2bh-j_XMYvD7t2bb9H-8IAfkIBIbMdcoCO5Qqir63DbZVskM/s1200/R009+Above+Earls+Barton+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw7eVwHW0OtRahBiprwq8TnyGo3j4K2HfxfQCma35WaO3NqC43wcy21oghHBYGmT17jq0Mx63k48mqH4MWryQLSi9tcz2bh-j_XMYvD7t2bb9H-8IAfkIBIbMdcoCO5Qqir63DbZVskM/w640-h426/R009+Above+Earls+Barton+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is Leo above Earls Barton Lock. The expectation with these locks which have a guillotine gate at the bottom of the lock and 'V' gates at the top is that you should leave the guillotine lifted when you leave the lock. That's fine going down but going up means you have to moor above and lift the guillotine (which takes quite a while) before we can move on. It's a bit of a faff.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnaGAaiFdAg2IwdZ_6kOHBGPN1Lw3IXjJ7BqM5iFbkIDdecC5LPhiFFvoOItob1956GVsF53eCxzyFEIEJCb36_4x5YoGg2HcjeShYF64yF_j3Fmg9JO7ZturJX2QOynEKYwW5rbhANQ/s1200/R013+Clifford+Hill+Motte.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnaGAaiFdAg2IwdZ_6kOHBGPN1Lw3IXjJ7BqM5iFbkIDdecC5LPhiFFvoOItob1956GVsF53eCxzyFEIEJCb36_4x5YoGg2HcjeShYF64yF_j3Fmg9JO7ZturJX2QOynEKYwW5rbhANQ/w640-h426/R013+Clifford+Hill+Motte.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday evening we moored on the Northampton Washlands above Weston Favell Lock but then walked back to look at the motte at Clifford Hill which is close by the previous lock. The castle mound (or motte) is clearly shown in this photo, though unfortunately it is on private land with no public access to explore further.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS73R-CON6qQ484C98wBC6iu1FkTqG3Ulg1dKwnX7LlVyYHsUqqFQSP2EcY-RVSOJjm-P81dl8ceEsnLX7Egy5a9MJ3ZHiOUT-bz11fc3vc9TSnYXVX4daReyTvPENk23-4N5Yj985nFE/s1200/R014+Weed+below+Rush+Mill+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS73R-CON6qQ484C98wBC6iu1FkTqG3Ulg1dKwnX7LlVyYHsUqqFQSP2EcY-RVSOJjm-P81dl8ceEsnLX7Egy5a9MJ3ZHiOUT-bz11fc3vc9TSnYXVX4daReyTvPENk23-4N5Yj985nFE/w640-h426/R014+Weed+below+Rush+Mill+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More weed, this time it is duckweed, below Rush Mill Lock on the approach to Northampton.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RyTgUcFyoxPnT9pz33hGiILhXb65Lf88OYYTh72oAaSALCAS5RXbnvNkaOb1giBCaszW1XZDrTyWZLpgyctzpxNw7ikOGgl7mjoXcfxOIzI5N9khLuas_-kJyQ3QU1qZE_eMesy93gc/s1200/R016+Joining+Northampton+Arm.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RyTgUcFyoxPnT9pz33hGiILhXb65Lf88OYYTh72oAaSALCAS5RXbnvNkaOb1giBCaszW1XZDrTyWZLpgyctzpxNw7ikOGgl7mjoXcfxOIzI5N9khLuas_-kJyQ3QU1qZE_eMesy93gc/w640-h426/R016+Joining+Northampton+Arm.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We came into Northampton on Friday (3rd September) but only stayed a short while to do some shopping before continuing up the first lock of the Northampton Arm towards the canals. Here we are turning off the River Nene into a short channel from which the lock leads up. The blue sign is for Canal and River Trust marking the change in licensing authority from the Environment Agency on the river.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpJFw22Q6FC2rQ-Dqhe6xfuzTFdtUm9XPgeHbuMehqbmByQDAvR_8JbGy031hneRz3L4vToHX1_3SF6MGMKZs2sfTPV_zcA_RpvlrOWL85dAJItIOSD4BHuHB9ij35-IfkGLeOZMk-bU/s1200/R017+Carlsberg+Brewery%252C+Northampton.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpJFw22Q6FC2rQ-Dqhe6xfuzTFdtUm9XPgeHbuMehqbmByQDAvR_8JbGy031hneRz3L4vToHX1_3SF6MGMKZs2sfTPV_zcA_RpvlrOWL85dAJItIOSD4BHuHB9ij35-IfkGLeOZMk-bU/w640-h426/R017+Carlsberg+Brewery%252C+Northampton.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is the Carlsberg brewery just by the turn. We moored just above the first lock of the Arm and the aroma from the brewery was delicious. It kept Ian going while he spent 2 or 3 hours painting the port side rail of the boat.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NPmDEBj4-WmvqH7tHjYgrVW0NhX40XJmUFoeoU9v1uBK92jMHyEISdUcSMU62NvolqCl3qFMMSz3Z2Dwqhr_tafqZlW53zQtZhbOJP5sCor3l__a50gvJmaSx5BjZINxKCcVOIn8_as/s1200/R019+Moored+above+Lock+17.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NPmDEBj4-WmvqH7tHjYgrVW0NhX40XJmUFoeoU9v1uBK92jMHyEISdUcSMU62NvolqCl3qFMMSz3Z2Dwqhr_tafqZlW53zQtZhbOJP5sCor3l__a50gvJmaSx5BjZINxKCcVOIn8_as/w640-h426/R019+Moored+above+Lock+17.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is our mooring next to some flats.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYy9BYerhjdf2t5Y-mZlwGOkeC1ImYo8owVoK3czWwqtMQ-qz3Q5_cDmmqtYRGbeIub_H9FI7XpZ7VnI2FSAmQw-ss7JsHo5mtOj1vkdYt9WEv96j8_SSSPJIQz1V8G-RhMryxD4Y6X4/s1200/R021+Painting+the+rail.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYy9BYerhjdf2t5Y-mZlwGOkeC1ImYo8owVoK3czWwqtMQ-qz3Q5_cDmmqtYRGbeIub_H9FI7XpZ7VnI2FSAmQw-ss7JsHo5mtOj1vkdYt9WEv96j8_SSSPJIQz1V8G-RhMryxD4Y6X4/w640-h426/R021+Painting+the+rail.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here you see Ian, paintbrush in hand. He had started from the stern so at this stage there was a long way to go! We've now done both rails and are well pleased with result.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStaBDKV703dkf-XQ1d6YD18L8JfhHYNp_zlEKQDVSPxsF7Q4EUKZ7Nz4phfst_RlaJZuvTPro9FrT30H11VVynf9qnh9Hgb2HWOSpEoCEF6xoxUCQ6XJs3u1lLj2HVLA0XqPm5hSGLJs/s1200/R022+Lock+16+Hunbury.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1200" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStaBDKV703dkf-XQ1d6YD18L8JfhHYNp_zlEKQDVSPxsF7Q4EUKZ7Nz4phfst_RlaJZuvTPro9FrT30H11VVynf9qnh9Hgb2HWOSpEoCEF6xoxUCQ6XJs3u1lLj2HVLA0XqPm5hSGLJs/w640-h430/R022+Lock+16+Hunbury.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday we climbed the remaining 16 locks of the Northampton Arm back to Gayton Junction where we rejoined the Grand Union Canal. In this photo we are approaching Lock 16 (they are numbered from 1 at the top) - Hunsbury Lock. Lest you are concerned that Leo is about to 'nudge' the second gate open, Helen is walking round to open it before the boat reaches the lock. We don't touch gates with the boat if we can help it!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ7o95Y1HUv5NN4e6wZLgAuMgVoaieQ3HqPdJxHo8zCb1JajOnOuC3Kzkd0qqEppht0_5syaC49OG0JW67RGrs9CwU9H7QZf3YRO3d9zm-5NVG4_bldxM2gz7qFwyrgXRNmdhkgYwzGA/s1800/R023+Looking+back+to+Express+Lift+Tower.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ7o95Y1HUv5NN4e6wZLgAuMgVoaieQ3HqPdJxHo8zCb1JajOnOuC3Kzkd0qqEppht0_5syaC49OG0JW67RGrs9CwU9H7QZf3YRO3d9zm-5NVG4_bldxM2gz7qFwyrgXRNmdhkgYwzGA/w426-h640/R023+Looking+back+to+Express+Lift+Tower.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking back from Hunsbury you can clearly see the Express Lift Tower in Northampton. Originally for testing lifts it is now used for abseiling and is a listed building.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju96Gi0du5pOG5SqPNR8YC8BS3niDNoU5qe3tW-g7Rn4WXiuad0d6yiOmrPgTgcojVqAJnECKEx-LnE3WzTBnAsUynb0clWMA_x2NBCln1iBSrb5txFyjvubLBRz-m7-DC-km2VVFbyDg/s1200/R025+Lock+13+and+M1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju96Gi0du5pOG5SqPNR8YC8BS3niDNoU5qe3tW-g7Rn4WXiuad0d6yiOmrPgTgcojVqAJnECKEx-LnE3WzTBnAsUynb0clWMA_x2NBCln1iBSrb5txFyjvubLBRz-m7-DC-km2VVFbyDg/w640-h426/R025+Lock+13+and+M1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are approaching Lock 13 and the M1 or at least one of the feeder roads to the motorway which has a junction here. The Arm goes under 3 bridges at the motorway junction.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVOx5pMDRIUGDqk54zC4pQ-Qsqj4OeieX7CqvaXV_gNRKUUsk24uFj65dwhCdqu9AQBxmILkgbsWhNzhYcb2zUyOl8KJcURjzXRPmh0mQTXovC87NwQs0o5GUN1CvLYk9jkKlqKdR5PU/s1200/R026+Lock+12+under+M1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVOx5pMDRIUGDqk54zC4pQ-Qsqj4OeieX7CqvaXV_gNRKUUsk24uFj65dwhCdqu9AQBxmILkgbsWhNzhYcb2zUyOl8KJcURjzXRPmh0mQTXovC87NwQs0o5GUN1CvLYk9jkKlqKdR5PU/w640-h426/R026+Lock+12+under+M1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Much of Lock 12 is hidden away below the motorway. It is a bit gloomy.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHANt1zxUNpGDAN1_o84J-wNbbBOFGTB-bmLpoW_3yP7t72wtTtZdbown4PKawBCQdK-kQGMlbt3Nb2BG7edgGo6RPdXiI7NKnxwMO4E_ccXVl5KoTJ53IaH9mwpRez2zIDfa_0uhfaM/s1200/R028+Looking+up+the+Rothersthorpe+flight.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHANt1zxUNpGDAN1_o84J-wNbbBOFGTB-bmLpoW_3yP7t72wtTtZdbown4PKawBCQdK-kQGMlbt3Nb2BG7edgGo6RPdXiI7NKnxwMO4E_ccXVl5KoTJ53IaH9mwpRez2zIDfa_0uhfaM/w640-h426/R028+Looking+up+the+Rothersthorpe+flight.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In this view, I think from lock 11, you can see the flight stretching ahead of us. Helen is preparing the next lock with the assistance of a passer-by while Ian will close up the present one before going on up. It was a delight being once more in narrow locks, just 7 feet wide and what narrowboats were made for. No broadbeams or big cruisers up here. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA-TnF_vHFdFEH9jVPVSYC0z0aaOWdL0foxD8BDDpIgpCCayrUEGZuVDUq3mLpPClXwrrP0kD7rXQ95ixsZuoEt2KArO2z6ELGgDbGF_9KCPWmAIqLD5kPgAFxD8R0rW7HxboWkWMDDE/s1200/R029+Rothersthorpe+Top+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA-TnF_vHFdFEH9jVPVSYC0z0aaOWdL0foxD8BDDpIgpCCayrUEGZuVDUq3mLpPClXwrrP0kD7rXQ95ixsZuoEt2KArO2z6ELGgDbGF_9KCPWmAIqLD5kPgAFxD8R0rW7HxboWkWMDDE/w640-h426/R029+Rothersthorpe+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here, after over 3 hours of locking we are in the top lock. We met only one boat going down but a couple followed us up later. The locks are well maintained and we had no issues with water levels but the longer pounds at the bottom of the flight from lock 17 to lock 13 were shallow and weedy and consequently very slow. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVbqblJYn4in1njC6zu6jQxt4ugmMtJWO_06agwl6wtTxB1K_T3YAWZCXo1lqxDOMozJ-Yz172jufSzpA8D561DSxNCoIQv2xYbkZvEkKwr7ln1svdqnOGWV9ElgEHVFs0nFcIcJ9RxM/s1200/R030+Gayton+Junction+sign.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1200" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVbqblJYn4in1njC6zu6jQxt4ugmMtJWO_06agwl6wtTxB1K_T3YAWZCXo1lqxDOMozJ-Yz172jufSzpA8D561DSxNCoIQv2xYbkZvEkKwr7ln1svdqnOGWV9ElgEHVFs0nFcIcJ9RxM/w640-h460/R030+Gayton+Junction+sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the signpost at Gayton Junction. Having come from Northampton our choice is left towards London or right for the Midlands and the North. We turned right.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihX5cJHjwiWcrWdfRIPY6_jt3mmvLlQG2ycWN-OeBFftlWzfVQJClX1QTcU9TnPKM_LZiLNAgvsUvql0ubSE8maAPxp78o6HI3FLO3U1RDxq_3PLGwIKl7h6kVUgCmm1llmLuoTHPLZU/s1200/P1040806.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihX5cJHjwiWcrWdfRIPY6_jt3mmvLlQG2ycWN-OeBFftlWzfVQJClX1QTcU9TnPKM_LZiLNAgvsUvql0ubSE8maAPxp78o6HI3FLO3U1RDxq_3PLGwIKl7h6kVUgCmm1llmLuoTHPLZU/w640-h426/P1040806.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is an interesting photo to round off our relationship with the River Nene that we have been following for more than a week. On Sunday we stopped at Weedon (more about this in our next posting) and here is Helen about to paddle across the River Nene a few miles upstream from Northampton. It is little more than a shallow stream here. The prominent wall in the background is part of the Royal Ordnance depot that we will explain more about in the next posting on the blog.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>From here we will be wending our way slowly north to Nottingham where Leo will be spending the winter. This entails more narrow locks at Watford and Foxton and then slowly down to Leicester to join the River Soar leading to the Trent.<br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-91342112592777122552021-08-31T07:57:00.000-07:002021-08-31T07:57:41.793-07:00From Ouse to Nene including a diversion<p> As I type this we are once more on the River Nene heading back upstream towards the canals. Here are some highlights of our journey over the last week:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAtv8109H6vLxvFKEWEOXYO14VlItjhSa15qzalRjHzpUkF7CoSiPN3er-dThEu9CgH-hPZSYiF3ppwQtAzVXqzgK0bde-9RE1Ys2Pk0oEmE6_EEDz1z2y7u-q2Ex7At7zZBkv-pjEQg/s1200/Q006+Leaving+Denver+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAtv8109H6vLxvFKEWEOXYO14VlItjhSa15qzalRjHzpUkF7CoSiPN3er-dThEu9CgH-hPZSYiF3ppwQtAzVXqzgK0bde-9RE1Ys2Pk0oEmE6_EEDz1z2y7u-q2Ex7At7zZBkv-pjEQg/w640-h426/Q006+Leaving+Denver+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last Sunday morning (22 August) we crossed the tidal section of the Ouse from Denver to Salter's Lode to join the Middle Level Navigations. It was a dismal drizzly morning and here we are leaving Denver Lock onto the tidal river.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8IyTaUIEzl62b5AZkOpf2-8gt3m4IzOLeQrAjHZLDXuuKCZXsj9yxzvorL33OGwQybZXw39EjnF2aKl-KZxTfkwk7h8po0LyrIfQGago6zWGdG2gQTdWD2x-ujMnDas5q2AAc5KpYiI/s1200/Q009+Passing+on+the+tidal+Ouse.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8IyTaUIEzl62b5AZkOpf2-8gt3m4IzOLeQrAjHZLDXuuKCZXsj9yxzvorL33OGwQybZXw39EjnF2aKl-KZxTfkwk7h8po0LyrIfQGago6zWGdG2gQTdWD2x-ujMnDas5q2AAc5KpYiI/w640-h426/Q009+Passing+on+the+tidal+Ouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This photo taken by Helen at the bow looking back, shows us passing another narrowboat as we cross the short half mile of tidal water.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpyL2KHiACf1QUrYcbIUqyA4I8lokArxZCWlDsyoYxDKD-GBivYuLBrvgx1QhIFb0oTnRuOqPFLmn_lSsMT8YpuMsKTY33EvMOTEQKT65L8FikQu2x-Vt4tAQAZXjxYFhW8cKyniFTSM/s1200/Q012+Coming+to+Salters+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpyL2KHiACf1QUrYcbIUqyA4I8lokArxZCWlDsyoYxDKD-GBivYuLBrvgx1QhIFb0oTnRuOqPFLmn_lSsMT8YpuMsKTY33EvMOTEQKT65L8FikQu2x-Vt4tAQAZXjxYFhW8cKyniFTSM/w640-h426/Q012+Coming+to+Salters+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After passing the 'Slow Down' notice for boats tearing past on their way down the tide to Kings Lynn, the entrance to Salter's Lode is just visible on the left hand side. You might be able to make out the tiny channel to the lock, but the tree and the lock keeper's house are better landmarks. You need to turn in quite sharply as the tide pulls the stern downstream towards the sea. In fact this time it was almost relaxed as the ebb tide was pretty slow.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXGoFZNo_y3xfY_2lCvL3BHZuEtEz5EqHDzYoctKxNxpFVYpj_uY6nqxyIdSNB1_8vNUBAJM8qk9e5dksmGPjlPcQn9TsAvWujdZAttkusIjOV9UnqiQypFeMgA76tvXrGPwjkea50Lk/s1200/Q014+Salters+Lode+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXGoFZNo_y3xfY_2lCvL3BHZuEtEz5EqHDzYoctKxNxpFVYpj_uY6nqxyIdSNB1_8vNUBAJM8qk9e5dksmGPjlPcQn9TsAvWujdZAttkusIjOV9UnqiQypFeMgA76tvXrGPwjkea50Lk/w640-h426/Q014+Salters+Lode+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having made the turn you have to miss the line of posts to the left of the lock channel and power ahead into the lock. I have previously made a right mess of turning in here but this time we were awarded a score of 9 out of 10 by the lock keeper, the loss of one mark being that I hit the rear end on the retaining wall to the right as we came in!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo24c6cncGogdkNhPuWiPvCdUVAGaYBQi5ZKYBiJbWgi97fz2KgukGhZq3ZuzhK8YBjoChvin_NTz_sWQ2sbYzI6JA5UOMfO9IL4piCPRLuHzBKpoqpq-8IGNu2-w5teBQxI0wOBI0Yro/s1200/Q018+Leaving+Salters+Lode+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo24c6cncGogdkNhPuWiPvCdUVAGaYBQi5ZKYBiJbWgi97fz2KgukGhZq3ZuzhK8YBjoChvin_NTz_sWQ2sbYzI6JA5UOMfO9IL4piCPRLuHzBKpoqpq-8IGNu2-w5teBQxI0wOBI0Yro/w640-h426/Q018+Leaving+Salters+Lode+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We went down about 4 or 5 feet in the lock and here we are exiting onto Well Creek, the narrow waterway that leads to Upwell. You can see the drops of rain on the camera lens - it was that sort of day.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0gKGb_l7tKdWw14-Ya-J2ctymYnLEMEok7REmVwT77taadfmg1uBVKgwhXy_Vt4smhL-SZCFVkzeHL-9Hp-ksB12upEkORd8437nS5YnATM_9AO1ikzksOfjFhjXnIbe0ZLw83b5_Hs/s1200/Q022+2nd+Nordelph+Low+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0gKGb_l7tKdWw14-Ya-J2ctymYnLEMEok7REmVwT77taadfmg1uBVKgwhXy_Vt4smhL-SZCFVkzeHL-9Hp-ksB12upEkORd8437nS5YnATM_9AO1ikzksOfjFhjXnIbe0ZLw83b5_Hs/w640-h426/Q022+2nd+Nordelph+Low+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After the wide waters of the Ouse, the Middle Level feels very narrow and has some low bridges, like this one at Nordelph. We had taken down our lovely flowering geraniums but the herbs on the roof stroked this bridge as we went under.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKd05woNFSQzM6k9MCsut1CtmXPwgQmDeVjmuiczhi0u7O_thUKPPXONuEvwqhssVeBENy5ARY_WftutPnxoG3yr1-70KXbX5v7Kua-WHmCqPEj02JLtZ2SpdCTkhNdhBRnq86L3ig0c/s1200/Q027+Low+Bridge%252C+Outwell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKd05woNFSQzM6k9MCsut1CtmXPwgQmDeVjmuiczhi0u7O_thUKPPXONuEvwqhssVeBENy5ARY_WftutPnxoG3yr1-70KXbX5v7Kua-WHmCqPEj02JLtZ2SpdCTkhNdhBRnq86L3ig0c/w640-h426/Q027+Low+Bridge%252C+Outwell.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is another low arch bridge at Upwell. No more high and broad river cruisers through here!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hVNlKuoFJ8B87J26DeXLWN5HW1zVcG1oum61ycMCDZ4VXmRI7vvKALLUZyObLfKC2TSjKiE7oIO5K_TPJ6JypDQ5GOduxxDhvJ3H-oVQgM7yW6XXF7exVAQYFZnhC_cYGs8I-DnTQz0/s1200/Q030+Upwell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hVNlKuoFJ8B87J26DeXLWN5HW1zVcG1oum61ycMCDZ4VXmRI7vvKALLUZyObLfKC2TSjKiE7oIO5K_TPJ6JypDQ5GOduxxDhvJ3H-oVQgM7yW6XXF7exVAQYFZnhC_cYGs8I-DnTQz0/w640-h426/Q030+Upwell.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We like Upwell and stayed the night there. There is a road either side of the narrow waterway and houses of all sorts of ages and architecture line the banks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspKT3Re0sgZ4j5aeP0RqjBkr6_ysDsBmna3S2BFiPAUJ666LpbrytDgsFoH6-Q03Jj70_oUdf934GycDJ3ZYWS_88T6r9oC0IVMwN7nAnT25jpesV93UakrSCLilpLyLnfrf6r94Qjj4/s1200/Q035+Haystack.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspKT3Re0sgZ4j5aeP0RqjBkr6_ysDsBmna3S2BFiPAUJ666LpbrytDgsFoH6-Q03Jj70_oUdf934GycDJ3ZYWS_88T6r9oC0IVMwN7nAnT25jpesV93UakrSCLilpLyLnfrf6r94Qjj4/w640-h426/Q035+Haystack.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One pleasure of spending the summer on the waterways is seeing the passage of the seasons. So now it is harvest time and we passed this huge haystack between Upwell and March. We'd like to see the machinery that lifts these large straw bales up so high.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiwbEkSoMDinaXvX-9BGP2Yl0_MlQ7zi2L7HaQqyZLQ-4jeCAs2V0yV9BJcPlk2dHLbQ4UXAJ4ljoh3Ayz4LNU_FqdbDjmWtPLhcztANGL3vjt313ZJQPwhQLt9mVfKDde4TT0RM0Goc/s1200/Q043+Moored+in+March.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiwbEkSoMDinaXvX-9BGP2Yl0_MlQ7zi2L7HaQqyZLQ-4jeCAs2V0yV9BJcPlk2dHLbQ4UXAJ4ljoh3Ayz4LNU_FqdbDjmWtPLhcztANGL3vjt313ZJQPwhQLt9mVfKDde4TT0RM0Goc/w640-h426/Q043+Moored+in+March.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the view from our mooring in March, a pleasant town with the waterway in a narrow ditch running through it. Strictly this waterway is the old course of the River Nene which now flows in a more direct channel from Peterborough to Wisbech and the sea. The fish and chip shop just by the mooring was closed for the owners' holiday. We had set our sights on having fish and chips so Ian cycled to another shop in the town.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPLWbxoAdHPFRrBC7BtjsRV3Dp2ERsrmgMftDTiSrKsTZPfHHH-g_7OLF4hxHltBUhLr2DipGmxpvDjwd2pxlRlpSuMBmk6Gun8I84qO_2oENKCQnhkB7IiJWqh3uuv98SWNVH8glUaM/s1200/Q046+Floods+Ferry+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPLWbxoAdHPFRrBC7BtjsRV3Dp2ERsrmgMftDTiSrKsTZPfHHH-g_7OLF4hxHltBUhLr2DipGmxpvDjwd2pxlRlpSuMBmk6Gun8I84qO_2oENKCQnhkB7IiJWqh3uuv98SWNVH8glUaM/w640-h426/Q046+Floods+Ferry+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a direct route across the Middle Level from Denver to Peterborough but there are alternatives and we decided we wanted to visit Benwick which lies off the direct route. In the photo we are approaching Floods Ferry Junction where the main route goes right. We went left to Benwick again following the old course of the Nene. Notice the second world war pill box at the junction. There are lots of these defence positions on the Middle Level.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVbGbqFksyD_uUMXuiUArKXGsNe26pztDTtQLgheTyi0chOqo_ezLG83G8cL_Rn6MLTR7buzDzbSf6hJHnv35on6IwAomNs54g6lfuNKSIDZN1eN9h5jZwf7Tl2pMXbSjTOwGTtLbHYg/s1200/Q049+Second+Bridge+at+Benwick.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVbGbqFksyD_uUMXuiUArKXGsNe26pztDTtQLgheTyi0chOqo_ezLG83G8cL_Rn6MLTR7buzDzbSf6hJHnv35on6IwAomNs54g6lfuNKSIDZN1eN9h5jZwf7Tl2pMXbSjTOwGTtLbHYg/w640-h426/Q049+Second+Bridge+at+Benwick.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Benwick has two bridges, one a boring concrete one and the other this fine wooden one which carries a footpath into the village.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFIJrhvtL-4Gww_iXWhxTu95LeQhwo2KxR-CaO11cW0eaBkPJ8Iz5jz0xtmclqtbAHMY1M2h3tasFk7ZFdrYivCbsS_f12wVvxwuZLa85JaLV1_gIm7H-IowuWdBUugmUHdM2SZMvKpI/s1200/Q051+Plane+crash+memorial+%25281989%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFIJrhvtL-4Gww_iXWhxTu95LeQhwo2KxR-CaO11cW0eaBkPJ8Iz5jz0xtmclqtbAHMY1M2h3tasFk7ZFdrYivCbsS_f12wVvxwuZLa85JaLV1_gIm7H-IowuWdBUugmUHdM2SZMvKpI/w640-h426/Q051+Plane+crash+memorial+%25281989%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We went for a walk from Benwick going south across the dead flat Fenland landscape. We passed this memorial to a US military plane which came down nearby in 1989.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bXh330T2_X7baQDUYsL2GgphdlWPhkSZXzjEQolTMzIx0y8Nfi-ZpweWdBrnCdZoSMR5UMYgyEvnxJTi1tqj9kymV09nkNrWDyNNJ-HYzOI9Zgt8r66oRi7vGnsxsTohKlgVn9OOwPQ/s1200/Q052+Forty+Foot+Drain.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bXh330T2_X7baQDUYsL2GgphdlWPhkSZXzjEQolTMzIx0y8Nfi-ZpweWdBrnCdZoSMR5UMYgyEvnxJTi1tqj9kymV09nkNrWDyNNJ-HYzOI9Zgt8r66oRi7vGnsxsTohKlgVn9OOwPQ/w640-h426/Q052+Forty+Foot+Drain.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the far end of our walk we came to the Forty Foot River, a long and very straight channel which is also navigable, though here it is covered with duckweed. Some of our walk had been below sea level and the map showed the highest point was where we had crossed the zero contour line!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrQVT4z6n6cj8uoJihxBgdVtGc0FoqyI2k7L0ivJ5XQhLX7Mag72lcHuaQ0NO0-PV-0Vx0w_7c12aHvVM2oqj1JA_EP34rGNe3Aw1NSdcMKCyc6SWDd3sIcEj9xprVGZqLN16S1z-M-0/s1200/Q055+Wells+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrQVT4z6n6cj8uoJihxBgdVtGc0FoqyI2k7L0ivJ5XQhLX7Mag72lcHuaQ0NO0-PV-0Vx0w_7c12aHvVM2oqj1JA_EP34rGNe3Aw1NSdcMKCyc6SWDd3sIcEj9xprVGZqLN16S1z-M-0/w640-h426/Q055+Wells+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After spending Tuesday night at Benwick we had to continue a further three and a half miles to reach the junction with the Forty Foot where we could turn round. In the photo we are approaching the Wells Bridge. Beyond this there is a T junction where turning is easy. Then we had five miles or so back on the old course of the Nene returning to Floods Ferry Junction where we turned left for Whittlesey.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAZs82nhqPf8tSpOJ1L2A8ju7Wj9o3f08X3vEAGkxd7OicfeejtKamF4Es5GVKCho3b5K8w1-TX8m6lZCzdQeMORWTIjap0T3sz2okzDrKPLEG6rrgzwo0Xsw9Q2pTbYg7GodCVe7PWs/s1200/Q067+Sharp+bend+2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAZs82nhqPf8tSpOJ1L2A8ju7Wj9o3f08X3vEAGkxd7OicfeejtKamF4Es5GVKCho3b5K8w1-TX8m6lZCzdQeMORWTIjap0T3sz2okzDrKPLEG6rrgzwo0Xsw9Q2pTbYg7GodCVe7PWs/w640-h426/Q067+Sharp+bend+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Leaving Whittlesey there is a very sharp left bend just beyond the bridge shown here.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK3cnJ5DJD9LNILx1WZHLnd7Vc94KP0QAasZCRoZXRyN6EEYLq3nh1K6Y2hLmwqIstFNqLRozyFXS_gXEuSxs_dJ6VL1_KOvkStz975pDK5EeHOye1r_EJ-qIB7_hn6sZ3mDTZgcFtnw/s1200/Q068+Sharp+bend+3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK3cnJ5DJD9LNILx1WZHLnd7Vc94KP0QAasZCRoZXRyN6EEYLq3nh1K6Y2hLmwqIstFNqLRozyFXS_gXEuSxs_dJ6VL1_KOvkStz975pDK5EeHOye1r_EJ-qIB7_hn6sZ3mDTZgcFtnw/w640-h426/Q068+Sharp+bend+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here, close to the bridge you can make out the channel beyond. This really is a tight turn and you have to slow down to a standstill to get round. The channel is shallow on the left too and, on our first go, we went aground before backing off and trying again. We had a 10.30am appointment with the lock keeper at Stanground Lock where we went up to join the channel leading to the River Nene at Peterborough. It has been novel navigating at or below sea level for several days crossing the Middle Level. We filled with water and then set off back up the River Nene.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0HRr1oWIm6G1WNSBOrMOQG8letos_hWsn8o-o2_tWk_f9L6pW6zEI3nkEw8D2kKPsnKpEiaq0v4jvwIwDWG9MM5spkv0r47sPqfjj0qX9RxYAYztclLmzlNJMTGzOI5IfGdwYfS6HCs/s1200/Q075+Channel+to+Thorpe+Meadow.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0HRr1oWIm6G1WNSBOrMOQG8letos_hWsn8o-o2_tWk_f9L6pW6zEI3nkEw8D2kKPsnKpEiaq0v4jvwIwDWG9MM5spkv0r47sPqfjj0qX9RxYAYztclLmzlNJMTGzOI5IfGdwYfS6HCs/w640-h426/Q075+Channel+to+Thorpe+Meadow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before we reached the first lock at Orton we decided to explore a little branch of the river on the north bank. This leads under a footbridge, past a long straight rowing lake to reach a basin at Thorpe Meadows. Here we are going up the channel and then round a right bend to reach the moorings.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXj3K48oigQ3p26mg8bNeWH_RNeOR7Ms-JVlLKFkNwDoEjSNKhIPWpsoalG83wiM_WSjW-J8QYV2DcKbeM1O77UWW5HI8opH8s436onqAhmt_m77rtiQfEWlrwUsOzJdh26ozZTQRuUU/s1200/Q078+Moored+at+Thorpe+Meadow.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXj3K48oigQ3p26mg8bNeWH_RNeOR7Ms-JVlLKFkNwDoEjSNKhIPWpsoalG83wiM_WSjW-J8QYV2DcKbeM1O77UWW5HI8opH8s436onqAhmt_m77rtiQfEWlrwUsOzJdh26ozZTQRuUU/w640-h426/Q078+Moored+at+Thorpe+Meadow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is Leo moored on the fine moorings in the small lake at the end of the waterway. Obviously there is plenty of room to turn. The remains of a fire and a few beer bottles and broken glass made us think twice about spending the night there and so, after exploring a bit on foot, we moved on after lunch. Had there been a few other boats here we would probably have stayed. There is a Chef and Brewer pub, The Boathouse, opposite the mooring and the channel goes on under a footbridge into a private marina.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_Z_8XeKccw6mmnb0GCZAdL-l8y9wYUteOS1TPWOmHBMMMyKZGG2saBlDy_U7ViaU8XnsfYA5_6Qw5zqSMsf8v-qmAmjPHotQS17ont7oGOgcZhqVWfUf3BFB4gwqn9YyACY1Af839pQ/s1200/Q079+Moored+at+Ferry+Meadows.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_Z_8XeKccw6mmnb0GCZAdL-l8y9wYUteOS1TPWOmHBMMMyKZGG2saBlDy_U7ViaU8XnsfYA5_6Qw5zqSMsf8v-qmAmjPHotQS17ont7oGOgcZhqVWfUf3BFB4gwqn9YyACY1Af839pQ/w640-h426/Q079+Moored+at+Ferry+Meadows.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So on Thursday evening we returned to Ferry Meadows where we'd stayed on our way down the river. This moorings is in a public park and on a lake so rather novel for a narrowboat. We managed to get there in time for tea and cake at the cafe!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjva0fhtXQsPR3TeD2GYXEKLgHnqP1mtpjBfB2CLIxT3l68PEuHkl4Dx6onGiI6n7h_-oXmDfwd9wunQD1jJxx0txmn-CLAjymJTrLmvu3HVdE0hUtE5MfXlRDGsgYivBApMnm_l0ekASg/s2683/Q090+Burne+Jones+window%252C+Elton+church.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2683" data-original-width="1172" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjva0fhtXQsPR3TeD2GYXEKLgHnqP1mtpjBfB2CLIxT3l68PEuHkl4Dx6onGiI6n7h_-oXmDfwd9wunQD1jJxx0txmn-CLAjymJTrLmvu3HVdE0hUtE5MfXlRDGsgYivBApMnm_l0ekASg/w280-h640/Q090+Burne+Jones+window%252C+Elton+church.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We carried on up river on Friday going up 5 locks (more than we've done in a day for ages on the flat lands of the Fens and River Ouse). We moored at Elton and walked into the village. Unfortunately the nearer pub, the Crown, was fully booked that evening but we found the church open and were able to look round. We've found since Covid that churches are much more likely to be locked than they used to be. We like looking round village churches and, in Elton Church we found several windows with stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris from the Arts and Crafts movement. The photo shows one of them.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28iXHTNIklW8OAWffG4P1bNxKem0nlHfoa6ft8D_fGv7jq8t_JIbWam7hc0jKf8u3mGEcs8OEQYZzMjb64JZENxZG6IAmkCeXABYIBd5bqLIb3srAgD_7RExmj_iRbCUn-xGA2lL0ZaE/s1200/Q092+Cottages%252C+Elton.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28iXHTNIklW8OAWffG4P1bNxKem0nlHfoa6ft8D_fGv7jq8t_JIbWam7hc0jKf8u3mGEcs8OEQYZzMjb64JZENxZG6IAmkCeXABYIBd5bqLIb3srAgD_7RExmj_iRbCUn-xGA2lL0ZaE/w640-h426/Q092+Cottages%252C+Elton.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Elton is a delightful village with lots of delightful stone buildings.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_bpu3Ftq4JthLY_QtM_Erll7NZkNbBto-KoGQ8J5m4j03faEpnzWP45v250FGNk5okuj6vjoBeJD054OaVoDAT61f-WwYyopISqODaegpvbQhg7cGQ8V2lUhQ63qSj3Q9J8OZxDPY4I/s1200/Q095+Fotheringhay+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_bpu3Ftq4JthLY_QtM_Erll7NZkNbBto-KoGQ8J5m4j03faEpnzWP45v250FGNk5okuj6vjoBeJD054OaVoDAT61f-WwYyopISqODaegpvbQhg7cGQ8V2lUhQ63qSj3Q9J8OZxDPY4I/w640-h426/Q095+Fotheringhay+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having stayed at Fotheringhay on our way down the river we decided not to stop there again on the way back. The photo shows Leo heading for the centre arch of Fotheringhay bridge.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodURlMcW7OiZ5QHeLpZjo4beY1cGVMu2aUlq4xkPzhLSCtiR62zbNmQ2p-DTxBcLLIFX1DhI3JNCMteGfeVVJHr24Mt7x4_JahmSBXgdCmNxZrnICnP_M_8I1WHDpgLoTQpvEvfIjq5I/s1200/Q096+Fotheringhay+Church.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodURlMcW7OiZ5QHeLpZjo4beY1cGVMu2aUlq4xkPzhLSCtiR62zbNmQ2p-DTxBcLLIFX1DhI3JNCMteGfeVVJHr24Mt7x4_JahmSBXgdCmNxZrnICnP_M_8I1WHDpgLoTQpvEvfIjq5I/w640-h426/Q096+Fotheringhay+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is the church at Fotheringhay. It is a great landmark seen from miles away but we find its proportions are a bit odd. We think the nave needs an extension to make it longer to be in proportion with the splendid tower.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkiB62pV84uX0i8vXCz8K86uyYSuLwSxWLHilpLG95IDbSXCKrmKgzxUIXWMWObzL3dyqABaejoCrYbdcoJ44WkuT5pNv89rAxL9i1WR-M-Vdre9zcXsKU26NFlZ2OvitfPASc2WaZwQ/s1200/Q102+Oundle+Centre.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkiB62pV84uX0i8vXCz8K86uyYSuLwSxWLHilpLG95IDbSXCKrmKgzxUIXWMWObzL3dyqABaejoCrYbdcoJ44WkuT5pNv89rAxL9i1WR-M-Vdre9zcXsKU26NFlZ2OvitfPASc2WaZwQ/w640-h426/Q102+Oundle+Centre.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday afternoon we moored just beyond Oundle's North Bridge on an unofficial field mooring and walked into the town. We really liked Oundle with its streets of lovely stone buildings, mostly Georgian, plenty of shops and places to eat. We've put it on our list of places we'd probably like to live in.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKqH0Bf42oDqtqWRjPsiuS5JSOKjLX1bm0zxxJCDydc8D4RUAUzG6XsNkCF2YlGBujZvWmpuX29pAHdMxDzPE6UevEOad2xawnN5_FSdjrQuaKIboTDSv6RoSunIGshOJNlJbASGvMTQ/s1200/Q104+Talbot+Hotel%252C+Oundle.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKqH0Bf42oDqtqWRjPsiuS5JSOKjLX1bm0zxxJCDydc8D4RUAUzG6XsNkCF2YlGBujZvWmpuX29pAHdMxDzPE6UevEOad2xawnN5_FSdjrQuaKIboTDSv6RoSunIGshOJNlJbASGvMTQ/w640-h426/Q104+Talbot+Hotel%252C+Oundle.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This courtyard is part of the Talbot Hotel. The diagonal window above the passage marks the staircase in the hotel which was brought from Fotheringhay Castle when it was demolished. It is said that Mary Queen of Scots walked down this staircase on the way to her execution.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKlRlAx5u1RAc60NFiDuyW7Swh8uyzBjULAYHeB_JQNkmVQvN93jpkCwKSdb67IctqbtOJ96svdxh8xGpZMRUsvNhvzd4KUSN7BLZaU81Q_vlZZOCbwq346Fe3TOHaITe3XOn9PErWMg/s1200/Q106+Old+Courthouse+and+Museum%252C+Oundle.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKlRlAx5u1RAc60NFiDuyW7Swh8uyzBjULAYHeB_JQNkmVQvN93jpkCwKSdb67IctqbtOJ96svdxh8xGpZMRUsvNhvzd4KUSN7BLZaU81Q_vlZZOCbwq346Fe3TOHaITe3XOn9PErWMg/w640-h426/Q106+Old+Courthouse+and+Museum%252C+Oundle.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the old Courthouse in Oundle which now houses a delightful small museum.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uiti5y9OiH9SpoF6cNmqa_jqmZ06kYk6OgTExuFWClcnyFyk7-fIcZFC0MQZFtz5jDZ5uKUWSbqQ6pVXZVJ_nsTvzf3hzpDt-WfatdIQ9hCSeW-DyLd52u2b4nzKDE5eO-tD1c7lQGI/s1200/Q107+Hedgehogs%252C+Barnwell+Country+Park.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uiti5y9OiH9SpoF6cNmqa_jqmZ06kYk6OgTExuFWClcnyFyk7-fIcZFC0MQZFtz5jDZ5uKUWSbqQ6pVXZVJ_nsTvzf3hzpDt-WfatdIQ9hCSeW-DyLd52u2b4nzKDE5eO-tD1c7lQGI/w640-h426/Q107+Hedgehogs%252C+Barnwell+Country+Park.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After exploring the town we walked through to South Bridge also over the Nene. The river goes in a huge loop round the town so you can walk straight through the town and cross the river twice. We carried on into into Barnwell Country Park where we met these two wooden carved hedgehogs. The country park has paths round a number of lakes and is a popular place with visitors of all ages. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeiEdbjaz8wT25HuAZAe7K043LxvJqmY-osXXuzpMsMJT4of3zApLLz8GAB2T9b4fGSYO_J46UgJkyNwKeoahHynAONFo_5eDESiquJI5UglpK08e2UYRdOSFRf1z6wfP3ELwufZVIn8/s1200/Q108+Ashton+Lock+Manual+Guillotine.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeiEdbjaz8wT25HuAZAe7K043LxvJqmY-osXXuzpMsMJT4of3zApLLz8GAB2T9b4fGSYO_J46UgJkyNwKeoahHynAONFo_5eDESiquJI5UglpK08e2UYRdOSFRf1z6wfP3ELwufZVIn8/w640-h426/Q108+Ashton+Lock+Manual+Guillotine.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Sunday we carried on up river and here you see Helen at Ashton Lock which is one of six locks which has a manually lifting guillotine. Helen is using the large chrome wheel to lower the gate. It takes innumerable turns to achieve this. We have a slight dodge to improving the technique. By inserting a small screwdriver into a hole in the wheel you have a handle to turn. It helps but has less leverage so it does not improve things when more effort is required on some of the stiffer gates.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbB9Sm7XxuY_H-faJS4yZIVQ0_GBE8q71D7A-mh4bn1DkhX1_Z2ds0dTXoGB0tUGWbKdUfA3An199Ukkwh_E6WI0ad9bhf2AIlhclhfDjN8d9Cmx0HzaVVZnIMrQnx6M6W1NSiOmsIFU/s1200/Q112+Moored+at+Pear+Tree+on+back+stream.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbB9Sm7XxuY_H-faJS4yZIVQ0_GBE8q71D7A-mh4bn1DkhX1_Z2ds0dTXoGB0tUGWbKdUfA3An199Ukkwh_E6WI0ad9bhf2AIlhclhfDjN8d9Cmx0HzaVVZnIMrQnx6M6W1NSiOmsIFU/w640-h426/Q112+Moored+at+Pear+Tree+on+back+stream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Pear Tree Farm Moorings (for members of the Friends of the River Nene) boats have a choice of mooring on the river or up a tributary called Harper's Brook. We are moored on the Brook. We shared the mooring with two other narrowboats and a large family group on two cruisers, but there is plenty of room so we spent Sunday night at this remote and quiet spot.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>So this brings us nearly up to date. We will be continuing our cruise up the River Nene over the next few days seeking to visit those places we missed on our way down. Once we get to Northampton we will be returning to the canals after a couple of months on these eastern rivers.<br /><p><br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-64680273697721932192021-08-21T09:34:00.000-07:002021-08-21T09:34:43.001-07:00Three more excursions off the River Great Ouse<p> On our way back down the Great Ouse we have explored three waterways: the Cam, the Little Ouse (or Brandon Creek) and the Relief Channel, and this is the story of those trips.</p><p>First we swallowed our pride and paid the extortionate licence fee to visit Cambridge, though we are in correspondence with the Cam Commissioners about this. The River Cam joins the Great Ouse at Pope's Corner and the first 7 miles upstream are covered by either a Gold Licence or an EA licence. However for the six and a half miles further up from Bottisham Lock to just below Jesus Lock in the centre of Cambridge, the waterway is managed by the Cam Commissioners. We would expect to have to pay a small daily or weekly visitor fee for access. By comparison the Warwickshire Avon charges £10 per day or £50 per week: the Wey Navigation charges £23 per day or £91 for 7 days. Prices are for a 57 foot boat and both waterways are considerably longer than the top end of the Cam. So what is the Cam Commissioners charge? The answer is that they insist you buy an Anglian Pass which is an <u>annual</u> addition to your Gold or EA licence and costs £100 when most visiting boats might only need it for a couple of days. It's a liberty and one that we have sought to challenge.</p><p>The Cam Commissioners claim that they are bound by their bye-laws to only issue annual licences. They say in an e mail to us: "<i><span style="color: black;">The Anglian Pass was and still is the
most effective, efficient and fair charging model for the vast majority of the region’s boaters.</span></i><span style="color: black;">" From the perspective of boaters visiting from more distant waters, it clearly is neither effective nor fair. Our correspondence on this continues as we understand that a few years ago the Cam Commissioners were issuing short term licences. Ultimately this will be an issue for more local boaters than us to pursue, but we shall continue to press the issue and take it up with CRT and the IWA. Anyway enough of a rant for this posting: here are some pictures and the story:</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWO7BzEPWMnvGJ3ln22BoqGNlsSxtjzzF4KCL1E-oiP0Tpk9GQp67S2w1RV9LClx0TzLhkPNBhxXV3N3CjLxMzSMD2Sg9fOJd2DY1YlhTl5CeEHCfHfI3LnC3Hl4vwXVmordAem0dnnEE/s1200/N026+Moored+below+Jesus+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWO7BzEPWMnvGJ3ln22BoqGNlsSxtjzzF4KCL1E-oiP0Tpk9GQp67S2w1RV9LClx0TzLhkPNBhxXV3N3CjLxMzSMD2Sg9fOJd2DY1YlhTl5CeEHCfHfI3LnC3Hl4vwXVmordAem0dnnEE/w640-h426/N026+Moored+below+Jesus+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In order to get the sunniest pictures on this blog they are taken on our exit from Cambridge so we start here just below Jesus Lock in the centre. You can see the weir and lock in front of Leo. Until October you are not allowed through this lock unless you moor up there. In any event you would swiftly find yourself surrounded by punts some propelled by experts but a lot by newcomers, so probably best to stay here where there are only rowing sculls, pairs, fours and eights to avoid!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrupLA_QI3uhT9Vxoq-leLWt2E8W4p2ZAAbE01T-j2YpHbf-wJY1FyflJKCCMpVfe7ZEgKgZcLxlzB7nQCyOWi_T_XCHMFBSMSVVjNrUwe3XvrUFEX5UWyy9HzNOGnEbmeslqvWftOag/s1200/N029+Leaving+Cambridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrupLA_QI3uhT9Vxoq-leLWt2E8W4p2ZAAbE01T-j2YpHbf-wJY1FyflJKCCMpVfe7ZEgKgZcLxlzB7nQCyOWi_T_XCHMFBSMSVVjNrUwe3XvrUFEX5UWyy9HzNOGnEbmeslqvWftOag/w640-h426/N029+Leaving+Cambridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the view looking back as we left Cambridge on Thursday 12th August. The public moorings are on the right and there is a water, elsan and pump out services on the left.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu5Kdzhx3jX1S4MhDXEMWJTAjjNmc8PKpFmeXgVc4hP7gFXWN8fEMHc7ZbzWFHOEx4F7JvTC97ErNBv_tSATCxmBqVY_scAYFi239btKF2udNIxze9RNTpQ355V9WSbHwvlHCulcbvMo/s1200/N031+Rowing+clubs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu5Kdzhx3jX1S4MhDXEMWJTAjjNmc8PKpFmeXgVc4hP7gFXWN8fEMHc7ZbzWFHOEx4F7JvTC97ErNBv_tSATCxmBqVY_scAYFi239btKF2udNIxze9RNTpQ355V9WSbHwvlHCulcbvMo/w640-h426/N031+Rowing+clubs.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we left Cambridge we passed a line of rowing clubs but fortunately not too many boats out on the river. It might be very different in term time.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9OO5VEpVOdDeifzKHMMULDpevyPFllgaYbWwyc7gGC4xF-zkccEkl4heFikGlntFrpUTK1D2MJIJuo96mlDohWi-L98hETSon-XkjE_1KKvWPo3QUI8QWbBlsdVDMZ3w9XByQ48nft4/s1200/N034+Baits+Bite+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9OO5VEpVOdDeifzKHMMULDpevyPFllgaYbWwyc7gGC4xF-zkccEkl4heFikGlntFrpUTK1D2MJIJuo96mlDohWi-L98hETSon-XkjE_1KKvWPo3QUI8QWbBlsdVDMZ3w9XByQ48nft4/w640-h426/N034+Baits+Bite+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are coming to Bait's Bite Lock which has a guillotine on the upstream side and V gates below, though it is entirely electric so no muscles required.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMboTn0MfhRP5SRK7WMGSgxhKtEa03wlIlE6OAZjq7jk_9gkZz77CtyKo6ap52utr-nM1y4ub51Z9MIQ8dnwDPyR9Mf8_L5FiDtKZTJOvLceQroxGKWv0SuLvbB-MzhJiwS5JzrTpJoTQ/s1200/N037+Cam+Conservancy+HQ.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMboTn0MfhRP5SRK7WMGSgxhKtEa03wlIlE6OAZjq7jk_9gkZz77CtyKo6ap52utr-nM1y4ub51Z9MIQ8dnwDPyR9Mf8_L5FiDtKZTJOvLceQroxGKWv0SuLvbB-MzhJiwS5JzrTpJoTQ/w640-h426/N037+Cam+Conservancy+HQ.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We spent the night on some GOBA moorings just above Bottisham Lock. Well having paid our £100 we were determined to get some value so actually spent 4 nights on the Cam, so only £25 a day for us! The building in the photo is the rather splendid Dutch style house at Clayhithe which is the headquarters of the Cam Commissioners.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: black;">Our next excursion was on the Little Ouse which is also called Brandon Creek:</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiySVrL49pgUh1hPYS6spxg1-vXekxsBLVuH7dc4sjHr40lEMTUPsU40p27frbKzarMqAhyphenhyphenClm_bnbNG_A79hPB57UBmpYetcBnB6F0Jm4-dyJz-XmH1ZaV1rv4xfjPZfa-2W3oPDmZog/s1200/N042+Strong+wind+on+Ouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiySVrL49pgUh1hPYS6spxg1-vXekxsBLVuH7dc4sjHr40lEMTUPsU40p27frbKzarMqAhyphenhyphenClm_bnbNG_A79hPB57UBmpYetcBnB6F0Jm4-dyJz-XmH1ZaV1rv4xfjPZfa-2W3oPDmZog/w640-h426/N042+Strong+wind+on+Ouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To get to the Little Ouse we had to go back down the Cam to Pope's Corner and then down the Great Ouse through Ely and Littleport. We've called this photo "a strong wind on the Ouse". The lower reaches are flat and tend to be windy but perhaps not strong enough to fell telegraph poles.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP4mWH7acjw_oFGtGH1oEsSjfdqIvwrAJsvZ2uwI2bYntODEzIAiJiUHlgkyyb0BbV-zcfN5I0z4Yk10PjTU5lnCiPkIo-o8ATZngyEVPCKmLJVlPv45Pm3sbkFSAQElWxo6TOMonWdw/s1200/N045+Arriving+in+Ely.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP4mWH7acjw_oFGtGH1oEsSjfdqIvwrAJsvZ2uwI2bYntODEzIAiJiUHlgkyyb0BbV-zcfN5I0z4Yk10PjTU5lnCiPkIo-o8ATZngyEVPCKmLJVlPv45Pm3sbkFSAQElWxo6TOMonWdw/w640-h426/N045+Arriving+in+Ely.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are coming back through Ely. The Cutter Inn is straight ahead and worth a visit.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK38g-EwGujB1xSaHvvwup1MR156Qkke8hqEs14rkeCs3yVnicJA9LkQuk2UtiMkl_Y1rAOwqq8uEKlZaZgdWOim5Op9PM5WQLAmfj03MHg1-PkkoTO7nXKy2BNvm3ODUmZ1FAGbbE8Q/s1200/N048+Choppy+river+in+wind.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK38g-EwGujB1xSaHvvwup1MR156Qkke8hqEs14rkeCs3yVnicJA9LkQuk2UtiMkl_Y1rAOwqq8uEKlZaZgdWOim5Op9PM5WQLAmfj03MHg1-PkkoTO7nXKy2BNvm3ODUmZ1FAGbbE8Q/w640-h426/N048+Choppy+river+in+wind.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After shopping in Ely on Friday 13th we went another 3 miles or so to an EA mooring called 'Diamond 44'. Why this strange name. I think I might have explained this in an earlier post but it is because in 1944 the Oxford and Cambridge boat race was held on the Great Ouse (as it was also in 2021) and in 2004, the 60th anniversary of the war time race, it was re-contested with veteran university crews. The photo shows the effect of the wind down the long straight coming out of Ely. Some sizeable waves had built up.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxXNBiUfzjFBXHSV6KuWBtsq-CFgLrPOIxtKPvUvZ1nIs1BMgyWRmHBILMIZDPG-jypqf6QPkICsEX1UMq_YBwx4ok5vqqpt2AknVfOFr6F7tP-7lxV9IUFl55kIixh2Cg5ZsgCpUffY/s1200/N050+Turning+onto+Little+Ouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxXNBiUfzjFBXHSV6KuWBtsq-CFgLrPOIxtKPvUvZ1nIs1BMgyWRmHBILMIZDPG-jypqf6QPkICsEX1UMq_YBwx4ok5vqqpt2AknVfOFr6F7tP-7lxV9IUFl55kIixh2Cg5ZsgCpUffY/w640-h426/N050+Turning+onto+Little+Ouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few miles below Littleport we reached the Ship Inn shown here where we turned right onto the Little Ouse. This tributary is the longest of the three north of Ely at nearly 14 miles to the navigation head at Brandon Bridge.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdvAbjaDoKLW71cdeX4Mw7dJ5xkEL3AnfpYMamIhrKu1syjA_TMWsaGZFTTdtgbs1M4VeS_hJEzz-a0f_jzVwqKOc9_Hj27RJgfjiT2uw37Hvv482XwMSecbxQQxKT-jeRNG1SGu1ddk/s1200/N053+Little+Ouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdvAbjaDoKLW71cdeX4Mw7dJ5xkEL3AnfpYMamIhrKu1syjA_TMWsaGZFTTdtgbs1M4VeS_hJEzz-a0f_jzVwqKOc9_Hj27RJgfjiT2uw37Hvv482XwMSecbxQQxKT-jeRNG1SGu1ddk/w640-h426/N053+Little+Ouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Little Ouse is wider than the Wissey and deep and mostly weed free and so is the easiest to cruise. For the first mile or two the long line of trees planted on its banks sheltered us from the wind.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcMu2R668RrYwcMIwGh9pC4_kVQUf92Z7-XE7I_JGLdbO3PwVwgZ5Y_TKEuEghiPX6HBOycxemwh_LMhl4mcsniPX80atY3OkYQZ9zQoVTu66Ai3GL0JWDx-RQthUhBlDGIo5N0bEVVI/s800/N054+long+time+waiting+for+a+boat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="672" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcMu2R668RrYwcMIwGh9pC4_kVQUf92Z7-XE7I_JGLdbO3PwVwgZ5Y_TKEuEghiPX6HBOycxemwh_LMhl4mcsniPX80atY3OkYQZ9zQoVTu66Ai3GL0JWDx-RQthUhBlDGIo5N0bEVVI/w538-h640/N054+long+time+waiting+for+a+boat.JPG" width="538" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We didn't pass many moving boats on the Little Ouse and it certainly looks as if this chap has been waiting a long time for a lift!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil1_PW1uxv7s69cF_2z0lHZQ3qxW4UZ3KrHsuTF9-2pIBWS1dN6sCtuJ0lu0yqEYtLPd9dl_Q6uLON0CUVMNgMXndU42ZTroTSieXZ5jX2mIRWNTg5_67VTBRt8XZMGJ3wMDE-zSJ6BA/s1200/N055+Derelct+Barn+nr+Redmire+Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil1_PW1uxv7s69cF_2z0lHZQ3qxW4UZ3KrHsuTF9-2pIBWS1dN6sCtuJ0lu0yqEYtLPd9dl_Q6uLON0CUVMNgMXndU42ZTroTSieXZ5jX2mIRWNTg5_67VTBRt8XZMGJ3wMDE-zSJ6BA/w640-h426/N055+Derelct+Barn+nr+Redmire+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We remembered this falling down house from our last visit here but it doesn't seem to have got a lot worse.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kZakfKjIxG-gNjbZGO3CsYfNhmOXnngwE0iH0Q6zrFRBCUrKgIWLRKOBtwkN8UaGU0BCG8ACaA3DxrfQdDHfotpHxsmpLSorb-cL261D82f14AWEvFhyphenhyphenye8-cMCPaN9Bffm0gyF0nhY/s1200/N057+Lakenheath+Lode+to+right.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kZakfKjIxG-gNjbZGO3CsYfNhmOXnngwE0iH0Q6zrFRBCUrKgIWLRKOBtwkN8UaGU0BCG8ACaA3DxrfQdDHfotpHxsmpLSorb-cL261D82f14AWEvFhyphenhyphenye8-cMCPaN9Bffm0gyF0nhY/w640-h426/N057+Lakenheath+Lode+to+right.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the first opportunity for a navigational error as the Lakenheath Lode branches off the right. The Little Ouse goes left. It looks as if Lakenheath Lode is plenty deep enough for narrowboats, but I doubt there is anywhere to turn round. Unless someone knows different. Shortly after this there is a remote GOBA mooring where we stopped for lunch.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGfEUv1zqQuM-lAV-87o2dmybsxQ7ovRWs91e0w3vkorXrJVeHKQYUXSMopm0YRWgjzuIr7wIKBgj3OLxTahfbfuSUM1tVHinXR37ZLb2mj33YDi2uEkhyEAUyyv0L7ClWPeuBxF8RT0/s1200/N060+Teasel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGfEUv1zqQuM-lAV-87o2dmybsxQ7ovRWs91e0w3vkorXrJVeHKQYUXSMopm0YRWgjzuIr7wIKBgj3OLxTahfbfuSUM1tVHinXR37ZLb2mj33YDi2uEkhyEAUyyv0L7ClWPeuBxF8RT0/w640-h426/N060+Teasel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We shared the mooring with grazing cows, wildflowers, grasshoppers and teasels growing beside the river ...<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamX4Lm8EqfZlDtczQ-9NUXTOiUW4eHvJ8zAI-cSFK6Fcfkwt2B3zvrDx0LfvcTZLdN3pukw2oMoNSLa_1QX1mrUI2wtur50jJPTqH3ZdzrNqUUKjoFWEVjYK1t8hhBL9SomAl_RIK0u0/s1200/N061+Gatekeeper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamX4Lm8EqfZlDtczQ-9NUXTOiUW4eHvJ8zAI-cSFK6Fcfkwt2B3zvrDx0LfvcTZLdN3pukw2oMoNSLa_1QX1mrUI2wtur50jJPTqH3ZdzrNqUUKjoFWEVjYK1t8hhBL9SomAl_RIK0u0/w640-h426/N061+Gatekeeper.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">... and butterflies, this is a Gatekeeper. Definitely not a Meadow Brown as it has two white spots inside the larger black spot on the wings.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BmukQEFNMK6tVFcLZCAnNPKq4jvTcGHkbjNk5xMp1jJOZeYfVgwJoEZMrdwvDR7fII7YzEOK3Ag_EYrRV1ABnEVGqhtdzy53mhOLQJlTSMtn38aDzv5c8AJAbOT965RMyOKOZS41ISk/s1200/N065+Cut+Off+Channel+Sluices.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BmukQEFNMK6tVFcLZCAnNPKq4jvTcGHkbjNk5xMp1jJOZeYfVgwJoEZMrdwvDR7fII7YzEOK3Ag_EYrRV1ABnEVGqhtdzy53mhOLQJlTSMtn38aDzv5c8AJAbOT965RMyOKOZS41ISk/w640-h426/N065+Cut+Off+Channel+Sluices.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not far beyond our lunch stop we crossed over the Cut Off Channel. This is part of the wonderful water engineering centred on Denver. In times of flood, the channel gathers excess water from the rivers Lark, Little Ouse and Wissey and directs it towards the tidal Ouse close to Kings Lynn. The channel can also be used to send water the other way to fill reservoirs in Essex. Most ingenious. In the picture we have just come through one sluice (to the left). If there is the possibility of flooding then the left sluice is closed and the right one which connects with the Cut Off Channel is opened.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gg3jOEFoUrZmOnxHn930N5nAul_D73k0AYJZrc2QVtzEy97ETWD5iNWtre0huaI07GiYwQNimdM4DHt_YHLLt7Ufr84egTTubd5ooFBpPFK6cj2nwa9LkuKz7vVReeBp05Oi1ecelg4/s1800/N069+Flintknapper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gg3jOEFoUrZmOnxHn930N5nAul_D73k0AYJZrc2QVtzEy97ETWD5iNWtre0huaI07GiYwQNimdM4DHt_YHLLt7Ufr84egTTubd5ooFBpPFK6cj2nwa9LkuKz7vVReeBp05Oi1ecelg4/w426-h640/N069+Flintknapper.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Brandon there is a lock on the Little Ouse that would allow boats up to the town of Brandon. I say 'would' because perplexingly it is only about 40-45 feet long and therefore too short to get Leo through. There is however ample room to turn below the lock and a fine, though short EA mooring where we stayed the night on Saturday and enjoyed a visit from Lucy, Becca and grandson Nathan on the Sunday. So, who is the chap in the photo? Brandon is a town just on the edge of the fens in an area known as Breckland which is famous for flint mining. The carving is of a 'flintknapper' who doesn't seem from his expression to enjoy his work. Flints for rifles were produced here for a hundred years or more.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>And so to our final excursion down the Relief Channel:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlKOCc7dCtUkAeK82Ig5MZbSKKgEUGJM_tE_HcwrPORh5tsiMgRjSv62EtbTidLowv89l4zIZw1Ivbr8dYpQA4RV-r51lrE8wajs7kP85zZB6e9k7po_EjcJdTu1Vu3BVvb8y3Ls4QCA/s1200/P011+Relief+Channel+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlKOCc7dCtUkAeK82Ig5MZbSKKgEUGJM_tE_HcwrPORh5tsiMgRjSv62EtbTidLowv89l4zIZw1Ivbr8dYpQA4RV-r51lrE8wajs7kP85zZB6e9k7po_EjcJdTu1Vu3BVvb8y3Ls4QCA/w640-h426/P011+Relief+Channel+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Returning to Denver Sluice and Lock which gives access to the tidal river and then to Salters Lode Lock and the Middle Level, there is a second lock to the right which takes boats down onto the Relief Channel. This is a continuation of the Cut Off Channel and runs alongside the tidal River Ouse to discharge potential flood waters into the tidal river close to Kings Lynn. It is navigable for about </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for nine miles or so to Wiggenhall Bridge. </span>The Relief Lock shown here is about 30m long and falls about 8 or 9 feet down to the Relief Channel.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-23DFIDciNT4DtSOPumyNBJz7kycVpPsRKSUQBw1AuLElbxyevu7qZZ6LIo5djhsRZQm8J2bxrTHjhn6w3CISPgQTJCiE2wNk8UKaegFuA4MmzfF7lG6_gYZagF8kLuJFzAJBJ04BW0/s1200/P012+Cut+Off+Channel+Sluice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-23DFIDciNT4DtSOPumyNBJz7kycVpPsRKSUQBw1AuLElbxyevu7qZZ6LIo5djhsRZQm8J2bxrTHjhn6w3CISPgQTJCiE2wNk8UKaegFuA4MmzfF7lG6_gYZagF8kLuJFzAJBJ04BW0/w640-h426/P012+Cut+Off+Channel+Sluice.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here, we have turned left out of the Relief Channel lock and are looking back to the sluice at the end of the Cut Off Channel. So this is where the flood waters from the Lark,the Little Ouse and the Wissey would come.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaUK1H6w2fhLXxvvx3YpNYCZDy4-BvYO7kMQ0ZPvndxCvNdMvkTLR-u2fv418CsUlmDMxBdvR3t1KcnRle94YMV1iMU9AuuxWsLniMpN0mshlQHF9zSxfK2242alBWLnwC7d22Umvxkc/s1200/P014+A+G+Wright+Sluice+into+Relief+Channel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaUK1H6w2fhLXxvvx3YpNYCZDy4-BvYO7kMQ0ZPvndxCvNdMvkTLR-u2fv418CsUlmDMxBdvR3t1KcnRle94YMV1iMU9AuuxWsLniMpN0mshlQHF9zSxfK2242alBWLnwC7d22Umvxkc/w640-h426/P014+A+G+Wright+Sluice+into+Relief+Channel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soon, on the left is the AG Wright Sluice shown here. This one lets excess water from the River Ouse into the Relief Channel.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuHoBOUFkNF9pT3PkcCTWe0PDg2ieOZAwwJbqcVZKL1VD972Vq6Eqn6sbIkYcO7NPh8s8e1z1MztApx3_nyHGcxAEWU2PBjHwN4ZcU6ZeqU_Issf0Tp9zoOedNFfkUlOHq2i0yn4ta5k/s1200/P016+Relief+Channel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuHoBOUFkNF9pT3PkcCTWe0PDg2ieOZAwwJbqcVZKL1VD972Vq6Eqn6sbIkYcO7NPh8s8e1z1MztApx3_nyHGcxAEWU2PBjHwN4ZcU6ZeqU_Issf0Tp9zoOedNFfkUlOHq2i0yn4ta5k/w640-h426/P016+Relief+Channel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once past that sluice we were out on the Relief Channel itself. This is hugely wide and straight. There are three first class EA mooring pontoons with water down here, the first at Downham Market, the second by a pub called the Heron and the third near the Cock Inn (although this seems to be closed at present). So no shortage of places to go and moor. We stopped for lunch at the Downham Market mooring.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPQi2MYBQzXns7tMQNpZO5_QrqRo3JvrlMJqBNjq_n-JxjwQB2ZdmzvzzC4a-kADD5ppFWYpvQc2F7t7aQ-f7kCC8gwVvgPfHglzsRqvB-sl3YK4ceRNuXe2koDM5LBDXOiIKRkDcPEg/s1200/P022+Moored+at+the+Heron%252C+Stowbridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPQi2MYBQzXns7tMQNpZO5_QrqRo3JvrlMJqBNjq_n-JxjwQB2ZdmzvzzC4a-kADD5ppFWYpvQc2F7t7aQ-f7kCC8gwVvgPfHglzsRqvB-sl3YK4ceRNuXe2koDM5LBDXOiIKRkDcPEg/w640-h426/P022+Moored+at+the+Heron%252C+Stowbridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">... and carried on to spend Thursday night at the mooring for the Heron at Stow Bridge. From here and the other moorings you can walk over to the tidal river running alongside to thank your lucky stars that you are on stationary water! We ate at the Heron which was very good with fine food and well kept Adnams beer. We were the only boat moored here though we had visits from a couple of canoeists and an early morning visit by some swimmers.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasmKF63BQBGw6Zvcur59eJSiBIbyOrJ3EAoWewPwr8LhAvFzBOwmzVpfa_YUA6zk8FLP6YG3irHb5FbBc5zIWrFhPQAZf5u3dH6X5qh1qq8WAtpEdjbRUwDGE2NO3D1SAbIFKe8fto3M/s1200/P023+Dutch+Gable%252C+Stowbridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasmKF63BQBGw6Zvcur59eJSiBIbyOrJ3EAoWewPwr8LhAvFzBOwmzVpfa_YUA6zk8FLP6YG3irHb5FbBc5zIWrFhPQAZf5u3dH6X5qh1qq8WAtpEdjbRUwDGE2NO3D1SAbIFKe8fto3M/w640-h426/P023+Dutch+Gable%252C+Stowbridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This old house with its characteristic Dutch gable was just behind the Heron pub. The Dutch influence here dates from the 17th century when Cornelius Vermuyden first started the engineering changes that led to flood reduction and to draining of the fens.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUJ7KnnWCJFv62qDeFFdnmOPWoek3JUnjK9CwhAGk6IR2HNBFjT6reDkyTqsVNRW0U40SVCfTadczcFXBvUI7PT-qFxto2E6DSy_ILbSDwmhWV8BBjCwqGM0Cw2PPzTR7xRNe6v8dQqA/s1200/P024+Flowers%252C+Downham.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUJ7KnnWCJFv62qDeFFdnmOPWoek3JUnjK9CwhAGk6IR2HNBFjT6reDkyTqsVNRW0U40SVCfTadczcFXBvUI7PT-qFxto2E6DSy_ILbSDwmhWV8BBjCwqGM0Cw2PPzTR7xRNe6v8dQqA/w640-h426/P024+Flowers%252C+Downham.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The morning on Friday was spent beautifying the boat with Helen cleaning and treating the vinyl covers and Ian putting a coat of Polytrol on the paintwork on the starboard side. Polytrol brings back the paint colour and puts a protective layer of hard wax over the paint to stop scratches. With jobs done we cruised back to the Downham Market mooring and walked into town for lunch. There were flowers everywhere including this planted boat at the entrance to town.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5o1ywSPsz3SrEXxXyE9gZabLw308FS3itVYhrcpCfpOLZcFRhNtyiLbMnmNjk265ubuNHXipoceEslvWm0lrP6PKRXfpzILD18SM7C5KDVvmzqcWooIEo8Zp9-jPTv0CSqqZvXQNBvc/s1800/P026+Clock%252C+Downham+Market.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5o1ywSPsz3SrEXxXyE9gZabLw308FS3itVYhrcpCfpOLZcFRhNtyiLbMnmNjk265ubuNHXipoceEslvWm0lrP6PKRXfpzILD18SM7C5KDVvmzqcWooIEo8Zp9-jPTv0CSqqZvXQNBvc/w426-h640/P026+Clock%252C+Downham+Market.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This clock in the middle of town has been restored and looks really good.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rGBXS2kWETWJYU32pi9zS7Loh6L3UfVG6CYQB8W-2yFLyouS39jcpC82vvJRgJw_9xcTh7B6A0WXqr-qDiOnOD-tnAJIW__FvjkYoppmVF0KIWLSy0nrqGzCE7bB1y2NUSd7EfgnM0U/s1200/P027+Flowers+and+sign%252C+Downham.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rGBXS2kWETWJYU32pi9zS7Loh6L3UfVG6CYQB8W-2yFLyouS39jcpC82vvJRgJw_9xcTh7B6A0WXqr-qDiOnOD-tnAJIW__FvjkYoppmVF0KIWLSy0nrqGzCE7bB1y2NUSd7EfgnM0U/w640-h426/P027+Flowers+and+sign%252C+Downham.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are more wonderful flowers and behind is a town sign. The horses on the top of the sign are because Downham used to hold a horse fair which was said to be one of the largest in Europe. St Winnold is pictured in red robes and is credited with bringing the horse fair to Downham. The other side of the sign records the fact that Lord Nelson spent his childhood here.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P-U-7VrFUueYRXrYMkqc07P2aOfxYB_MIDqigqW8LSRfMYUxYoeu4oOvTr1BuK9b5IfdFxqXF_H_PgZ1uFHGFNu5Qujpsa2eBBRleTjDa1yiohP65dvVwKjZ2JgQipjjf0BZrdKduWA/s1200/P028+Return+to+the+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P-U-7VrFUueYRXrYMkqc07P2aOfxYB_MIDqigqW8LSRfMYUxYoeu4oOvTr1BuK9b5IfdFxqXF_H_PgZ1uFHGFNu5Qujpsa2eBBRleTjDa1yiohP65dvVwKjZ2JgQipjjf0BZrdKduWA/w640-h426/P028+Return+to+the+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After lunch at Wetherspoons we returned to Leo and cruised back up the Relief Channel to Denver. Here we are approaching the AG Wright Sluice again, with the lock to the left.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>By way of a change, on Saturday we walked the long way round into Denver village following the rivers Ouse and Wissey and then the Cut Off Channel. But on Sunday morning we shall go through the Denver Lock down the tidal river for just a short way and then through Salters Lode Lock onto the Middle Levels. But more about this another day.<br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-28948687282212559482021-08-11T02:34:00.001-07:002021-08-11T05:52:04.219-07:00Lodes of Fun off the River Cam<p> No, we haven't spelt that heading wrong. On our way back down the River Ouse we have turned off up the River Cam partly to explore three waterways that branch off from the Cam at Upware just a few miles up from its junction with the Ouse at Pope's Corner. These are Reach Lode, Burwell Lode and Wicken Lode and are believed to have been dug originally by the Romans so they may be amongst the oldest human made navigations on the connected waterways system. You may have doubts about taking a longish narrowboats on these narrow weedy waterways but it can be done. Leo is 57 feet long and has a draft of about 2 feet 3 inches or 0.7 metres if you wish to compare.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0rRzcem47A84egmvNA_3XWkJrBMctFzwA7NYuRq_E3DiwfJg_sOT-MqIS43qmx53cGw6GkgCZh1j3dOpZVIXW9Gg-Ra3zT40EDosxcFjEQwl4BsuH-ftPiWZYbaq28Pd4mVCveTs6_Y/s1200/M017+Rhymers+Weir+and+Daylock+boatyard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0rRzcem47A84egmvNA_3XWkJrBMctFzwA7NYuRq_E3DiwfJg_sOT-MqIS43qmx53cGw6GkgCZh1j3dOpZVIXW9Gg-Ra3zT40EDosxcFjEQwl4BsuH-ftPiWZYbaq28Pd4mVCveTs6_Y/w640-h480/M017+Rhymers+Weir+and+Daylock+boatyard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before getting onto the Lodes we want to share another canoe excursion. Coming back down the Ouse we moored on Monday (2nd August) at Hemingford Grey with the intention of exploring the back water which runs parallel to the main river. This back water took us past Hemingford Abbots to two weirs bringing water from the main river. In this photo we have reached one of these weirs and in the background, on the other side of the river, you can see the boat lift and a crane at Daylock Marine which is close to Hartford Marina and one lock above where Leo was moored.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy_B4TsDHia5iWRXifPmRJeQWwRMmWlUJmi1pfYEiHGR6_t_wS5rEwq-hC1TgKeC78Sc2XWs3eN3pJDM2p19c_SS79owWjgoX8s-fr9mdTIVy_OnE5-3Jfx2TgW2obHjjQm6s3C2oGZQ/s1200/M019+Hemingford+Abbots+Church+from+Backwater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy_B4TsDHia5iWRXifPmRJeQWwRMmWlUJmi1pfYEiHGR6_t_wS5rEwq-hC1TgKeC78Sc2XWs3eN3pJDM2p19c_SS79owWjgoX8s-fr9mdTIVy_OnE5-3Jfx2TgW2obHjjQm6s3C2oGZQ/w640-h480/M019+Hemingford+Abbots+Church+from+Backwater.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Hemingford Abbots church seen from the back water.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyNOvsgHKRq9DtsCrA-trNkmRQU6mFCGc3nTcHrEmXQWTztLrsjZ-ClR-7USOCRD3p8U9bEX0CKqsRKeVgCwnGbntN8V3gHu3sUazuOmXrV1QnAtiC8FJouejTC0hfwUsoDtGNfDA1iQ/s1200/M043+Peggy+steam+powered.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyNOvsgHKRq9DtsCrA-trNkmRQU6mFCGc3nTcHrEmXQWTztLrsjZ-ClR-7USOCRD3p8U9bEX0CKqsRKeVgCwnGbntN8V3gHu3sUazuOmXrV1QnAtiC8FJouejTC0hfwUsoDtGNfDA1iQ/w640-h426/M043+Peggy+steam+powered.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We turned right at Pope's Corner onto the River Cam and this little boat came out of the Fish and Duck Marina there and followed us. After a while we decided to let it past us mainly to see what it was all about with its tall blue post. In fact it is steam powered with three buckets of coal in the stern to provide the motive power.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWN3ezWqgiDHVj0OuF0TtrZFrE7ye3cvS9m4sVkW_6ZQ-Y77GSdvuLSyU73W13lSBmxuSlC6c3lCFLyZRMbXP78fIJKN8UqF4vUvoTu3lVXxo9d3nNaPs5ITGrB8FMj9EQiYuBTNVYl8/s1200/M047+Reach+Lode+Junction+signs.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWN3ezWqgiDHVj0OuF0TtrZFrE7ye3cvS9m4sVkW_6ZQ-Y77GSdvuLSyU73W13lSBmxuSlC6c3lCFLyZRMbXP78fIJKN8UqF4vUvoTu3lVXxo9d3nNaPs5ITGrB8FMj9EQiYuBTNVYl8/w640-h426/M047+Reach+Lode+Junction+signs.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So now to the Lodes. A few miles up the River Cam we came to the splendidly named pub - the Five Miles from Anywhere, No Hurry Inn. Just past this is Reach Lode Junction and this is the sign at the junction. We were heading left to Burwell initially. Just past the junction is Reach Lode Lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuPjjzR7wY-qC6KcvHHfrvdn16uBn04U9IehVb9WXDEA2peV62c0QOLBr8uHdOUJarx3FZz52ZKueAoaaP73y9wKzctcrAofaRjf_D4ZcggZai82YM0dpReYsl04yiZA883_JY2oS30U/s1200/M050+Reach+Lode+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1200" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuPjjzR7wY-qC6KcvHHfrvdn16uBn04U9IehVb9WXDEA2peV62c0QOLBr8uHdOUJarx3FZz52ZKueAoaaP73y9wKzctcrAofaRjf_D4ZcggZai82YM0dpReYsl04yiZA883_JY2oS30U/w640-h420/M050+Reach+Lode+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is Leo about to go into the lock which has a guillotine each end. The rise was a mere 6 inches.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89JHKlNBqruku1HtytoyDeZNWyV9i5DUlFAtOIc6KhToyrk84q1k-svjZwuLyZEHvKWGjhKrX0rGL8Fawmg59oz4Lpejmnes088RrV5i9isFtGe83iXU5fSMXYJ5hFXJxebQqh8Z6fyg/s1200/M052+Reach+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89JHKlNBqruku1HtytoyDeZNWyV9i5DUlFAtOIc6KhToyrk84q1k-svjZwuLyZEHvKWGjhKrX0rGL8Fawmg59oz4Lpejmnes088RrV5i9isFtGe83iXU5fSMXYJ5hFXJxebQqh8Z6fyg/w640-h426/M052+Reach+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Above the lock we were in Reach Lode. There are two junctions soon after the lock. The first has a branch left to Wicken Fen, the second has a branch to the right to the village of Reach and the left branch at the second junction leads to the large village of Burwell. As this picture shows the waterways are relatively narrow and full of weed. So why venture up here at all? We think there are two answers to this question. First it is always a challenge to go to remote places on the waterways which few boats visit and secondly, as we will show, each of the three destinations has something interesting to see.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ9hKV55UC9pHAy1y3CtXur7eDgkgPVY2toku_v9rB8PCUcnOglZGwGBSDDMLmz3sJqmS7D9fTPHt_tcYtzDhx4nih_LsePHQQ1zCEo0MLxkadqrsRrM-zE4sOo6ubuEUoU5QvrZSr8M/s1200/M054+Reach+and+Burwell+Lodes+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ9hKV55UC9pHAy1y3CtXur7eDgkgPVY2toku_v9rB8PCUcnOglZGwGBSDDMLmz3sJqmS7D9fTPHt_tcYtzDhx4nih_LsePHQQ1zCEo0MLxkadqrsRrM-zE4sOo6ubuEUoU5QvrZSr8M/w640-h426/M054+Reach+and+Burwell+Lodes+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our aim was first to go to Burwell and Burwell Lode, at over 4 miles, is the longest of the Lodes. Here we are approaching the second junction and turning left to Burwell on a grey, windy day.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V3EQf4QlsLh3tmo4Z10lCrUAnjDlPXTPEwl_VSk-1WCHaPUOk0gXWwSihPYtUsP4STMJ0wQRNGI5gBuMTFTGrQ_r1AWa1VEWIfgyNAbI4U-AFPzLu8DPrgiaCYCsiY1HTixtgkrISQk/s1200/M056+Burwell+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V3EQf4QlsLh3tmo4Z10lCrUAnjDlPXTPEwl_VSk-1WCHaPUOk0gXWwSihPYtUsP4STMJ0wQRNGI5gBuMTFTGrQ_r1AWa1VEWIfgyNAbI4U-AFPzLu8DPrgiaCYCsiY1HTixtgkrISQk/w640-h426/M056+Burwell+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we've said weed is a problem with reeds and lilies closing in from the sides and blanket weed in the middle. We have found with Leo that there is an optimum engine speed at which the weeds mostly get broken up by the prop rather than wrapping round it. All you have to do is find that speed. Here it was about 1600 rpm when we normally cruise at 11 or 1200 rpm. But you still have to reverse periodically to clear things and, occasionally pay a visit down the weed hatch.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm594CnX7_5oF17iqHaBrT-5KAL38is-XVoKZsCbb5fhyphenhyphenOU58JLMrbzjVqT6p5a1X7NS0FLpH6soSxLRK3TlHJih_9kI-jbCtPB78zOD728l5XhZp3DgcZlCEEBUWa6bXXUAfVCTBitWE/s1200/M058+Moored+at+Burwell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm594CnX7_5oF17iqHaBrT-5KAL38is-XVoKZsCbb5fhyphenhyphenOU58JLMrbzjVqT6p5a1X7NS0FLpH6soSxLRK3TlHJih_9kI-jbCtPB78zOD728l5XhZp3DgcZlCEEBUWa6bXXUAfVCTBitWE/w640-h426/M058+Moored+at+Burwell.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because the Lodes are far too narrow to turn there is always a fear that there won't be enough room to turn round. Here is Leo at the end of Burwell Lode on a fine Environment Agency mooring. Behind, you can make out a fork in the Lode which is where we turned. Leo is 57 foot long (17.4m) and we reckon you could turn any boat that can fit through Reach Lode Lock which is about 63 feet long. We turned into the branch to the left and power the stern over to reverse into the right branch. We were told the left branch gets shallow quickly so don't try going up there.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAMcR0f7eZytP3pVtfXMHRjNSFOiLap_DHFuGXsyRKgpxi4Ke_MHSg029kMh6u0a_pyGxrhiO5iAKL665TkomyDVHcvO1yHDmuNZ4qwGXtQ2BRv86qfSCyZH8bg_eBAzyKsh8sIuxqSM/s1800/M059+Burwell+Windmill.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAMcR0f7eZytP3pVtfXMHRjNSFOiLap_DHFuGXsyRKgpxi4Ke_MHSg029kMh6u0a_pyGxrhiO5iAKL665TkomyDVHcvO1yHDmuNZ4qwGXtQ2BRv86qfSCyZH8bg_eBAzyKsh8sIuxqSM/w426-h640/M059+Burwell+Windmill.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Apart from shops and pubs (although the Anchor at the end of the Lode seems to be closed at the moment), Burwell has an excellent museum which is open on Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. Fortunately it was a Thursday. The museum is next to Burwell windmill and is run by volunteers.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTToWrecFlhWksMHZWTHR8MLS5Ey2yLBFwH-jIkuVdCDoWNzQmBqdxAD6Sjn2wy4k5vgTwHMGQAIAJRGliBQImgErjoRE2VLkqddAzbBUebjel0EkGmJRg6BWKBc2f0tYi1ga3YvopTQ/s1200/M060+Burwell+and+District+Bus.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTToWrecFlhWksMHZWTHR8MLS5Ey2yLBFwH-jIkuVdCDoWNzQmBqdxAD6Sjn2wy4k5vgTwHMGQAIAJRGliBQImgErjoRE2VLkqddAzbBUebjel0EkGmJRg6BWKBc2f0tYi1ga3YvopTQ/w640-h426/M060+Burwell+and+District+Bus.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The museum is housed in a number of old buildings, some of which have been moved to this site. This one was full of old vehicles. The bus is one of the last from the local bus company - Burwell and District. Other buildings house agricultural machinery, tableaux of rooms in old houses, research into buildings in the town, an Anderson Shelter, a reconstruction of a Roman Kiln, Bronze Age remains and much more. There is even a refreshment place doing teas.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwf_mVhVSYHEktIU8paUSuffbwhXbuRJfeDU4vc1Ga_QzaOs7ltZGehD-o5dkpCRhRyNpxsQB10yRyza28B2lSNPQt33jkyOsg2YIAuioOzDYSNBxZ_cvPPoBrsedEXtmEUz4Da99XQOU/s1200/M062+Hovercraft%252C+Burwell+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwf_mVhVSYHEktIU8paUSuffbwhXbuRJfeDU4vc1Ga_QzaOs7ltZGehD-o5dkpCRhRyNpxsQB10yRyza28B2lSNPQt33jkyOsg2YIAuioOzDYSNBxZ_cvPPoBrsedEXtmEUz4Da99XQOU/w640-h426/M062+Hovercraft%252C+Burwell+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We left Burwell on Friday going back down Burwell Lode and turning left at the junction into Reach Lode to the village of the same name. We passed this old hovercraft which we remember being there when we last came to Burwell three years ago.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveu4gAHZgdbqw-36_bDR9T-efmED2uVAfxUnkg0fRpEcpwKqjQVNx8BS4vNOc4DymveN1mdMjqI3wi22UJ7elkaz4Qe2BJSYOVrqLO7pWMyVFQcULQUPGYVCeFB7ugfK8Bufs-FhFllI/s1200/M064+Fenland+Ponies+from+Burwell+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveu4gAHZgdbqw-36_bDR9T-efmED2uVAfxUnkg0fRpEcpwKqjQVNx8BS4vNOc4DymveN1mdMjqI3wi22UJ7elkaz4Qe2BJSYOVrqLO7pWMyVFQcULQUPGYVCeFB7ugfK8Bufs-FhFllI/w640-h426/M064+Fenland+Ponies+from+Burwell+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are no high flood banks and so there are quite distant views from these waterways. These are Fenland ponies (we think they are Konik ponies).<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmdsZOJyRUc_T714AZHPJ4GDDV95dQI54A82VpUvWmX7KYLELhlm2ExcTedAK1yjPpRjzFbrRduwhiO3Lj-2Jg6LMwEzQmkRkroiqx1LM2itQr5oFqs0SJJNR-DLd71o0DjpiptLvGJI/s1200/M070+Reach+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmdsZOJyRUc_T714AZHPJ4GDDV95dQI54A82VpUvWmX7KYLELhlm2ExcTedAK1yjPpRjzFbrRduwhiO3Lj-2Jg6LMwEzQmkRkroiqx1LM2itQr5oFqs0SJJNR-DLd71o0DjpiptLvGJI/w640-h426/M070+Reach+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we came in 2018 we didn't take Leo to Reach mainly because we were uncertain of being able to turn at the end. Our guide says that boats up to 13.7m can turn at the end and Leo is 17.4m. Helen had sought some advice from other boaters on Facebook who assured us that longer boats could turn. The chief difficulties with Reach Lode is that it is a lot narrower and more overgrown with reeds than Burwell Lode and the last few hundred yards are pretty shallow (our draft is about 27 inches or 0.7m). In this photo you can see that we are touching the reeds on either side and Ian is standing on our stool so as to see where the water is ahead of the boat.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEzejOZGD_v0xm3fOfLrYakZgsgbg5MfbXlR3z13QqUqo36lqf4op7aaEiHvv0DazFZ76MaXI1EmBDw7T46MHy6845rn8KGdZH8ilyxht9rgxTHU3dEpu_Fb7aHruKMxNEL0io_tmqPA/s1200/M071+Reach+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEzejOZGD_v0xm3fOfLrYakZgsgbg5MfbXlR3z13QqUqo36lqf4op7aaEiHvv0DazFZ76MaXI1EmBDw7T46MHy6845rn8KGdZH8ilyxht9rgxTHU3dEpu_Fb7aHruKMxNEL0io_tmqPA/w640-h426/M071+Reach+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This view ahead of Leo gives a clear idea of just how narrow Reach Lode is. We are 7 feet wide and the gap down the middle here is barely a couple of feet.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLEsEG51BrxcVoJffnzLRHdZzm1mgHnh8IaD-InTNbEi2Mb10KUkv9DZQ7zklbz35jEgfYkELwcvyHoGwNzXegJFwmglzFAo2_0N5PFTVSQIy2f8nUYejNc0-wXLglGqkDtNXW4vRlUI/s1200/M074+Moored+at+Reach.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLEsEG51BrxcVoJffnzLRHdZzm1mgHnh8IaD-InTNbEi2Mb10KUkv9DZQ7zklbz35jEgfYkELwcvyHoGwNzXegJFwmglzFAo2_0N5PFTVSQIy2f8nUYejNc0-wXLglGqkDtNXW4vRlUI/w640-h426/M074+Moored+at+Reach.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the end Leo was ploughing a furrow through the watery mud going very slowly. Beyond two crossing power lines the depth is barely deeper than the boat. Right at the end the Lode divides into two at a fork and it is here you must turn. Again go left with the bow and power the stern round into the right branch. A large weeping willow opposite makes this more difficult but we managed it without having to trim the willow. Reversing into the right branch we found that Leo stopped pretty soon as the rudder dug into the mud. Surprisingly there is a GOBA (Great Ouse Boating Association) mooring here. We could get the bow close to the shore but the stern was a long way off because of the shallow water.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKd4oukReRujVFZaOfSiNSXF6LmTUmVndrOyfioibjnWBOVN_iPi9Oa7sejIeOldhyphenhyphenYqBn8rb8ePNHmTF2AkoE8n1xYJO55qRkSlJV4-xksngQ_dFhYeWHevywL0mzKvFxLmgAf7Q8Ys/s1800/M077+Bull+Cottage+Reach.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKd4oukReRujVFZaOfSiNSXF6LmTUmVndrOyfioibjnWBOVN_iPi9Oa7sejIeOldhyphenhyphenYqBn8rb8ePNHmTF2AkoE8n1xYJO55qRkSlJV4-xksngQ_dFhYeWHevywL0mzKvFxLmgAf7Q8Ys/w426-h640/M077+Bull+Cottage+Reach.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Reach is a small village with a long green where a fair is held every May. This cottage, called Bull Cottage, has two plaques above the door with a bull on each.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VfiFPuhzy8cfEbrDCJteQGMMsI0XSQuZRQtcscsbR_MztPFHOi5nQKwXn39yzWwU50EwHMsbsB2YjLwHx82KA6Q7dsM41Um8wkGlRZl_K__sqvpGO2ex3oC7uQ8UhnWLnXlpq42lDnQ/s1200/M078+Fair+Green%252C+Reach.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VfiFPuhzy8cfEbrDCJteQGMMsI0XSQuZRQtcscsbR_MztPFHOi5nQKwXn39yzWwU50EwHMsbsB2YjLwHx82KA6Q7dsM41Um8wkGlRZl_K__sqvpGO2ex3oC7uQ8UhnWLnXlpq42lDnQ/w640-h426/M078+Fair+Green%252C+Reach.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is looking down from the far end of Fair Green. On the right is a good pub with an appropriate name - Dyke's End - where we ate in the evening. At the top end of the green is the Devil's Dyke, a defensive rampart and ditch of impressive size that was built by the Saxons in the 6th century and stretches for 7 miles. Given the land is so flat, climbing the Dyke gives distant views. We could see Burwell windmill and buildings and cranes in Cambridge. We've read that you can see Ely Cathedral but we couldn't.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty_L85xyaDPuCuoPDUa-434So_HC26UkLBP70QGtjQdUXJdl5-60Q1YrOcIGoVb9n-YUGelzH9p62K0EmQpSHoLV7SeDaOLehBf_OSGINTeX6FRJqHXUY6nhvcRT14rrhngOTJeSOaCY/s1200/M080+Chalkhill+Blue.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1200" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty_L85xyaDPuCuoPDUa-434So_HC26UkLBP70QGtjQdUXJdl5-60Q1YrOcIGoVb9n-YUGelzH9p62K0EmQpSHoLV7SeDaOLehBf_OSGINTeX6FRJqHXUY6nhvcRT14rrhngOTJeSOaCY/w640-h506/M080+Chalkhill+Blue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Dyke is built of chalk from hills to the east and has its particular flora with some rare plants. We think the butterfly in the photo is a Chalkhill Blue which we've never seen before. We'd be interested if any experts can confirm this (Neil that means you!).<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprsVaMtjgQa_kTJdfRoRdJ1VZPMi_rOA0A3WwDhyphenhyphen4zSL0KI5inrVl_J5saHg9dPkTM-PzLxa00vn1l4x4T0uX5SY_kDoixmAimIbcHn4CkMA0NNThXP8R5uZHXWOwHYjYJHdk-Es9N30/s1200/M082+Moored+at+Wicken+Fen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprsVaMtjgQa_kTJdfRoRdJ1VZPMi_rOA0A3WwDhyphenhyphen4zSL0KI5inrVl_J5saHg9dPkTM-PzLxa00vn1l4x4T0uX5SY_kDoixmAimIbcHn4CkMA0NNThXP8R5uZHXWOwHYjYJHdk-Es9N30/w640-h426/M082+Moored+at+Wicken+Fen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday we left Reach to try the third Lode, Wicken Lode which leads to the National Trust's Wicken Fen. Wicken Lode is probably the narrowest and twistiest of the three but as a trip boat goes up and down, it is not as overgrown as Reach Lode. It is about a mile long and, to give you an idea of the difficulty of cruising this, it took us nearly an hour to travel that mile. There is ample room to turn at a fork at the end and here again there is a well kept GOBA mooring where you can see Leo.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKgFKjWO8rRv7c99USSGrBn3qAn1BA4FYvhvtHT_XVjVm-lxt6c858sjt8QlOqee1nds2wLeYjWNP5Fx1oQaO80GfILTUj2Y0wTRQMSNQl-GHI6_RD-J4Am_orxVTPlxmeWPdqbfOuTY/s1200/M084+End+of+Wicken+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKgFKjWO8rRv7c99USSGrBn3qAn1BA4FYvhvtHT_XVjVm-lxt6c858sjt8QlOqee1nds2wLeYjWNP5Fx1oQaO80GfILTUj2Y0wTRQMSNQl-GHI6_RD-J4Am_orxVTPlxmeWPdqbfOuTY/w640-h426/M084+End+of+Wicken+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The sign from the National Trust on the left fork leaves no room for doubt that you have reached the end and there is a very low footbridge on the right fork just beyond the mooring.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifo9KPRwauY1VzihHXO3v4CrBMqTG5u9oNlsLkU_nCaDo0R9L-SM9LQ5A3f9GMk5Cq__LoJq-UosIb1RIZnqifpn5Na-fIhMicHH-Jrb6OmM-JG_PCumcNsQ9jOVDWsBfx2ESKaJRMrg/s1200/m087+Ruddy+Darter.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifo9KPRwauY1VzihHXO3v4CrBMqTG5u9oNlsLkU_nCaDo0R9L-SM9LQ5A3f9GMk5Cq__LoJq-UosIb1RIZnqifpn5Na-fIhMicHH-Jrb6OmM-JG_PCumcNsQ9jOVDWsBfx2ESKaJRMrg/w640-h426/m087+Ruddy+Darter.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday afternoon we walked round Wicken Fen. Unlike the </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">rest of the Fens, s</span>ome of the land has never been drained and we saw loads of butterflies and other insects. We think this dragonfly is a Ruddy Darter. We were impressed by the numerous information boards identifying some of the plants and butterflies to be seen along the way.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCRqVaAyOGq1v7-r7LI4cu471s6YHZdPf171Q4uyIFfvKp3PmIOqvkBBkjYIm8IdZLKYmMF8wIgWYjj_f20tj5fsMEgKWYX1LyBlX7eysNw-SYWb9GglKYJubUYezsLRyGH1W8xwQ0y0/s1200/M088+Greater+Bladderwort%252C+insectivorous.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1200" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCRqVaAyOGq1v7-r7LI4cu471s6YHZdPf171Q4uyIFfvKp3PmIOqvkBBkjYIm8IdZLKYmMF8wIgWYjj_f20tj5fsMEgKWYX1LyBlX7eysNw-SYWb9GglKYJubUYezsLRyGH1W8xwQ0y0/w640-h530/M088+Greater+Bladderwort%252C+insectivorous.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This lovely yellow flower is Greater Bladderwort which is an insectivorous plant. Bladders under the water are kept with negative pressure inside. When investigated by an aquatic insect the bladder opens and sucks the insect inside to be digested. Amazing.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRfF8BM6Xu6QGYfm_X5pZSiphsmNx8aXgWYwqKrt-5DnaZ7D16G0JPdWjGvn3kxlnH6Zi9dwSy4B_A3q6uug8VVu03FOgnub-66rgncbRDHaFyBh7buTwmeLaTMJ8do-KO2CQrkwTByY/s1200/M089+Gatekeeper.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1200" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRfF8BM6Xu6QGYfm_X5pZSiphsmNx8aXgWYwqKrt-5DnaZ7D16G0JPdWjGvn3kxlnH6Zi9dwSy4B_A3q6uug8VVu03FOgnub-66rgncbRDHaFyBh7buTwmeLaTMJ8do-KO2CQrkwTByY/w640-h442/M089+Gatekeeper.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We're pretty confident this butterfly is a Gatekeeper. It looks similar to the Meadow Brown but the black spot on the wing has two white spots within it. The Meadow Browns has only one white spot.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0PsaybGVfa88P9gagpLHXOvNx76Q51yFuCNKmt5Oba0PhmJKaY6MPP9O8zwC7CT77x9Dob6YQ0YgkBrNcmx4W1mV-DFnbGHSHTAkDgX8ZvFTkXOYNHFTBg5FF8BEqfcJhdIsr9m3g3U/s1200/N001+Looking+down+in+water%252C+Wicken+Fen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0PsaybGVfa88P9gagpLHXOvNx76Q51yFuCNKmt5Oba0PhmJKaY6MPP9O8zwC7CT77x9Dob6YQ0YgkBrNcmx4W1mV-DFnbGHSHTAkDgX8ZvFTkXOYNHFTBg5FF8BEqfcJhdIsr9m3g3U/w640-h426/N001+Looking+down+in+water%252C+Wicken+Fen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The water where we were moored at Wicken Fen was exceptionally clear. This photo was taken looking down into the water. Near the top of the picture is a fast moving and a bit blurry fish.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpytrD5hZt35-soiJFjEaeTw350-iwQNsV3Vvtmd4STqaF0DGmprHTQaZOwWtI3oMhV7wXLZyiBtbFP2eXohMjxiM2aAsqwLGRxZvA8uY1WQ10F0PwmFn1GN7c_YFT2qNDnoYhAqrJW8c/s1200/N004+Leaving+Wicken+Fen.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpytrD5hZt35-soiJFjEaeTw350-iwQNsV3Vvtmd4STqaF0DGmprHTQaZOwWtI3oMhV7wXLZyiBtbFP2eXohMjxiM2aAsqwLGRxZvA8uY1WQ10F0PwmFn1GN7c_YFT2qNDnoYhAqrJW8c/w640-h426/N004+Leaving+Wicken+Fen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This picture taken as we were going back along Wicken Lode on Sunday (8th August) is from inside the saloon on Leo looking forward. Notice the narrow channel in front of the boat and the fact that the tub of geraniums is not on the roof where it normally lives. We found that the plants on the roof made it impossible to see the channel ahead so they had to come down.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplLIT0z9p2H_sbfmortr19M_vZ6e_9EJZ_JxcaT7OIXm2YJIuNf1tEwk1dFmAtr-vPZWsO2CgkttZf7Mk412cbu5HsXYBRw00cIRUb4A6EhyphenhyphenzB8wvucnvnWNEQxpl_SSQkmnx00EiXjs/s1200/N005+Wicken+Lode.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplLIT0z9p2H_sbfmortr19M_vZ6e_9EJZ_JxcaT7OIXm2YJIuNf1tEwk1dFmAtr-vPZWsO2CgkttZf7Mk412cbu5HsXYBRw00cIRUb4A6EhyphenhyphenzB8wvucnvnWNEQxpl_SSQkmnx00EiXjs/w640-h426/N005+Wicken+Lode.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here again is an idea of the narrowness of the channel. What do you do if you meet someone coming the other way? We don't know as fortunately we didn't. Not many boats come up here. We did take the precaution coming into to Wicken of phoning the National Trust office to check that we wouldn't conflict with the trip boat. That was probably a good idea.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAB4CoDFXW18qEyHAsxIQ0y0yVLWwr1HE2RL7gJ3cNsmqsGV7_daONy_oVwAloPz8OvkkR9QyFINvAE6j7iUoeRBD580eHdnOeq_Jh-BF3b_gNvi2xESjnIQ78jAA2Rg9Kz9LTfcTTow/s1200/N011+Coming+to+Wicken+Lode+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAB4CoDFXW18qEyHAsxIQ0y0yVLWwr1HE2RL7gJ3cNsmqsGV7_daONy_oVwAloPz8OvkkR9QyFINvAE6j7iUoeRBD580eHdnOeq_Jh-BF3b_gNvi2xESjnIQ78jAA2Rg9Kz9LTfcTTow/w640-h426/N011+Coming+to+Wicken+Lode+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are nearly back to Reach Lode. The bridge crosses Wicken Lode at the junction. From here it was a right turn and less than half a mile back to Reach Lock and access to the River Cam.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>So an expedition onto the Lodes has kept us busy for three days but we are now back on slightly more popular waterways as we cruise up the River Cam into Cambridge. You have to buy an extra licence for this but more about that another time.<br /><p><br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-51455143950254419922021-07-31T08:15:00.000-07:002021-07-31T08:15:38.133-07:00To Bedford and beyond!<p> This posting on our blog takes readers from St Neots up to the navigable limit of the River Great Ouse and even beyond that as you will see. As I prepare this posting we have turned round and are now heading downstream back towards Ely and Denver.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmSERwnHa_X-4lLFs-8qlUibSHyfSBGcLWpmA_UeBpK3ipbH0mZrelOxofS1QmFAQx41stSH6hy1lRIccDepMuXLpwi2mOQpFz3jPWiMazY8U5DI1NvioodBWHAfBxNQAN_6XFUGMJZ4/s1200/L028+Riverside+Mill%252C+Eaton+Socon.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmSERwnHa_X-4lLFs-8qlUibSHyfSBGcLWpmA_UeBpK3ipbH0mZrelOxofS1QmFAQx41stSH6hy1lRIccDepMuXLpwi2mOQpFz3jPWiMazY8U5DI1NvioodBWHAfBxNQAN_6XFUGMJZ4/w640-h426/L028+Riverside+Mill%252C+Eaton+Socon.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday (26 July) we set off </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">upstream </span>from St Neots to Eaton Socon (apparently pronounced 'Soakon'). This view from close to the lower lock landing shows the Rivermill which now has a restaurant.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E6h3YkhPi0bVWnmQuNVsrNx0UMwC_lb8hf38s0h0WBj25fGcwyoDAfZBT7W2RHw8nMJadHArggDYoRyC-yHakfYn78U4554kFlBeWAC-3Rj_YC8yrOtU-RzDTVfj59LnFQp99HY0XrI/s1200/L029+Two+A1+Bridges.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E6h3YkhPi0bVWnmQuNVsrNx0UMwC_lb8hf38s0h0WBj25fGcwyoDAfZBT7W2RHw8nMJadHArggDYoRyC-yHakfYn78U4554kFlBeWAC-3Rj_YC8yrOtU-RzDTVfj59LnFQp99HY0XrI/w640-h426/L029+Two+A1+Bridges.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Tempsford we passed under the A1. The 2 carriageways cross on different bridges: we are passing under the new south bound carriageway and you can see </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the older one bridge carrying north bound traffic </span>in the distance. At one time there was no bridge, only a ferry. Imagine the congestion if that was still the case!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiJCYKbholEWHiHY2D4393Ptygdnbcr2G9xwrCGz3YbvtFRDctQ1q7RX8up05AKCkM487K07_CflmvRYDaQslGacv7aFf1uKnHzXslxhykrHsVaOfj_JSgWaHKyvfq68ak3xxV07uVa8/s1200/L030+River+Ivel+to+left+below+Roxton+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiJCYKbholEWHiHY2D4393Ptygdnbcr2G9xwrCGz3YbvtFRDctQ1q7RX8up05AKCkM487K07_CflmvRYDaQslGacv7aFf1uKnHzXslxhykrHsVaOfj_JSgWaHKyvfq68ak3xxV07uVa8/w640-h426/L030+River+Ivel+to+left+below+Roxton+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Below Roxton Lock we passed the confluence of the River Ivel (on the left) with the Ouse. The Ivel can be navigated by small boats for some distance. But it is not one for narrowboats.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT35of9O4UHBAcywlHjQzdo-cP3qzV4lX45gthzoY6MVWM4cb5vKcrIRtiLQLILAGjr2wRUZG94XJyL2kcr2CT-ukuxp_eYDqBgQn5GI21TTCdJtDOLX8xeZ8F9ZCxtaTnDeN86M0IWY/s1200/L033+Mending+footbridge%252C+Great+Barford+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT35of9O4UHBAcywlHjQzdo-cP3qzV4lX45gthzoY6MVWM4cb5vKcrIRtiLQLILAGjr2wRUZG94XJyL2kcr2CT-ukuxp_eYDqBgQn5GI21TTCdJtDOLX8xeZ8F9ZCxtaTnDeN86M0IWY/w640-h426/L033+Mending+footbridge%252C+Great+Barford+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Roxton Lock the bridge over the weir and lock was being rebuilt. It carries a public footpath which must be closed at the moment.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kR9OIxKnGowwiuyIjmk67DD8wQm2TJVRszo4Ju180s_IGPnveXCLApWrl3Q0nwR7_D2T706P9YFC7xPZyP1JjhSTUhO_V82B3ocM21JZFsRFMYL48gc7SLneufHl4gDnW23QeylxgMA/s1200/L035+Moored+at+Great+Barford.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kR9OIxKnGowwiuyIjmk67DD8wQm2TJVRszo4Ju180s_IGPnveXCLApWrl3Q0nwR7_D2T706P9YFC7xPZyP1JjhSTUhO_V82B3ocM21JZFsRFMYL48gc7SLneufHl4gDnW23QeylxgMA/w640-h426/L035+Moored+at+Great+Barford.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Great Barford, where we moored on Monday night is a great source of boating and swimming fun. This picture was taken from the road bridge and Leo is to the left with lots of swimmers and paddle boarders in the river. There is a scout camp too and scouts in canoes appeared later. Quite a noisy place on a warm afternoon especially when the braver swimmers started jumping in from the bridge . The Anchor pub is close to the mooring and we had lunch there and later walked upstream to an old lock where you can also moor on the old lock island.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCqfLWQwCFQRe71CNfcuedW9IwBNKkPLQgkok-jEVhh3Vlax40AYaPhwegWa1qk4wQtpHKUYJU9OR1qZRaOauLBP1y8kWOaE7WThwzZt-qlECdHourDLDjhmB_L-YZ4EGjwPLFAp4oH8/s1200/L038+Great+Barford+Bridge%252C+Upstream+side.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCqfLWQwCFQRe71CNfcuedW9IwBNKkPLQgkok-jEVhh3Vlax40AYaPhwegWa1qk4wQtpHKUYJU9OR1qZRaOauLBP1y8kWOaE7WThwzZt-qlECdHourDLDjhmB_L-YZ4EGjwPLFAp4oH8/w640-h426/L038+Great+Barford+Bridge%252C+Upstream+side.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Great Barford has a fine looking many arched bridge over the river. The downstream side shows a stone built bridge and the upstream side seen here has a brick finish as the bridge was widened in brick. It can be tricky steering through the arches if the river is running fast but it is fairly simple at present.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs_j6F6lgpfxShobtwDguoIspcfVsOyg1MrKnWRNVlkqcTne0ahuTvuhJ8Y61nap2LD2p4vj0u-FhR_7nuW_54wxR_GdSB_HrOj-FMye_DcWv9A3XUnrcg15BrZLWW7oGKKeKqjWIiQ4/s1200/L042+Castle+Mills+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs_j6F6lgpfxShobtwDguoIspcfVsOyg1MrKnWRNVlkqcTne0ahuTvuhJ8Y61nap2LD2p4vj0u-FhR_7nuW_54wxR_GdSB_HrOj-FMye_DcWv9A3XUnrcg15BrZLWW7oGKKeKqjWIiQ4/w640-h426/L042+Castle+Mills+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday Ian spent some time changing the engine oil as well as the oil and fuel filters before we set off later than usual heading upstream towards Bedford. The picture is of Castle Mill Lock which we reckon must be the deepest on the river at about 10 feet. Even when the lock is full there is quite a height of wall above the boat. When empty it feels very large and cavernous. The lock fills and empties through the side wall from and into the weir stream. Filling the lock held the boat gently against the offside wall. It's all rather neat.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmHBin76Lb0hjYX2xTka0abkNiTB86KzPzxjjkF8OGHEmpck2uL5AAa92gf6WHg_XpXc0YlWlFetLDdjQS5m8fCZ7uQABaFxT3D11dQhTv7yCjWLhuArYfJp2VvGiGbuZf-lOs3NgApY/s1200/L051+Bedford+Town+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmHBin76Lb0hjYX2xTka0abkNiTB86KzPzxjjkF8OGHEmpck2uL5AAa92gf6WHg_XpXc0YlWlFetLDdjQS5m8fCZ7uQABaFxT3D11dQhTv7yCjWLhuArYfJp2VvGiGbuZf-lOs3NgApY/w640-h426/L051+Bedford+Town+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next came Cardington Lock. Don't go looking here for the elsan emptying place shown on the GOBA (Great Ouse Boating Association) website - it is decrepit and unusable. Above Cardington we stopped at the Fenlake GOBA mooring on the outskirts of Bedford, chiefly because we were hungry and needed our lunch. In the afternoon we explored the area which was not very inspiring. The huge pyramid nearby was the Oasis swimming pool which had been in the middle of a large moat. Sadly it all looked a bit unloved with the moat empty and tiles coming off. What was better was the network of footpaths and cycleways around here with many footbridges across the river. This photo was taken on Wednesday morning as we came right into Bedford. The waterfront here is lovely with an upper and a lower river running parallel and joined by Bedford Lock. Here we are on the upper river turned westward to pass under the Town Bridge to reach moorings on the north bank round the back of an island at Sovereign's Quay where there is a water point. There are more moorings on the south side of the upper river but, apart from one other narrowboat Ella, we saw only rowing boats from the two clubs here and a few canoes and paddleboards.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZlJAllRzqyM9GiQ61dLRHoG68VlUmxd3Oo8lQuOyt4dSQ_qlpQWpjNIGW-RjBYpwb5Qo50tOUpFR4PBKMnPadtl_MfEZrQ_NwGbGOSXbdvOgTTlUZAuo-D7O4zE1cAl6sQTgnaW7j7w/s1200/L052+Bedford+Town+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZlJAllRzqyM9GiQ61dLRHoG68VlUmxd3Oo8lQuOyt4dSQ_qlpQWpjNIGW-RjBYpwb5Qo50tOUpFR4PBKMnPadtl_MfEZrQ_NwGbGOSXbdvOgTTlUZAuo-D7O4zE1cAl6sQTgnaW7j7w/w640-h426/L052+Bedford+Town+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are going under Town Bridge. There are other low bridges on the approach to Bedford and this may be one reason why few boats seem to reach here.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMKqW7M-86hnt4bYgYl-ryglMLYtaQyuoAcq1x3EyaCj8epCgU3Js4QiDvPxs_oEGQTSf8TOicfAZcVMHCpTP4WPyZBWaH-HMRiu3xO4EigGRF-eQdXKHb1tC5n2NElqhvbn_cyL5KCk/s1200/L055+Kempston+Mill+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMKqW7M-86hnt4bYgYl-ryglMLYtaQyuoAcq1x3EyaCj8epCgU3Js4QiDvPxs_oEGQTSf8TOicfAZcVMHCpTP4WPyZBWaH-HMRiu3xO4EigGRF-eQdXKHb1tC5n2NElqhvbn_cyL5KCk/w640-h426/L055+Kempston+Mill+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our two days in Bedford were largely taken up with travelling to the navigable limit at Kempston, on Wednesday on foot and on Thursday by canoe. The bridge shown here is at Kempston which is about two and a half miles upstream from the centre of Bedford. It will be around here where the canal proposed to link Bedford with the Grand Union at Milton Keynes is intended to meet the Great Ouse. The bridge itself is supposed to be closed but people have found ways round the barriers so we copied them in order to return down the other side of the river.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-hRlQPNt7wrDTd1hHUWVJY9_Gx31s_nPV1qiR_6msURMHgY5hWYjcHexa9-L2DWkYZ3siswq788a6ruZrw6Ny6Gl9b3Y1R5yxNRy-ZyMsWUwq1AbjcEGYk8oJNEHKtRaVg3_CiLx0Gw/s1200/L056+Speckled+Wood+Butterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1200" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-hRlQPNt7wrDTd1hHUWVJY9_Gx31s_nPV1qiR_6msURMHgY5hWYjcHexa9-L2DWkYZ3siswq788a6ruZrw6Ny6Gl9b3Y1R5yxNRy-ZyMsWUwq1AbjcEGYk8oJNEHKtRaVg3_CiLx0Gw/w640-h494/L056+Speckled+Wood+Butterfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On our way back on foot on Wednesday we decided to play our part in the Big Butterfly Count as there were a lot of wild flowers and the sun was shining. As well as more common species including 14 small whites, we spotted this speckled wood butterfly.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_cQKM4aytDSs8z7Gw5n8Dm_B-USIvIIAizBhwTuFF702_L6CxENNxuUb7F_NLOCXEGbt9v0Lyo0Y2PwOJghip2eVpbWyVgOqGK-BBib93XDr-UpyWft6aIXsrvduvJQd9Ds4DqnVayQ/s1200/L058+Upper+River+and+rain+coming.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_cQKM4aytDSs8z7Gw5n8Dm_B-USIvIIAizBhwTuFF702_L6CxENNxuUb7F_NLOCXEGbt9v0Lyo0Y2PwOJghip2eVpbWyVgOqGK-BBib93XDr-UpyWft6aIXsrvduvJQd9Ds4DqnVayQ/w640-h426/L058+Upper+River+and+rain+coming.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having returned to Bedford we walked along by the upper river and had lunch at the Longholme cafe by a lake and then walked back into town. There were colourful gardens by the river but black clouds heading our way. Later the shower caught us and the rain came down hard so we sheltered under some large trees.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iJFrrggTYmkt71MGb-xvu5CeMMDI_n1TNemNtLAm8wvMDV_i0_VVO2qQUML5yd_aJ0dHfoUWSMtImEtMyysmvwf4Rn18UJuLpk0Vb56lk1XdMeZLwEaPCTr8fqaYG8JuzQRTrzrRfSs/s1200/L061+Mosaic+from+close+to.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iJFrrggTYmkt71MGb-xvu5CeMMDI_n1TNemNtLAm8wvMDV_i0_VVO2qQUML5yd_aJ0dHfoUWSMtImEtMyysmvwf4Rn18UJuLpk0Vb56lk1XdMeZLwEaPCTr8fqaYG8JuzQRTrzrRfSs/w640-h426/L061+Mosaic+from+close+to.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The castle mound looks down on this huge mosaic showing events from the town's history and a basic street plan.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacGnzrD2WlXmn_GS7c391E_feFp6iB4v2WygwvCrqG_cDjp5A6-mtFSv964ryLK0ZW2oTDKAG6fvC2RpPCA-R3pjQynBVsFip31WI8WjQtm98bMVJqG14pFC_BlxeMGllOnmxFNM0HSU/s1200/L063+Shire+Hall.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacGnzrD2WlXmn_GS7c391E_feFp6iB4v2WygwvCrqG_cDjp5A6-mtFSv964ryLK0ZW2oTDKAG6fvC2RpPCA-R3pjQynBVsFip31WI8WjQtm98bMVJqG14pFC_BlxeMGllOnmxFNM0HSU/w640-h426/L063+Shire+Hall.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Shire Hall built as a court building in the late 19th century and still used as magistrates courts today.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnFbZQL5We-Phj-guqY6zPIKWJCpjveVRicVpVpv1MFlhyphenhyphenX15Fflyih_kdwDXmC_cAYJmk-7TpQWYasPlVd6LQl5r7-l2UW2nzsLbqL9VGq9QU0kXXLOyRqsjFBYU6t4wb0AplqoPL3M/s1200/L065+Odd+Rainbow%252C+Bedford.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnFbZQL5We-Phj-guqY6zPIKWJCpjveVRicVpVpv1MFlhyphenhyphenX15Fflyih_kdwDXmC_cAYJmk-7TpQWYasPlVd6LQl5r7-l2UW2nzsLbqL9VGq9QU0kXXLOyRqsjFBYU6t4wb0AplqoPL3M/w640-h480/L065+Odd+Rainbow%252C+Bedford.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Towards the end of the afternoon we had thunderstorms and some good rainbows. This strange truncated rainbow is above the Shire Hall and river bridges.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-sl4uUa8wFYOylxGOi0hk31ii1C-Pew43IL4GUiSrLuIBr-Agjh_1rkPZ1xkjEISPwSOEqpAJT0YnJYMZxZB7y6DWS9Wt_Olbh43YuiIoHbn5OcP3brw3cNMZp51j6_30zdONqDPEdQ/s1200/L066+Canoe+to+Kempston.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-sl4uUa8wFYOylxGOi0hk31ii1C-Pew43IL4GUiSrLuIBr-Agjh_1rkPZ1xkjEISPwSOEqpAJT0YnJYMZxZB7y6DWS9Wt_Olbh43YuiIoHbn5OcP3brw3cNMZp51j6_30zdONqDPEdQ/w640-h480/L066+Canoe+to+Kempston.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday morning it was a bit windy but we blew up our inflatable canoe and set out to paddle up to Kempston. It was a much nicer day and we were sheltered from the wind for most of the way.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifC8BVjkj4tvhOOa8NC_ooJnnJ9UCOdRaP9njYrurH2-V4XWzCdAbHOV_nxnkMVeUcLNPYd0_zO0FU2DfH2OtLTl6V59ps7odA_CxyF-vIVT1gnM0R0zBcvYJQyMk6ruGZBPC6rkbD4Ms/s1200/L068+End+of+Navigation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifC8BVjkj4tvhOOa8NC_ooJnnJ9UCOdRaP9njYrurH2-V4XWzCdAbHOV_nxnkMVeUcLNPYd0_zO0FU2DfH2OtLTl6V59ps7odA_CxyF-vIVT1gnM0R0zBcvYJQyMk6ruGZBPC6rkbD4Ms/w640-h480/L068+End+of+Navigation.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The notice on the bridge at Kempston marks the end of the Environment Agency Navigation. Could you get a narrowboat up here? We are told that some parts are shallow and it would be hard to find somewhere wide enough to turn round. The water is not clear so it was difficult to check the depth but Helen dipped a paddle in from time to time and it was deep enough for Leo every time she tried it. Some summers we are told the river is much lower than it is at present. The John Bunyan trip boat comes up here somewhere but we're not sure where it turns round. The two rail bridges coming out of town are very low (about 6 feet) too. So perhaps better for canoes until it is dredged properly.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqFNiS9mQZvLFIZXHZXY3c2853o__nl0mkjm2CEh8bgog1YWIEsIyW8PhkVrGXbax82FOde-1CUKDO33SbLoo_hIKF1-sxic497d6MmW9LTlcD9Qq_uy2PTDbYN5fVIR5gqQJXuMewTk/s1200/L069+Kempston+Mill+rebuilt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqFNiS9mQZvLFIZXHZXY3c2853o__nl0mkjm2CEh8bgog1YWIEsIyW8PhkVrGXbax82FOde-1CUKDO33SbLoo_hIKF1-sxic497d6MmW9LTlcD9Qq_uy2PTDbYN5fVIR5gqQJXuMewTk/w640-h426/L069+Kempston+Mill+rebuilt.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For a canoe there is no problem going under the bridge at Kempston so we did. Soon we passed Kempston Mill which looks as if it has been rebuilt as modern flats but still retains a look of an old mill with the mill pond below it.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXnXzyFRsYNmNdH_DWkw75wpNLBDub-uGH1vJ5ezKV0ICSvKZlsdL4k4UBB20mhO7GL4PJjvUK7ev_24tlztKAicql6A4LQe2d6AZ5vPukNiMBxPZWOYQ7V7AE4Qh7zvqOIuAygMG0kA/s1200/L070+Beyond+Nav+Limit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1200" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXnXzyFRsYNmNdH_DWkw75wpNLBDub-uGH1vJ5ezKV0ICSvKZlsdL4k4UBB20mhO7GL4PJjvUK7ev_24tlztKAicql6A4LQe2d6AZ5vPukNiMBxPZWOYQ7V7AE4Qh7zvqOIuAygMG0kA/w640-h424/L070+Beyond+Nav+Limit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Both above and below Kempston the river is attractive.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zic4Rs_qxSWM1jn8Iu9muYyRsNuqUgbTwkPOW14K9MdfxjSmcw2cU_bf7baNITnanioQRpZ50zYg5mNV165MKQ3WAWtm7QYCuKT4m-OLQ6gwSS0h4XmhkrARlHIFahRCL6k9FzGkm_o/s1200/L071+Kempston+Weir.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zic4Rs_qxSWM1jn8Iu9muYyRsNuqUgbTwkPOW14K9MdfxjSmcw2cU_bf7baNITnanioQRpZ50zYg5mNV165MKQ3WAWtm7QYCuKT4m-OLQ6gwSS0h4XmhkrARlHIFahRCL6k9FzGkm_o/w640-h454/L071+Kempston+Weir.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After another half mile or so our way was barred by a small weir which you can see in the background here behind the swimmers. So it was time to turn around and go with the flow back to Bedford. On Thursday afternoon we visited the Higgins Museum and Art Gallery which was staging a special exhibition about airships. They were built at the nearby Cardington airfield from 1915, including the ill-fated R101 which crashed in 1930 and brought work on airships to an end. A curious arty film show with only a tenuous link to airships did not appeal to us though we did like the exhibition </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">about people involved in the work and also the </span>paintings of the riverfront at Bedford and there was loads more to see in the regular galleries </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-WNRh1deMmGK62lzvOS1jLDNNfTnsQfOuf7IE5laG80G5zB-HqHCiISkCvpptsy-eCYlt_EQhv2LUSoF3k8XV-OV4tkSMla8szNv-__i7n7VXUp4Veq-F-17Fc1mohNM2i8h-a4avxU/s1200/L075+Bedford+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-WNRh1deMmGK62lzvOS1jLDNNfTnsQfOuf7IE5laG80G5zB-HqHCiISkCvpptsy-eCYlt_EQhv2LUSoF3k8XV-OV4tkSMla8szNv-__i7n7VXUp4Veq-F-17Fc1mohNM2i8h-a4avxU/w640-h426/L075+Bedford+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Friday (30th July) we left Bedford and returned to Great Barford. This photo was taken in Bedford Lock going down from the upper to the lower river. The silver wheel to the right of Leo is the last wheel from the manual lock guillotines on the Great Ouse. This lock was the last to be converted to electrical operation in 2012. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>So that brings us to the end of the navigable river and we are now heading downstream repeating our outward course, though we will be trying to visit the places we missed on our way up the river. We have also reserved some extra explorations for Leo, so watch this space.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-28598408731254505622021-07-25T11:23:00.000-07:002021-07-25T11:23:33.690-07:00Further up the Great Ouse<p> We are now moored at St Neots and it is time to bring you up to date with our wanderings up the Great Ouse, starting with a day by the seaside!<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOlRSJXk12lKoHbeuClhak1LlQA5q_Qyzdzm_xAMfPFoBpgNKZjNE-d5OdH0grWz22NoMW0TNRp-CCIlvcF0EA_TUA8z2eJwYsz1oMbhQcPiHI9J6qCBYa44gnnShYqv8Tnx6OU-hWm8/s1200/001+Boston+Stump+from+Hunstanton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1200" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOlRSJXk12lKoHbeuClhak1LlQA5q_Qyzdzm_xAMfPFoBpgNKZjNE-d5OdH0grWz22NoMW0TNRp-CCIlvcF0EA_TUA8z2eJwYsz1oMbhQcPiHI9J6qCBYa44gnnShYqv8Tnx6OU-hWm8/w640-h424/001+Boston+Stump+from+Hunstanton.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last Saturday (17th July) </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">we left Leo</span> in Ely and took the train to King's Lynn and then a bus to Hunstanton to see the Wash. Two years ago we crossed the Wash on Leo from Wisbech to Boston. Here you can just see the church tower of St Botolph's (known as the Stump) at Boston through the haze across the Wash from Hunstanton.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s3EEpDlAEQwFEMyyshDI3nrja5GY-cZgzWr8VzL7jhbQ7T80wfbvmsgYlssi1U2rwsa5Yj9qm2LNREGBCltCGu25-nE1iDrVNpSE_t3PlqPOtAZaT_KYf99xTbCJKKaPu54-7hhtq2I/s1200/009+Stripy+Cliffs.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6s3EEpDlAEQwFEMyyshDI3nrja5GY-cZgzWr8VzL7jhbQ7T80wfbvmsgYlssi1U2rwsa5Yj9qm2LNREGBCltCGu25-nE1iDrVNpSE_t3PlqPOtAZaT_KYf99xTbCJKKaPu54-7hhtq2I/w640-h360/009+Stripy+Cliffs.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The cliffs at Hunstanton are famous for being stripy. The white top layer is chalk, the one below is a rare iron tinted limestone and there is a lower browner layer, difficult to see in the photo, of carr stone.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-6B7TBbjG4zTYb7Zb4IO8OxtYjqXEy2XKjX0WpVpcXccq99cVoez2uCcV5TIQmqqpk1MPo01lb9IMqIcIjPXuc6gebyrj5CKFkDD_MgZ3vi_gZ4UR3SV8iCBT6snUHtzdb7RbUYROJ4/s1200/011+Mirage+across+the+Wash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-6B7TBbjG4zTYb7Zb4IO8OxtYjqXEy2XKjX0WpVpcXccq99cVoez2uCcV5TIQmqqpk1MPo01lb9IMqIcIjPXuc6gebyrj5CKFkDD_MgZ3vi_gZ4UR3SV8iCBT6snUHtzdb7RbUYROJ4/w640-h360/011+Mirage+across+the+Wash.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking south we saw some very strange mirages. Here I think we are looking at trees on the south coast of the Wash seen through a curious heat inversion - it was a very hot day.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlBWGZm_K0ej711L-fOw2qISN0WCNlrAhy-8fPp-y8dqKVadeGprYQMIP5TgCJ_xPYYEqTKqi4GVuSk4MZKbogkePI8ZQvhrcaDOmN-M-SLkwptr-DhnVi2urWY3Cd-zONrVpOQfTUp4/s1200/012+Purfleet+Quay%252C+King%2527s+Lynn+and+Mr+Vancouver.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlBWGZm_K0ej711L-fOw2qISN0WCNlrAhy-8fPp-y8dqKVadeGprYQMIP5TgCJ_xPYYEqTKqi4GVuSk4MZKbogkePI8ZQvhrcaDOmN-M-SLkwptr-DhnVi2urWY3Cd-zONrVpOQfTUp4/w640-h360/012+Purfleet+Quay%252C+King%2527s+Lynn+and+Mr+Vancouver.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The crowds in Hunstanton put us off staying for too long so we had a walk along the cliff tops stopping for crab salad baguettes and then caught the bus back to King's Lynn. We had time for a walk round the medieval part of the port before catching our train. Here we are at Purfleet Quay with the Custom House in the background. The statue is to an 18th century chap called George Vancouver who gave his name to the city in Canada.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDpHtKWsz0F-wv1b2S_MvViTlU07G0aIzuZ10CmKmWVJgPgXIZ2tMy7JeOI1gcvBm6_ZHzRU9-mg-xCWwLFgFmmQA_9HRteM1IGCDLYPHaBXuarAtv7TrVqnWyB5KCMmXBSbE2hKSnu4/s1200/015+Riverfront%252C+King%2527s+Lynn.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDpHtKWsz0F-wv1b2S_MvViTlU07G0aIzuZ10CmKmWVJgPgXIZ2tMy7JeOI1gcvBm6_ZHzRU9-mg-xCWwLFgFmmQA_9HRteM1IGCDLYPHaBXuarAtv7TrVqnWyB5KCMmXBSbE2hKSnu4/w640-h360/015+Riverfront%252C+King%2527s+Lynn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the tidal river Ouse you can see the floating pontoon which is where we would moor Leo if we came down the tidal river from Denver and Salter's Lode about 16 miles away. While we have no such plans this year, we have met a narrowboat that is planning to do just that and then cross the Wash - good luck Girl Ia.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZpPl_szwRtnJ7KP47mfjfGAgpDXsX5y2BE07juFAOVaJ548mrllE3Z4xOuY-RIGZLAOyx7CNu7E6PSgbxxEut6G_XjF1kILiIY8i0y9sqyDQH9rCojF2UMnvk2njflCG3KXIxMl4b28/s1200/K036+Coming+through+Ely.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZpPl_szwRtnJ7KP47mfjfGAgpDXsX5y2BE07juFAOVaJ548mrllE3Z4xOuY-RIGZLAOyx7CNu7E6PSgbxxEut6G_XjF1kILiIY8i0y9sqyDQH9rCojF2UMnvk2njflCG3KXIxMl4b28/w640-h360/K036+Coming+through+Ely.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Sunday after doing some shopping and visiting the services, we headed off up river<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkctf5sljJhUWQUe0zwEKcBzO3a4oZq5zsXcDiOAJkoYs87vHlD3zuqRETE4Rs1r7iaaponJqBrBNTuCzm3isKuQO3x6YxyZrt5TUyD1HRa8c5EWvt3gAO-flDUo6rekmwj13-W02w8Qk/s1200/K039+Pope%2527s+Corner.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkctf5sljJhUWQUe0zwEKcBzO3a4oZq5zsXcDiOAJkoYs87vHlD3zuqRETE4Rs1r7iaaponJqBrBNTuCzm3isKuQO3x6YxyZrt5TUyD1HRa8c5EWvt3gAO-flDUo6rekmwj13-W02w8Qk/w640-h336/K039+Pope%2527s+Corner.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">About three and a half miles up river we came to Pope's Corner. The River Cam from Cambridge joins here and is to the left while the Old West River goes right which was our route. There is a marina here, hence all the moored boats.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5wU1x7TN-zxV4_wrqVnUtk7a7Hzht0g0f8UpV48CHvhsa7J4A5yMmmrpQtf4V3RAKKuneTzgevbBRwb3By0Y4bkTiXSfYhI9X_hWF3UzD_GipuzLnRLGhimzpwZ8JuuovAVw0fJjkQ4/s1200/K042+Wild+Mooring+with+shade.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5wU1x7TN-zxV4_wrqVnUtk7a7Hzht0g0f8UpV48CHvhsa7J4A5yMmmrpQtf4V3RAKKuneTzgevbBRwb3By0Y4bkTiXSfYhI9X_hWF3UzD_GipuzLnRLGhimzpwZ8JuuovAVw0fJjkQ4/w640-h360/K042+Wild+Mooring+with+shade.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finding a shady willow tree on this very hot day we stopped on this wild mooring and spent much of the rest of the day in the shade sometimes having an uneasy relationship with passing cows who also wanted the shade. We retreated to the boat until they decided to move on. We did not like to argue with several hundredweight of cow!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_VpXp-a2tPQBRw4PCQfPn7BfSNnPfE2S3IEkAa1Sb31AYokyWbd8YPjanhkQjQncTD_CCNJpEgSgFTQpu3kz_uQS_nhKhvqtN3yuJIKjp02of4ZPUKiXB8brI6joiurtDUtbHhqiYwU/s1200/K043+Mooring+visitors.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_VpXp-a2tPQBRw4PCQfPn7BfSNnPfE2S3IEkAa1Sb31AYokyWbd8YPjanhkQjQncTD_CCNJpEgSgFTQpu3kz_uQS_nhKhvqtN3yuJIKjp02of4ZPUKiXB8brI6joiurtDUtbHhqiYwU/w640-h360/K043+Mooring+visitors.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes they came very close to see who was inside this metal box which had appeared in their shady spot.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgW5i5GO91dtTJIWkMKRdYCTecRu_YM8AjrWAXPo8i12J9grysPbLGS6MoOtRMv5V78lwSRJHpjLTU1BXOUBVUt_TPiM92I0dw1_p5upf_OmGydxANOwuPfqdbnJZxXCCBCK4_Ls8bnI/s1200/K044+5.30+am.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgW5i5GO91dtTJIWkMKRdYCTecRu_YM8AjrWAXPo8i12J9grysPbLGS6MoOtRMv5V78lwSRJHpjLTU1BXOUBVUt_TPiM92I0dw1_p5upf_OmGydxANOwuPfqdbnJZxXCCBCK4_Ls8bnI/w640-h360/K044+5.30+am.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At 5.30 am I was up for another reason and took this photo of the mist on the water in the early morning light.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOzbQuBMFllt7cSnxbGM8_TXQntsBlON_VVPt6bBANLpxRWSQge-xizeqk_5_vyscRK7yjd9t3jWszoTM2EWAPaUFcBl4k8AMtl6hQg9Xxfqg8Wa2QU07mTA2hDa6AtAdkWhIl86cFrE/s1200/K045+Stretham+Pumping+Engine.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOzbQuBMFllt7cSnxbGM8_TXQntsBlON_VVPt6bBANLpxRWSQge-xizeqk_5_vyscRK7yjd9t3jWszoTM2EWAPaUFcBl4k8AMtl6hQg9Xxfqg8Wa2QU07mTA2hDa6AtAdkWhIl86cFrE/w640-h360/K045+Stretham+Pumping+Engine.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We passed Stretham Pumping Engine which used a steam engine to pump water from the fields up into the river. It is open Sundays and Mondays but not when we passed on Tuesday. The Old West is narrow, twisty and shallow with lots of weed which makes for slow boating.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zJyP8Vvym4rcIa0BeqZrIe-ml_zZGGFZ73Psc8mXYA2jmcMB7HpY2ZBBstSduptZlpzeKQ3_zTlpkzRDNljRhxNezGGYdXZ3-bgfU4wzhTAEn3qLvKBLE7V_QbQ2JAu77PD5INT043Y/s1200/K048+Circular+Cloud+-+UFO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zJyP8Vvym4rcIa0BeqZrIe-ml_zZGGFZ73Psc8mXYA2jmcMB7HpY2ZBBstSduptZlpzeKQ3_zTlpkzRDNljRhxNezGGYdXZ3-bgfU4wzhTAEn3qLvKBLE7V_QbQ2JAu77PD5INT043Y/w640-h360/K048+Circular+Cloud+-+UFO.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We spent Tuesday night on a GOBA (Great Ouse Boating Association) mooring at Aldreth and on Wednesday we set off to reach the second part of the Great Ouse, referred to as the Bedford Ouse rather than the Ely Ouse. On our way we saw this strange formation of cloud in the sky. Our daughter Lucy has suggested that it might be a smiley face drawn in smoke by an aeroplane perhaps for someone's birthday. You can just about make out two possible eyes and a mouth within the circle<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizYGKOHN60EFG87NBKxihrjIuGnjxleu7B8wb6YPQd07CRy9B-lUeoND9aun4oGZ6AL0tNEChmFefAe25Mof1RHb5I0rEVkYY-bSVllpb-yclSm8ZDJd-xBi56LoKujtSAgDoFu6JtgI/s1200/K053+Hermitage+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizYGKOHN60EFG87NBKxihrjIuGnjxleu7B8wb6YPQd07CRy9B-lUeoND9aun4oGZ6AL0tNEChmFefAe25Mof1RHb5I0rEVkYY-bSVllpb-yclSm8ZDJd-xBi56LoKujtSAgDoFu6JtgI/w640-h360/K053+Hermitage+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And so to Hermitage Lock which has a lock keeper. This lock takes boats up onto another tidal part of the River Ouse. A 20 mile straight waterway called the New Bedford River links this stretch with the tidal river below Denver Sluice. It is all part of the system for draining the fens.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvlf_KObFlLN96WKc6kcs5kpmuQRGBxYS4KjycwR6vzMczbPXqTVHlokT81d4gTLifw0-pPnRBA0ISIVoNYYQ7i3ZdNVFpPEA7AMFynLOmtgtX_JkqjvGx2sJu5SEzFTj0JUBqAlA5j0/s1200/K055+Exiting+Hermitage+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvlf_KObFlLN96WKc6kcs5kpmuQRGBxYS4KjycwR6vzMczbPXqTVHlokT81d4gTLifw0-pPnRBA0ISIVoNYYQ7i3ZdNVFpPEA7AMFynLOmtgtX_JkqjvGx2sJu5SEzFTj0JUBqAlA5j0/w640-h360/K055+Exiting+Hermitage+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are coming out of Hermitage Lock onto the tidal section. The level this far from the sea only goes up and down about one or two feet on a normal tide.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0_XtRBDlssGJHBHSShWmP1wLUeIGMiyc_bRh_cveNd62Mj_LWb_UEICzny1FCGUST6sVkYo1ySuGtpWJ568etKkfhD7PqP1AjUIzvYiy_M5K25FR6QdAVhOy00W7N9lMDvIgZu2BQaI/s1200/K058+New+Bedford+River.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0_XtRBDlssGJHBHSShWmP1wLUeIGMiyc_bRh_cveNd62Mj_LWb_UEICzny1FCGUST6sVkYo1ySuGtpWJ568etKkfhD7PqP1AjUIzvYiy_M5K25FR6QdAVhOy00W7N9lMDvIgZu2BQaI/w640-h360/K058+New+Bedford+River.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To the right of our route and under this bridge is the New Bedford River heading in almost a straight line for 20 miles to Denver. You can cruise that way but timing is crucial to make sure you do not get caught on a sandbank by the falling tide.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-cpwjN0q1jv75IIgm6OYLHRnuUs2QKMuqFzcnSSAQukxLI3aSctC4-Zo2b3mYt4oR2BLOt8ql73zx-dcxqGBrenapXPttM31XeWkloQPMkHRcScsx0mp8jpi-9pqEtKktY_XTqBUoPM/s1200/K063+Mother+seal+%252B+pup.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-cpwjN0q1jv75IIgm6OYLHRnuUs2QKMuqFzcnSSAQukxLI3aSctC4-Zo2b3mYt4oR2BLOt8ql73zx-dcxqGBrenapXPttM31XeWkloQPMkHRcScsx0mp8jpi-9pqEtKktY_XTqBUoPM/w640-h360/K063+Mother+seal+%252B+pup.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Seals are often seen on this stretch and just upstream of Earith, we passed a mother seal and a pup and circled round (it is a wide river) to have a closer look.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BtUDlDAurTiF6QR0HOtm5gZHouZ5dmHz5H9mhT_UJSTvorh4ww93yiV1SwjxCkMzprYmI3Sdg8e88Vm0vZWn0jYJymiK5S93Z28xTMjLf1STHqsmUHMfVPSBiUi5Zk6aN7vxxJ-1rdU/s1200/K066+Mother+seal+%252B+pup.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1200" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BtUDlDAurTiF6QR0HOtm5gZHouZ5dmHz5H9mhT_UJSTvorh4ww93yiV1SwjxCkMzprYmI3Sdg8e88Vm0vZWn0jYJymiK5S93Z28xTMjLf1STHqsmUHMfVPSBiUi5Zk6aN7vxxJ-1rdU/w640-h458/K066+Mother+seal+%252B+pup.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While Mum was still asleep, the young seal woke up and started looking around.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KkRMoVWUqiABB2Cf7JiLZ7ed8wrrO87bbGck04jW2AMzSKbSK-CTF8oi9BJWQ_Jfjzrv8xVR-PLJhV2Fd3NDzwxaMmV-Gt5pw246Z6s_Dk0Wx-zs95HkxsjXgjKH9g22PBTPpWCDOzw/s1200/K068+Looking+back+from+Brownshill+Staunch%252C+Earith+Church.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KkRMoVWUqiABB2Cf7JiLZ7ed8wrrO87bbGck04jW2AMzSKbSK-CTF8oi9BJWQ_Jfjzrv8xVR-PLJhV2Fd3NDzwxaMmV-Gt5pw246Z6s_Dk0Wx-zs95HkxsjXgjKH9g22PBTPpWCDOzw/w640-h360/K068+Looking+back+from+Brownshill+Staunch%252C+Earith+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After about 3 miles on the tide we came to Brownshill Staunch, a lock with guillotines both ends, which lifts boats up onto the non tidal river once more.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HU0NTOEbp4VsiPfxMroPL4WyxFtdiZEVuEkMbqJbHc9RkVbWNunTnrcFcjZCiS-9lI2mDJuPUcXAtnR7JMsA9z5qbLoluLEKM3nNzagKakrders8hY6ENtZvZn3F2-4CkeqGrH3815U/s1200/K070+River+above+Brownshill+Staunch.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HU0NTOEbp4VsiPfxMroPL4WyxFtdiZEVuEkMbqJbHc9RkVbWNunTnrcFcjZCiS-9lI2mDJuPUcXAtnR7JMsA9z5qbLoluLEKM3nNzagKakrders8hY6ENtZvZn3F2-4CkeqGrH3815U/w640-h360/K070+River+above+Brownshill+Staunch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unlike the Old West River the Ouse above Earith is wide, clean and pleasant with no high flood banks to hide the view. It is a delightful river.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3ITYMv5y6ix9MPBsDlgRQuJ-33ODcbvnKBzqHAhhlZLY6_3mGmb7h-oS4xX4KNV2dxVJwKuugrJvN8TpbJV1YDGedWHG65RsE77f_N2mjryXyMwFlPOltawHIARj18hu7PEHHHthcz4/s1200/K074+Front+St%252C+Holywell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3ITYMv5y6ix9MPBsDlgRQuJ-33ODcbvnKBzqHAhhlZLY6_3mGmb7h-oS4xX4KNV2dxVJwKuugrJvN8TpbJV1YDGedWHG65RsE77f_N2mjryXyMwFlPOltawHIARj18hu7PEHHHthcz4/w640-h360/K074+Front+St%252C+Holywell.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We spent Tuesday night at Holywell, a pretty village of mainly thatched houses along the river. The Old Ferry Boat Inn was right behind our mooring and we had a good meal there in the evening.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMc9RVIUjWeEG_KEUfR-JKu_0la2E3ZsmnVJjK_kRaMqE_Ge4O00KDkJIkHoUZx4FPapKYXkZ9EtJz3iA3fN25E1k-xWrh99fmuzp6JzMQMT2k54_Yh8XgtQBXMPuKBZmVKwj70xGePg/s1200/K080+St+Ives+bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMc9RVIUjWeEG_KEUfR-JKu_0la2E3ZsmnVJjK_kRaMqE_Ge4O00KDkJIkHoUZx4FPapKYXkZ9EtJz3iA3fN25E1k-xWrh99fmuzp6JzMQMT2k54_Yh8XgtQBXMPuKBZmVKwj70xGePg/w640-h360/K080+St+Ives+bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Wednesday we went through St Ives lock and a short distance into the town of St Ives. This picture shows its famous bridge, one of four in the country which has a chapel on the bridge. Where are the others? The answer is Bradford on Avon, Rotherham and Wakefield.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNAhtu_aWDTX2_CrmYthWYQsOBJzE0dJB5XiBgJ3RZRrec3z4JmSCJLZ4RiT5_vOdMXrNt45H_S22343xgZuY4oVcVI4iO4_A4vKFokrkCQZaWnitt3AmgZ0SNK-EEcBwoBltD6NuA8U/s1200/K081+Quayside%252C+St+Ives.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNAhtu_aWDTX2_CrmYthWYQsOBJzE0dJB5XiBgJ3RZRrec3z4JmSCJLZ4RiT5_vOdMXrNt45H_S22343xgZuY4oVcVI4iO4_A4vKFokrkCQZaWnitt3AmgZ0SNK-EEcBwoBltD6NuA8U/w640-h360/K081+Quayside%252C+St+Ives.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Quay at St Ives has some lovely old buildings. You can moor here but instead we turned right soon after and moored up a small backwater called the Waits which is equally close to town. Because of a possible water problem at home, Ian went by bus to Huntingdon and train back home and returned to Leo on Thursday afternoon. Problem solved, lots of gardening done and new keys cut for other neighbours in case of any future problems.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fDlLDh7AMkcqvfZuREap5nRDZKK033FjZyttTP4eMPI9TPAT0T0gaINo6O1-6u8EtP-fmBiiu04Oe-FqtAYP634-fQ-FfnsMlZb9AJhK9szLG-AHcd-urcaJwe6kj527UeVny6AF7eQ/s1200/L003+Hemingford+Church.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fDlLDh7AMkcqvfZuREap5nRDZKK033FjZyttTP4eMPI9TPAT0T0gaINo6O1-6u8EtP-fmBiiu04Oe-FqtAYP634-fQ-FfnsMlZb9AJhK9szLG-AHcd-urcaJwe6kj527UeVny6AF7eQ/w640-h360/L003+Hemingford+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday evening we decided to move from the Waits to go back on the river and in search of a breeze to keep us cool. Here we are passing the church at Hemingford Grey just before we moored on open land at the edge of the village. In case you think the spire of the church looks stunted, it is. It was blown down in 1741.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUwCCgh0E4GfFKbcHA2ld991_eP6fRlvrsJVlRUk9yGXnXqmuCDtqU0hM1vKb9XWkvZ7dgf49vmAFMIyFpNQlqHKDqvRoJfyfGufcWZPaGZhxcH3aguagjSjyArZDQT_kWhOqDKEMrzg/s1200/L006+Moored+at+Hemingford+Grey.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUwCCgh0E4GfFKbcHA2ld991_eP6fRlvrsJVlRUk9yGXnXqmuCDtqU0hM1vKb9XWkvZ7dgf49vmAFMIyFpNQlqHKDqvRoJfyfGufcWZPaGZhxcH3aguagjSjyArZDQT_kWhOqDKEMrzg/w640-h360/L006+Moored+at+Hemingford+Grey.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here we are moored on the open meadow which is another GOBA mooring. Well worth joining GOBA to use their excellent moorings.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyKq1Sj8UWuJhvUW-FHe_GKUWRINMR_0TXX-rNOKlhEk1jCrmcp0Otc-rg04hHP2D_qbBdp_9jbyMio2cHdhlAZtaWtg6iVqiTV-5mT84mhBFOEJfxE8w9bYolpCgCBvuqvQ6RjaqtsM/s1200/L009+Wild+flowers+at+Houghton+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyKq1Sj8UWuJhvUW-FHe_GKUWRINMR_0TXX-rNOKlhEk1jCrmcp0Otc-rg04hHP2D_qbBdp_9jbyMio2cHdhlAZtaWtg6iVqiTV-5mT84mhBFOEJfxE8w9bYolpCgCBvuqvQ6RjaqtsM/w640-h360/L009+Wild+flowers+at+Houghton+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday we came through Houghton Lock where someone has planted lots of wild flowers. It looked wonderful. We've seen lots of wild flower planting this year and it is a constant delight.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthrCJG2-lUoi1LEYd1lHM51-VGiCjYQt62VTujgIV4LuSy8EwH-f4-DUc8dhtE3H5dFQCD8KQnK0s7s633Xev9VR75jAD4tK-2qpCpGk3Cz0qLTIpij4_MSml1SXyxeI46uXVJ6V5fPQ/s1200/L011+Hartford+Church.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthrCJG2-lUoi1LEYd1lHM51-VGiCjYQt62VTujgIV4LuSy8EwH-f4-DUc8dhtE3H5dFQCD8KQnK0s7s633Xev9VR75jAD4tK-2qpCpGk3Cz0qLTIpij4_MSml1SXyxeI46uXVJ6V5fPQ/w640-h360/L011+Hartford+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hartford Church, on the edge of Huntingdon, is another lovely sight right by the water.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIAP2htQTDUZ4tq7TRdKok0pkULMhpVkrUPibNbpjmDKLCJWHc6s9XjUaqk9eLYwM7fS-PipVuKKJNA7WSVbk94s_xLUnDREjFsHMjdlq8hoQFyqAkYQqg8aE2ZcwE0M-_HCxT_VX1Sw/s1200/L019+Offord+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIAP2htQTDUZ4tq7TRdKok0pkULMhpVkrUPibNbpjmDKLCJWHc6s9XjUaqk9eLYwM7fS-PipVuKKJNA7WSVbk94s_xLUnDREjFsHMjdlq8hoQFyqAkYQqg8aE2ZcwE0M-_HCxT_VX1Sw/w640-h426/L019+Offord+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a night on remote GOBA moorings near Paxton Pits Nature Reserve where Helen might have heard a nightingale, we carried on through St Neots lock. Although it is less than two narrowboats wide, it is enormously long as you can see here with Helen right up the far end and Ian and Leo back down the other end of the lock. Why individual locks here differ in size so much is a bit of a mystery. The previous lock at Offord is the narrowest on the Ouse and limits larger boats going through.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNjDj4xePlgFtoDTHNSJNeqMaSv5L93R9AyUeQGqHBc2i6V7DlGeiehebKiLV5Ky6y_qTBDKLff4iQyKQXJpgE2ENSHmxEVt1-27S9SLozGeB0zg6hH2HviBnysmDjodeoMGMEKFFgXE/s1200/L021+Rowing+regatta%252C+St+Neots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNjDj4xePlgFtoDTHNSJNeqMaSv5L93R9AyUeQGqHBc2i6V7DlGeiehebKiLV5Ky6y_qTBDKLff4iQyKQXJpgE2ENSHmxEVt1-27S9SLozGeB0zg6hH2HviBnysmDjodeoMGMEKFFgXE/w640-h426/L021+Rowing+regatta%252C+St+Neots.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We've now spent a couple of nights at St Neots moored just beyond the road bridge. Partly this was because we had a visit today from our daughter Lucy plus Becca and our lovely grandson Nathan. There has been a rowing regatta here over the weekend and this shows one of the hundreds of races. Traffic along the river is still allowed and arriving yesterday we were allowed to go up the race course following a couple of racing fours. No way could we keep up with the pace and we had to keep a sharp eye out to make sure we didn't overun any of the buoys </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">marking the route. </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14GK7VWvUltJCPmrMHDDBLSvOAfYNZRXz9GBIxJsclR_YFWl4x0VCk_EGK4HbYwhMrdH9ridWrPso5SIATMx8oSF5P0scwySYJZ1ZhVl_nAD0VBJbflRkYjRxE5GW3J3fEs2cAz5dbuQ/s1800/L023+Thistle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14GK7VWvUltJCPmrMHDDBLSvOAfYNZRXz9GBIxJsclR_YFWl4x0VCk_EGK4HbYwhMrdH9ridWrPso5SIATMx8oSF5P0scwySYJZ1ZhVl_nAD0VBJbflRkYjRxE5GW3J3fEs2cAz5dbuQ/w426-h640/L023+Thistle.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday afternoon we had a lovely walk up river to Eaton Socon, across the lock, and back down the other side. We passed some huge thistles. The plants were as tall as Helen and the spines were vicious. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpChHxDU_wu_m-rO7xycxaOc-GWxxHP2w2muR4VpsGqRQr6GSiH75Q7XfnHBwNROvk_r-BbameP0B3__rOnC2hvLlpK2PqJu2QUqIjSMlXpY_7EYIx37vW561SSXfyHiTeeDplIUJiBEE/s1200/L025+Market+Place%252C+St+Neots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpChHxDU_wu_m-rO7xycxaOc-GWxxHP2w2muR4VpsGqRQr6GSiH75Q7XfnHBwNROvk_r-BbameP0B3__rOnC2hvLlpK2PqJu2QUqIjSMlXpY_7EYIx37vW561SSXfyHiTeeDplIUJiBEE/w640-h426/L025+Market+Place%252C+St+Neots.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the market place in St Neots - a very large space with plenty of cafes and restaurants around it.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>We've had a lovely day today playing in a playground with Nathan and enjoying the riverside gardens as well as a handy cafe for lunch. We spent some of the afternoon watching the rowing and eating ice creams. We've said goodbye to our visitors now and will get back to boating tomorrow going on up river towards Bedford.<br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-67584686870362163522021-07-16T13:54:00.000-07:002021-07-16T13:54:27.817-07:00Larking about up the tributaries<p> Having come across the tidal section to Denver on the Great Ouse we set off last Saturday to explore the River Wissey. Between Ely and Denver three tributaries join the River Great Ouse and all of them are navigable for 10 miles or more. We decided to explore two of them on our way up the Ouse - the Wissey and the Lark - and save the other one - the Little Ouse or Brandon Creek - for our return.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_M27ZnCJfFaz5tCuAVb7DjnyR4KEh2U-xqLkdWmYFXV7tVi_u-cNrM2on1ufX4CAvNU-r_9Kob_xFiTh_54sSiNssGet3ggSCJWvYsz0Oq2remV9HXpPcrXmt8kjuDUaRcs9oS_bwaOE/s1200/J075+Wissey+Reflections.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_M27ZnCJfFaz5tCuAVb7DjnyR4KEh2U-xqLkdWmYFXV7tVi_u-cNrM2on1ufX4CAvNU-r_9Kob_xFiTh_54sSiNssGet3ggSCJWvYsz0Oq2remV9HXpPcrXmt8kjuDUaRcs9oS_bwaOE/w640-h360/J075+Wissey+Reflections.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We stopped on the public moorings at Hilgay on Saturday. There is an excellent butcher's shop in Hilgay which sells all sorts of things as well as meat including bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and newspapers and it is even open on Sunday mornings. This photo was taken soon after leaving Hilgay on Sunday morning. With little wind, the reflections were superb and this might well be on our boating calendar for next year.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc4vDcFyCsPUWMQhmXWT4Ey59dSXyRirzuiyV9Mo4-ewit3XXgWZfDdE_AI4YeLvgNaXQ_qgL-DVTRqPqkRYpAeWq0jwSTtkLWeA8sNLKU6P5BrTBJTQMmn-7efmYDhGK7SFK3J-QA50/s1200/J076+Sugar+Factory+Wissington.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc4vDcFyCsPUWMQhmXWT4Ey59dSXyRirzuiyV9Mo4-ewit3XXgWZfDdE_AI4YeLvgNaXQ_qgL-DVTRqPqkRYpAeWq0jwSTtkLWeA8sNLKU6P5BrTBJTQMmn-7efmYDhGK7SFK3J-QA50/w640-h360/J076+Sugar+Factory+Wissington.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Wissington the river passes a factory where sugar beet is turned into sugar. Now is not the right time of year for processing so there was little activity and no smells of malt.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9sKG8JHGs_8fcUD4GXlHy9M8E5sR1xjji-NQS-orPJ0SCYS8D-xIDzXk_Jb6S9Yf9Xw1_ogqJHEdj8Yn7Tx8MdT7UcmdO_jBc_ZnRGYefFTiZmZhSvR2ipblUJLMBlFogJvEcBEbbLo/s1200/J078+Cut+off+Channel+Aqueduct.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9sKG8JHGs_8fcUD4GXlHy9M8E5sR1xjji-NQS-orPJ0SCYS8D-xIDzXk_Jb6S9Yf9Xw1_ogqJHEdj8Yn7Tx8MdT7UcmdO_jBc_ZnRGYefFTiZmZhSvR2ipblUJLMBlFogJvEcBEbbLo/w640-h360/J078+Cut+off+Channel+Aqueduct.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The tributaries cross the 'cut-off channel'. In times of flood, water is diverted off the rivers into the cut-off channel and here we are crossing the aqueduct over the channel. A little further on we passed through a sluice gate which can be closed to redirect the water. The cut-off channel is another part of the marvellous water systems linked to Denver Sluice. The water from the channel can be allowed to flow north into the Wash to get rid of flood water but it can also be transferred to reservoirs in Essex via pumping stations, tunnels and pipelines.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzXxgwghLq56a3kL34a1kOiqMwviJqedvp48bkgJFj_7xg2TiEGC252U4Plbyq-H3Htth_C5twarD5i80G6MrCLQY8xpUroiTtlo266J4jY-ESVAaVqQhUMakoqhyphenhyphenAR1fF6XFTJ2wxNE/s1200/J088+Turning+at+Wittington.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzXxgwghLq56a3kL34a1kOiqMwviJqedvp48bkgJFj_7xg2TiEGC252U4Plbyq-H3Htth_C5twarD5i80G6MrCLQY8xpUroiTtlo266J4jY-ESVAaVqQhUMakoqhyphenhyphenAR1fF6XFTJ2wxNE/w640-h360/J088+Turning+at+Wittington.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Wittington we spent the night on a GOBA Mooring linked to a caravan site. GOBA stands for Great Ouse Boating Association and we have joined this in order to use their many mooring places along the Ouse and its tributaries. On Monday morning we carried on for half a mile to the navigable limit where we turned round as shown here. The front of the boat, where Helen is taking the picture, is in the river Wissey while Ian is reversing into the Stringside Drain which joins the river here at right angles and allows long boats like ours the space to turn.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1TXs1i4fAFah-9Wc-36XQd4JaeQc8Iuv8ZUJVFLUPYCaqVQcjk2XPDIy24XNURhXfSat9PuIxDIMuJ_lnPfJ0grpQYb8KaLt12ZIWBaJfY8zs4KJjCREOaYevlwbxH_up1jU_LIoi7U/s1200/J090+Sugar+factory+from+lake.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1TXs1i4fAFah-9Wc-36XQd4JaeQc8Iuv8ZUJVFLUPYCaqVQcjk2XPDIy24XNURhXfSat9PuIxDIMuJ_lnPfJ0grpQYb8KaLt12ZIWBaJfY8zs4KJjCREOaYevlwbxH_up1jU_LIoi7U/w640-h360/J090+Sugar+factory+from+lake.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And so it was back passed the sugar factory. Just before reaching this the river flows through two lakes which makes for an interesting bit of boating. We had some fun doing a 360 degree spin in one of the lakes - not that narrowboats really spin, it was more of a sedate circle.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgfdwh6PBl9Kvc9CiYA1Vtzx28H1Jr23I8P-m6lUuEVh3pqxJcmnl3lTISIXok1rIV5XC1F2yqe8e-vmtHiC33KI5yQDqmF2Qa-xyfusqge7v64Iso3ZGDoAAPjQest2pUUrCyR-NqTE/s1200/J094+Under+railway.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgfdwh6PBl9Kvc9CiYA1Vtzx28H1Jr23I8P-m6lUuEVh3pqxJcmnl3lTISIXok1rIV5XC1F2yqe8e-vmtHiC33KI5yQDqmF2Qa-xyfusqge7v64Iso3ZGDoAAPjQest2pUUrCyR-NqTE/w640-h360/J094+Under+railway.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday night we moored near the mouth of the Wissey on a GOBA mooring in a remote and peaceful spot. On Tuesday we rejoined the Ouse not far the other side of this railway bridge. Ely is a major junction for railways and this branch links Ely with King's Lynn.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJeTUVgvZJFa9hI-if6C0a6hdA_KA2wznfJbp9dHcSu7FbBfw8ZNVMmYABFCdM-TyRf30EjYzZ47kYlte0JCuVj2RSFNsdCP50iMKQfJfs92_M1dZSTsiXjT6McY4bMqeowwA2lNKZXY/s1200/J097+Little+Ouse+Mouth%252C+Ship+Inn.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJeTUVgvZJFa9hI-if6C0a6hdA_KA2wznfJbp9dHcSu7FbBfw8ZNVMmYABFCdM-TyRf30EjYzZ47kYlte0JCuVj2RSFNsdCP50iMKQfJfs92_M1dZSTsiXjT6McY4bMqeowwA2lNKZXY/w640-h360/J097+Little+Ouse+Mouth%252C+Ship+Inn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming up the Great Ouse once more, we passed the Ship Inn. To left is the River Little Ouse or Brandon Creek which is also navigable but we'll leave this until our return.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUwLI-VhUdsuE8u648wuGqwVhf6vhAGirJBEudHmyREXZvtORd4benQmV56wb2D4kdUuhvopNV4yIIFZDxTwG3Vnjh_SFJ6kIAJsy1LkFMfRpYLV46zC4iGUTIkdT0aFHo7vPbuCggxg/s1200/J099+Great+Wide+Ouse.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUwLI-VhUdsuE8u648wuGqwVhf6vhAGirJBEudHmyREXZvtORd4benQmV56wb2D4kdUuhvopNV4yIIFZDxTwG3Vnjh_SFJ6kIAJsy1LkFMfRpYLV46zC4iGUTIkdT0aFHo7vPbuCggxg/w640-h360/J099+Great+Wide+Ouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This picture looking behind us gives a good impression of just how wide and straight is the lower part of the Great Ouse. No need to search for a winding hole here if you want to turn round.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5InyWLUJD8Wm6YvIeh_RT46vNE-bdhyphenhyphennVL_hIpKl-eWFsxMVeClTJWWYZua79f9j1KnMCl5bPDnAcZ0tGaWBPJoI8_KJC3eBuG9-qU2TRtERSfnoF8sEQck2qkh19ZoHBUgDM1kgSWgY/s1200/J101+Tiny+House+at+Littleport.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5InyWLUJD8Wm6YvIeh_RT46vNE-bdhyphenhyphennVL_hIpKl-eWFsxMVeClTJWWYZua79f9j1KnMCl5bPDnAcZ0tGaWBPJoI8_KJC3eBuG9-qU2TRtERSfnoF8sEQck2qkh19ZoHBUgDM1kgSWgY/w640-h360/J101+Tiny+House+at+Littleport.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday we moored at Littleport on the Ouse. There was not much space left on the landing stage by the Swan on the River, nor at the mooring opposite, but we just managed to get the bow onto the end with our stern in the reeds beyond it. After a good lunch at the pub we walked into Littleport. We were intrigued by this little white house: it looks like a dolls house next to its neighbours.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYXM4Z7a47EaKKyzVpW_JQSVBw5O-Hno1WvyznELPOxy3KOjGF97aslez0VGaWJoJnz-2uO2ovoV6q1ItZA65qkg4JYIbcYbGMUworhs7scIB2Z2vCx0CyeQAEdb8Xtn8zrdTPAiDyak/s1200/J103+William+Harley+lived+in+Littleport.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYXM4Z7a47EaKKyzVpW_JQSVBw5O-Hno1WvyznELPOxy3KOjGF97aslez0VGaWJoJnz-2uO2ovoV6q1ItZA65qkg4JYIbcYbGMUworhs7scIB2Z2vCx0CyeQAEdb8Xtn8zrdTPAiDyak/w640-h360/J103+William+Harley+lived+in+Littleport.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We didn't know that Littleport has a connection with Harley Davidson in that William Harley was brought up in the town. Hence this monument.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbwaAzONanu0ouPEBov_4vGU82TNIQbEyrphGZe1tjqFkuX287TeoOhEornJlYKKRIOPVkspYIK0LIVJD5-NYNoTkFoFPJIVAKwNcNN1iPuDSG8TadJz-J5oFblkp59_E3BjlW560rL8/s1200/J105+Feeding+a+young+Grebe.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1200" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbwaAzONanu0ouPEBov_4vGU82TNIQbEyrphGZe1tjqFkuX287TeoOhEornJlYKKRIOPVkspYIK0LIVJD5-NYNoTkFoFPJIVAKwNcNN1iPuDSG8TadJz-J5oFblkp59_E3BjlW560rL8/w640-h458/J105+Feeding+a+young+Grebe.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On returning to Leo, we noticed much squeaking coming from a grebe chick and managed to get some good pictures of the Great Crested Grebe family opposite. Here you can see the adult on the left holding a fish in its beak to feed the little one which is swimming fast towards the parent.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMSOodY20WyqEo6jsb8whNqYOIaaTb8zU4UoNXvSdFIAkeDCzSrE-Q4udlmnEIshqLZENqAED1Cm9x5QqCfUNXeIKWx4kyNLt1e-jYFTLzaobsw5uCVu9kCX07J1lN83UsugtQW_axso/s1200/J106+Great+Crested+Grebe.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1200" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMSOodY20WyqEo6jsb8whNqYOIaaTb8zU4UoNXvSdFIAkeDCzSrE-Q4udlmnEIshqLZENqAED1Cm9x5QqCfUNXeIKWx4kyNLt1e-jYFTLzaobsw5uCVu9kCX07J1lN83UsugtQW_axso/w640-h414/J106+Great+Crested+Grebe.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They really are handsome birds and we've seen plenty on this river.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghwYUrai8tAzVDLkDlRwkyCvuch7WNhTrz8kkXgKz8Ph7D6pRewR8CFCOsDFO5EzHGz6kcPvScWUyDbQye-90udO0adqFvMnMfvW7Yp-AOxZd8XwjPzfXIc_m3bcrp4qI7tLs-F65ivM/s1200/J107+Young+Grebe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1200" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghwYUrai8tAzVDLkDlRwkyCvuch7WNhTrz8kkXgKz8Ph7D6pRewR8CFCOsDFO5EzHGz6kcPvScWUyDbQye-90udO0adqFvMnMfvW7Yp-AOxZd8XwjPzfXIc_m3bcrp4qI7tLs-F65ivM/w640-h430/J107+Young+Grebe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the young grebe.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb9t37I9lcdaYgI8HhhGKI58oek_o-XvtMTdR8moC2XEijAQkrNuCcPvfhIj47mPPIyoFY_GorN8N4GdmgqLiJ-lwQCZHyzJAEajSL1QpEwqtH-QtJD3AJdqZvt4P5fOXpzv86kvxrZ8/s1200/J108+Parent+and+young+Grebes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1200" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb9t37I9lcdaYgI8HhhGKI58oek_o-XvtMTdR8moC2XEijAQkrNuCcPvfhIj47mPPIyoFY_GorN8N4GdmgqLiJ-lwQCZHyzJAEajSL1QpEwqtH-QtJD3AJdqZvt4P5fOXpzv86kvxrZ8/w640-h372/J108+Parent+and+young+Grebes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here the young one is zooming towards the parent expecting to be fed. But there is no sign of a fish in the beak this time!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GVvgsG2ieuoKWJ5TR4vAnvZnbAIETW9R09N9hSDedYkyNX7qVFOJsPum3qsXgxJR8oiRJYjLe4JOrO3J4cKLxyOiz3ULSmJu3f7vxvP3C2LnJUHGCvPfMXxTZDkxLSPNse3r8t_leJU/s3840/J115+Our+wake%252C+River+Lark.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GVvgsG2ieuoKWJ5TR4vAnvZnbAIETW9R09N9hSDedYkyNX7qVFOJsPum3qsXgxJR8oiRJYjLe4JOrO3J4cKLxyOiz3ULSmJu3f7vxvP3C2LnJUHGCvPfMXxTZDkxLSPNse3r8t_leJU/w640-h360/J115+Our+wake%252C+River+Lark.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday saw us setting off up the River Lark only about a mile further up stream from Littleport. After passing the village of Prickwillow, the Lark become ridiculously straight for several miles. From the roof of the boat, we could see over the fields to the cathedral at Ely and look down along the very straight dykes which drain the fens. From the back of the boat we noticed the rough water in our wake. Normally we've found that the wake is calmer than the water either side but not on this occasion.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQMBfBKfzBXYzgrvVwweDNoi19BWNrtLTyBriAPC_Ei0kD7lWRTH8Ehm57O66kcEPznI-mCZ_hIVzP_nEEtGqQ369s2Sxu8rWNIy23k58BQtpOZwjgMLI4k8Zx1Waq88agw2kMEWVBww/s1200/J116+Octagonal+windmill.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQMBfBKfzBXYzgrvVwweDNoi19BWNrtLTyBriAPC_Ei0kD7lWRTH8Ehm57O66kcEPznI-mCZ_hIVzP_nEEtGqQ369s2Sxu8rWNIy23k58BQtpOZwjgMLI4k8Zx1Waq88agw2kMEWVBww/w640-h360/J116+Octagonal+windmill.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We passed this octagonal building which was once a windmill. It's not very tall but perhaps being built on the flood bank it was high enough to catch the winds.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6kt6bEJ9vIMqp4xhy6UfkX5odLdA2cm8CQCM-wrLtz0QQvMpFobddD11BbWx3c4gGQFsrkuYgLIhSjUhm-bzXeXcVOY3YBqAuGPdbb0-h-8bY_qj4n0rX6Um8SuqyGk9892cMgnTRsU/s1200/J117+Isleham+Lock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1200" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6kt6bEJ9vIMqp4xhy6UfkX5odLdA2cm8CQCM-wrLtz0QQvMpFobddD11BbWx3c4gGQFsrkuYgLIhSjUhm-bzXeXcVOY3YBqAuGPdbb0-h-8bY_qj4n0rX6Um8SuqyGk9892cMgnTRsU/w640-h402/J117+Isleham+Lock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The River Lark has that rarest of structures on these waters - a lock. It is at Isleham and has a guillotine gate like on the Nene. The difference in level was only a foot or so.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUmzaepL3w6VUYmKzqUh0xt1JRG_iamUbLIbZxROCL1ytqWawLpKNiHEU0M4ILNroxiZb75HfcNeh4MLAYO-xZCo8esqk6SZzvFveRyW3odsJoHTTYcbrRMIpg7X3C04vt9qD1lpz1Ak/s1200/J127+Kayak+floating.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUmzaepL3w6VUYmKzqUh0xt1JRG_iamUbLIbZxROCL1ytqWawLpKNiHEU0M4ILNroxiZb75HfcNeh4MLAYO-xZCo8esqk6SZzvFveRyW3odsJoHTTYcbrRMIpg7X3C04vt9qD1lpz1Ak/w640-h360/J127+Kayak+floating.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The navigable limit is at Judes Ferry where there is a welcoming pub with moorings pub about 10 miles upriver from the Ouse. The last mile or two is narrow and very bendy with some shallows and the river flow is quite fast. We were the only boat moored at the pub and we enjoyed a drink at lunchtime and a meal in the evening. It is a lovely spot and well worth a visit. You will notice in the picture an inflatable kayak moored beside Leo. We bought it this year and it fits in the front locker where two bags of coal would ordinarily be. This was to be its maiden voyage.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzmxE1MN12W5zOfinGY4KUKtICj49luy-WL4f1BHUzUf5Y4iRJnPHyF7lH4-7EZEG5sBp6GXlwPDp9j5ReE4VGg4Zmi8pETixuxq0nb8qcLZjv96W9IOI-qmrEumthmH1r9QQQ-2LE-c/s1200/J128+Kayak+up+the+Lark.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzmxE1MN12W5zOfinGY4KUKtICj49luy-WL4f1BHUzUf5Y4iRJnPHyF7lH4-7EZEG5sBp6GXlwPDp9j5ReE4VGg4Zmi8pETixuxq0nb8qcLZjv96W9IOI-qmrEumthmH1r9QQQ-2LE-c/w640-h480/J128+Kayak+up+the+Lark.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is the proof as we paddled upstream beyond Leo's limit for a mile or so to a weir where it was too tricky to get out to carry the canoe to higher water beyond. It was lovely drifting back in the fairly fast flowing water. We could understand why narrowboats cannot go further. Not only is there nowhere to turn but there are also some shallows. Boats used to be able to navigate to Mildenhall, a further couple of miles, but not now.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cVK4_MgzDMQf_80Qo1N9C_yHBV2rSzw0lDQg8oxt5MnroEIQdf_kzDIlfngcJLaB4tYtEssy1ZI-ur3-OUbasE48Z3oODvYMyLRv2KKZpO_xKGSdf3ET6HXPF1okK154ULEsltczo8E/s1200/K001+Turning+at+Judes+Ferry.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cVK4_MgzDMQf_80Qo1N9C_yHBV2rSzw0lDQg8oxt5MnroEIQdf_kzDIlfngcJLaB4tYtEssy1ZI-ur3-OUbasE48Z3oODvYMyLRv2KKZpO_xKGSdf3ET6HXPF1okK154ULEsltczo8E/w640-h360/K001+Turning+at+Judes+Ferry.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday we first had the challenge of turning Leo round. Just downstream of the pub mooring is handy inlet. It proved to be reasonably straightforward to reverse in with most of the boat sticking out into the river. The flow of the river turned the bow round to head downstream. Very simple really.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6DQbW2Uyqn1l_ItOYUVUylDquGr6DaBNLOA2NscM6LEKm5zstEOSd4Lsog85YbA7KFWyCYpd4JG-6DbVy1FIBqNNwUIz7oWdjNCZ47s3xdz1DOqwbEB0zqKy1X5bVrIfBxBc2x04W4o/s1200/K005+Rev+Spurgeon+memorial.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6DQbW2Uyqn1l_ItOYUVUylDquGr6DaBNLOA2NscM6LEKm5zstEOSd4Lsog85YbA7KFWyCYpd4JG-6DbVy1FIBqNNwUIz7oWdjNCZ47s3xdz1DOqwbEB0zqKy1X5bVrIfBxBc2x04W4o/w640-h360/K005+Rev+Spurgeon+memorial.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Part way back we passed this memorial to the Reverend Charles Spurgeon who was baptised here in 1860. Baptisms by total immersion in the river were carried out for hundreds of years.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwNWCUmiu6IABkuNFazLEZsasKoILuMjtK14nT9iX1UhwKfjANT8ceq8T-9n_u2ZDgpNxr1zJlGcv8iSFhGi_jYY_nffzWLHPJjv25OO8Fi13KYFQDyTGmajvnFrsDP6p5x1USGBpRsM/s1200/K006+Chasing+swans.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwNWCUmiu6IABkuNFazLEZsasKoILuMjtK14nT9iX1UhwKfjANT8ceq8T-9n_u2ZDgpNxr1zJlGcv8iSFhGi_jYY_nffzWLHPJjv25OO8Fi13KYFQDyTGmajvnFrsDP6p5x1USGBpRsM/w640-h360/K006+Chasing+swans.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were lots of swans on the Lark and here we are chasing a group of 6 youngsters (probably last year's brood) who haven't learned yet that the best way of avoiding boats is to retreat into the side of the river, not try to outswim them.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHfg9eOe1Y1b8M8TPDC29rWAp36cTxRJl5jkVOlWUVm2revfAOwS_OlUsYuhR_8ktfrl_u_tbpZjW7GJZ9CIcbscGY-pKkd6XrWv5Ue_6QTtE3JzEwMWNjHbBe99-ZLHP_V5pXiotUvU/s1200/K007+Chasing+swans.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHfg9eOe1Y1b8M8TPDC29rWAp36cTxRJl5jkVOlWUVm2revfAOwS_OlUsYuhR_8ktfrl_u_tbpZjW7GJZ9CIcbscGY-pKkd6XrWv5Ue_6QTtE3JzEwMWNjHbBe99-ZLHP_V5pXiotUvU/w640-h360/K007+Chasing+swans.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here 5 are learning the lesson and the sixth is taking to the air.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_uY7VwMltlHJzjZwV_1W5ni91VjYVj2WA80wpkg09G-MtXYY82lQovYYiCWxy7_iybIiD0Q29-cHQT9bOdw6Y2GxKWeKloq5wdSyODN9M1diJnpnMS7KSSVlKGM31mH53qNYs10z_10/s1200/K011+Nb+hiding+in+the+reeds.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_uY7VwMltlHJzjZwV_1W5ni91VjYVj2WA80wpkg09G-MtXYY82lQovYYiCWxy7_iybIiD0Q29-cHQT9bOdw6Y2GxKWeKloq5wdSyODN9M1diJnpnMS7KSSVlKGM31mH53qNYs10z_10/w640-h360/K011+Nb+hiding+in+the+reeds.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's strange the places you find narrowboats. This one is completely surrounded by a growth of reeds.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb9rmymwX5zhyO6jJG4-CFE7XgNRH3QsyxhEBa4jTd-mxtOITfZsc2q6YsG6fRWfwgHCqbMLfM5VkkNA7qZyzK_KFW8nAZx7f07POyODVKSP9u9Gv5TX3aGCGOJdVZto-m6lDc3Ct2ak/s1200/K014+Moored+at+Prickwillow.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb9rmymwX5zhyO6jJG4-CFE7XgNRH3QsyxhEBa4jTd-mxtOITfZsc2q6YsG6fRWfwgHCqbMLfM5VkkNA7qZyzK_KFW8nAZx7f07POyODVKSP9u9Gv5TX3aGCGOJdVZto-m6lDc3Ct2ak/w640-h360/K014+Moored+at+Prickwillow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last night (Thursday) we moored at Prickwillow on a fantastic new mooring platform built by the Environment Agency. It even has water available.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDKRr142hkZHv_rKqxSLlwUwOA4Pm1cg9HHKRsllATxJdU2m-4gR10ehuGICUBRwzp29mcTt6e53e51JfcP90EhYIJo8xwgIc5IjkpdyJ64bYdDhZ9It22xaujvYUf9bJw9dUrdVF2LQ/s1200/K015+Prickwillow+Church.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDKRr142hkZHv_rKqxSLlwUwOA4Pm1cg9HHKRsllATxJdU2m-4gR10ehuGICUBRwzp29mcTt6e53e51JfcP90EhYIJo8xwgIc5IjkpdyJ64bYdDhZ9It22xaujvYUf9bJw9dUrdVF2LQ/w640-h360/K015+Prickwillow+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Prickwillow is a small village which has no pub or shop. It does however have an interesting drainage museum. Drainage is a way of life here to preserve the fen from flooding. Rivers are above the level of the fens which have subsided over the years as water was pumped into the rivers and thus out to sea. Unfortunately the museum, which we have visited before, is only open on Sunday and Monday afternoons. This however is the old church at Prickwillow. It is no longer consecrated but, as we passed, we noticed the door was open so we peeped in. A couple were inside having tea. They have bought the church and are turning it into an art workshop and gallery as well as a community space. They kindly gave us a tour and we wish them every success in this venture. Do pop in if you are passing.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq7NZHxZmyMytF5NCxY2hq1DCzmapxbEeRiWIc146k3_bLg2OngZ0uYQToF2oliER64ryCFBkP8PmIVUIL9qaoH89hezrQwzpkRb4pvwZgcOKsnu0_zFPosI0EygNTr9nkoGpUAwRKdo/s1200/K021+Cathedral+and+train.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq7NZHxZmyMytF5NCxY2hq1DCzmapxbEeRiWIc146k3_bLg2OngZ0uYQToF2oliER64ryCFBkP8PmIVUIL9qaoH89hezrQwzpkRb4pvwZgcOKsnu0_zFPosI0EygNTr9nkoGpUAwRKdo/w640-h360/K021+Cathedral+and+train.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From Prickwillow it was just a couple of miles this morning back to the Great Ouse and turning upstream we headed down a long straight wide river to Ely where we are now moored. Ely Cathedral is known as the 'Ship of the Fens' and stands on an island well above the surrounding land. As we approached the city the cathedral dominates the view. It is seen here across the railway, hence the wires across the photo and the goods train below.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4eJlAI7FUA_5RkpEaZFYKzhzxAQ2ZrT52gTvcv-2D4sOLWxzs-InKcDANY9AkfGk5csC_B4NHl2fq1-zkLuvmcrXvrm7xk4OsbYvyCECv_i4UvjZzlQWOMtM4TlaRl72-1Y5vucpVPA/s2048/K030+Giraffe+at+Ely.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4eJlAI7FUA_5RkpEaZFYKzhzxAQ2ZrT52gTvcv-2D4sOLWxzs-InKcDANY9AkfGk5csC_B4NHl2fq1-zkLuvmcrXvrm7xk4OsbYvyCECv_i4UvjZzlQWOMtM4TlaRl72-1Y5vucpVPA/w360-h640/K030+Giraffe+at+Ely.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ely has some interesting sights but this giraffe wasn't here when we last visited!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxyrPafhyphenhyphenhoWwpewyfeRyYvtcKFyMUNzbe5niJk5kziNnno2JO1-F9P5RgjmGmFsEEz1zLuPzYe8qGPQt_8NVBfSX79BXJAZmzwCeZSZafWO-b8OBVNVoMINhYZyaKhMFO-hcwOZiWf0/s1200/K031+View+from+Marina+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxyrPafhyphenhyphenhoWwpewyfeRyYvtcKFyMUNzbe5niJk5kziNnno2JO1-F9P5RgjmGmFsEEz1zLuPzYe8qGPQt_8NVBfSX79BXJAZmzwCeZSZafWO-b8OBVNVoMINhYZyaKhMFO-hcwOZiWf0/w640-h360/K031+View+from+Marina+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the classic view of the river at Ely from a bridge across to the marina. You can just see Leo moored on the left bank before the railway bridge.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>We plan a day out tomorrow off the boat but on Sunday we will continue up the Ouse, though we've yet to decide whether we will turn south on the River Cam towards Cambridge or leave this until later.<br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-1209449725993171172021-07-10T13:12:00.000-07:002021-07-10T13:12:52.529-07:00The Curious World of the Middle Levels<p> This is going to be a two part update to our blog to tell you about our crossing of the Middle Levels. As I type this first section on Friday 9th July we are moored outside Salter's Lode Lock waiting for the tide tomorrow to cross onto the River Great Ouse. Here are some delights of the Middle Levels whose waters allow boats to cross the fens from the River Nene to the Great Ouse without venturing out to sea.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MJ8KyXJ6Evm5tHIGaSafO71lrdvznbAUYOfcZw2V391_DPEn4nGS9yt-VwGnRfO2MiWCSYkrErS2Z5rA-xy79vFdcKoCvmVU3JgUhuAFFJXGMg_lRzd3w39iFvLg_GihPUQ7cDfVbGY/s1200/H066+Blackbriar+below+Orton+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MJ8KyXJ6Evm5tHIGaSafO71lrdvznbAUYOfcZw2V391_DPEn4nGS9yt-VwGnRfO2MiWCSYkrErS2Z5rA-xy79vFdcKoCvmVU3JgUhuAFFJXGMg_lRzd3w39iFvLg_GihPUQ7cDfVbGY/w640-h360/H066+Blackbriar+below+Orton+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our last posting was from Ferry Meadows near Peterborough. We left there on Monday morning with only one lock to go down to reach the city of Peterborough. This was Orton Lock and this photo was taken below the lock. Large sluices feed a canoe slalom but the lock is out of shot to the right. We came out of the lock to find another boat waiting below but there are some strange currents here caused by the sluices and the boat waiting got swept to one side and, looking back, seems in the picture to be having a go at the canoe slalom course! They did correct this and we saw them going into the lock so all was well.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BELzIeipPtd3p_s0C5pizrL-fGXdEvKIX02CJIPNzCtSM-xbzD-7LHqasHHWc7EKzlOqxiMRqFD-pQhu6AXH1aYz81ySezUjpjX1iABbDcI8IOH1VsD9LluP_HGTabn30hAiAEtwleo/s1200/H073+Peterborough+Cathedral.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BELzIeipPtd3p_s0C5pizrL-fGXdEvKIX02CJIPNzCtSM-xbzD-7LHqasHHWc7EKzlOqxiMRqFD-pQhu6AXH1aYz81ySezUjpjX1iABbDcI8IOH1VsD9LluP_HGTabn30hAiAEtwleo/w640-h426/H073+Peterborough+Cathedral.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After mooring on the embankment, we had a look round the city and this is the west front on the Cathedral.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu_mq3HV9w3ou9BGx7cVupV-jetfaZDH6jRMe2K7cbFjGAmpuGKK8Kv_NNTG7DWJWyMDYATV2ZCr2Auwy3SZtqCz1PKgdPT_CiBHU2UqCmvdPVJCKV8a6KgoAg6eUQ29elG8UX5-B_Gw/s1200/H076+Peterborough+Cathedral+Nave.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu_mq3HV9w3ou9BGx7cVupV-jetfaZDH6jRMe2K7cbFjGAmpuGKK8Kv_NNTG7DWJWyMDYATV2ZCr2Auwy3SZtqCz1PKgdPT_CiBHU2UqCmvdPVJCKV8a6KgoAg6eUQ29elG8UX5-B_Gw/w640-h360/H076+Peterborough+Cathedral+Nave.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is a very impressive Norman cathedral. Katherine of Aragon is buried here as was Mary Queen of Scots, though her body was later moved to Westminster Abbey.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbzmLgG1V_0W1UGCQJA0ftP8O2Ankl5jo_TOMpOxfFT7v0-9NUEOPqHEAJOPk0Lk3gqLxaA-Ag8sYmlrrNXCofaTF98sMTH26i9N6dFgSeaIvGuju2nMQ6Q3WP9GEEiLdBTtXMqi8E28/s1200/H079+Right+to+Middle+Levels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbzmLgG1V_0W1UGCQJA0ftP8O2Ankl5jo_TOMpOxfFT7v0-9NUEOPqHEAJOPk0Lk3gqLxaA-Ag8sYmlrrNXCofaTF98sMTH26i9N6dFgSeaIvGuju2nMQ6Q3WP9GEEiLdBTtXMqi8E28/w640-h360/H079+Right+to+Middle+Levels.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday morning we set off to enter the Middle Levels. Here we are turning off the Nene under a railway bridge onto Morton's Leam to reach Stanground Lock. You have to book in advance to go through Stangound lock and we were due to go through at 10 am.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStM04M-MxDovGSU4CZFtK-Nc6q24Ht_98jOmnwOn3pvdc9lpvD4_M-Xvsx7WkPf14W3W5nX_YVa5HOvieZ3h-QgFxNqjqfsaXdmH4swljOao6r0SQxywVi7UDTQXnTwwymwt49reijpA/s1200/H085+Stanground+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStM04M-MxDovGSU4CZFtK-Nc6q24Ht_98jOmnwOn3pvdc9lpvD4_M-Xvsx7WkPf14W3W5nX_YVa5HOvieZ3h-QgFxNqjqfsaXdmH4swljOao6r0SQxywVi7UDTQXnTwwymwt49reijpA/w640-h360/H085+Stanground+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now the odd thing about Stanground Lock is that we went <i>down</i> about 4 feet off the river to King's Dyke below. We were then in the fens, much of which is below sea level though at this point the boat was probably marginally above sea level. The fens were drained and still are by pumping the water into mostly navigable drains which in turn are pumped out into the tidal rivers Nene and Great Ouse. The channels travelled by boats are not primarily navigations. Their main purpose in the winter is to get rid of excess water that would otherwise flood the fenland fields and in the summer to provide farmers with water to irrigate those fields. This is taken looking back as we came out of Stanground Lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK0CkLuLU6X_0_Ck_PC2hHGCSgkLcfA-noz9Pt_mRdqXjm8eyHBQAZlGrRQ1ZSv53EYqIInFDeYEmBr5IVYuEq-Rj1F1j95mMYax30EI0-d08BGOZs5pbJd-OaUDDJ_0XXWw9zk_iQrk/s1200/H087+Below+Stanground+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK0CkLuLU6X_0_Ck_PC2hHGCSgkLcfA-noz9Pt_mRdqXjm8eyHBQAZlGrRQ1ZSv53EYqIInFDeYEmBr5IVYuEq-Rj1F1j95mMYax30EI0-d08BGOZs5pbJd-OaUDDJ_0XXWw9zk_iQrk/w640-h360/H087+Below+Stanground+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And this is looking forward along King's Dyke which was allegedly dug by King Canute and leads </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in a few miles</span> to Whittlesey.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lStw97V51_nSoMfij0AQaMYU31ytHMpz5Pd4uJTmebcmKeJhcnAC_zw38Hjik4Fa9EcvzxlXKnF37UJ5rJa1qD_jCO7q2k6QydJ2Vc1wirJyVEIlBUpzo8DZG390Yv8da1JS497brqY/s1200/H092+Tight+bend%252C+Whittlesey.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lStw97V51_nSoMfij0AQaMYU31ytHMpz5Pd4uJTmebcmKeJhcnAC_zw38Hjik4Fa9EcvzxlXKnF37UJ5rJa1qD_jCO7q2k6QydJ2Vc1wirJyVEIlBUpzo8DZG390Yv8da1JS497brqY/w640-h360/H092+Tight+bend%252C+Whittlesey.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are arriving at Whittlesey where the channel narrows between high walls and then goes round a very tight right hand bend.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_BBafUhXj7-gs7VQryMqxUOjBb0KzGPKvrllhEqm6dsvUh6pLULyMjLU-OeBBwfboXERFccoZOvzA6Pr-JyDhIgnpfDNgT6inVwzznMRIhjqWzaRv0HhSBVnwwmSGRQQLdlx52cV6OM/s1200/H094+Tight+bend%252C+Whittlesey.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_BBafUhXj7-gs7VQryMqxUOjBb0KzGPKvrllhEqm6dsvUh6pLULyMjLU-OeBBwfboXERFccoZOvzA6Pr-JyDhIgnpfDNgT6inVwzznMRIhjqWzaRv0HhSBVnwwmSGRQQLdlx52cV6OM/w640-h360/H094+Tight+bend%252C+Whittlesey.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we have just come round the bend under a footbridge. It is said that a 70 foot boat is the maximum length that can get round this bend. At 57 feet Leo just touched the wall on the inside of the bend.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCwAv3qftykLTEBH1M7pSC_Mdj9tMGpZH8w5xpD7detY61hDdRX7Ul1l7B0Rgctv1vmHCt1hHw6Dj4iQEYZ6Qq1yKq7DJui0vrtBwBjgfUaB6Ozgp5OyN-pXOFsDsCcXVN0BaSo1cI4E/s1200/H099+Leo+at+Ashline+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCwAv3qftykLTEBH1M7pSC_Mdj9tMGpZH8w5xpD7detY61hDdRX7Ul1l7B0Rgctv1vmHCt1hHw6Dj4iQEYZ6Qq1yKq7DJui0vrtBwBjgfUaB6Ozgp5OyN-pXOFsDsCcXVN0BaSo1cI4E/w640-h360/H099+Leo+at+Ashline+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">lunch at Wetherspoons and </span>a night on the town moorings at Whittlesey on Wednesday morning we came a short way to Ashline Lock shown here. This took us down a further 6 or 7 feet and then we were definitely below sea level. The Middle Level Locks are only about 11 feet wide so they can take only one narrowboat at a time. They also use special windlasses to work the paddles and a dedicated key to open the gate to access the locks and other facilities.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa5S8L2Bwi4ooSOV09Zb5QcMRN35Z7KAaWuWpMujJSV06rmEHl3PYGhe2IhOwRQ0TUAU6fwqInBJRNpTquxlCJfZXjJtbmSm-WSMEY0KFqeRvGpqsz5er43j2mMZrlqUaJWNepQtCZ9U/s1200/H102+Skimming+the+Weed.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa5S8L2Bwi4ooSOV09Zb5QcMRN35Z7KAaWuWpMujJSV06rmEHl3PYGhe2IhOwRQ0TUAU6fwqInBJRNpTquxlCJfZXjJtbmSm-WSMEY0KFqeRvGpqsz5er43j2mMZrlqUaJWNepQtCZ9U/w640-h360/H102+Skimming+the+Weed.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming out of Whittlesey on the Whittlesey Dyke, the channel widens and becomes very straight. We came across three little boats clearing weed from the channel. One cut the weed and the other two scooped up the cut weed as this one in the picture is doing.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvRd6hFb9_MsR_qHUZfQkG38II-r6TOv_JgO9TZXo8H4S04_vM1ZTEfKrHwgV6GESsNZ80GiOscyxkhK9W9pmjn73s_-2_GCv_KhKyKwGMjDbZfxF9M-RNEQy95d508hfOjHhtGExn3M/s1200/H103+Dumping+the+Weed.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvRd6hFb9_MsR_qHUZfQkG38II-r6TOv_JgO9TZXo8H4S04_vM1ZTEfKrHwgV6GESsNZ80GiOscyxkhK9W9pmjn73s_-2_GCv_KhKyKwGMjDbZfxF9M-RNEQy95d508hfOjHhtGExn3M/w640-h360/H103+Dumping+the+Weed.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This one is dumping the cut and scooped weed on the side of the channel to rot.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7WSzapa_ZGUomSVAmY1InVGleO1cEWGS1VuYqv-i7Uc4bCJ8b35pypGlpcmSjsLNVowZa1HzXoN1f9MbsLWhwZGDC9wHqSFU1ZpyXTS1s8H32NwYeunwpWi_7znXBuYuFAfoqcZL5dI/s2048/H116+Crossing+the+line.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7WSzapa_ZGUomSVAmY1InVGleO1cEWGS1VuYqv-i7Uc4bCJ8b35pypGlpcmSjsLNVowZa1HzXoN1f9MbsLWhwZGDC9wHqSFU1ZpyXTS1s8H32NwYeunwpWi_7znXBuYuFAfoqcZL5dI/w360-h640/H116+Crossing+the+line.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The route we followed through the Middle Levels this time was the main route between the two rivers but there are alternative routes and other waterways that we have cruised before. Most days we passed several junctions with other navigable waterways. The only real constraint is the low clearance at some of the bridges on these other routes. We require headroom of just short of 6 feet but some of the bridges have only 5 feet of clearance so we can't pass these. At Floods Ferry, we turned left onto the old course of the river Nene. A right turn takes you to Benwick and Ramsey. We soon crossed the Greenwich Meridian marked by this sign. So for the first time this year we are east of Greenwich.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKvPgAKyqPSeqkOClPIeHhfQK3EywVMtE3xbRTgVFL7gcy8f_cmSn5MtyYQ_YhWyga05PHh8HCdzfLMwao07vU09sp_AzV7ExJi-ppijeL930GaJ74wJ3cABO0fnrjClWQVM188c_l3c/s1200/H121+Moored+in+March.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKvPgAKyqPSeqkOClPIeHhfQK3EywVMtE3xbRTgVFL7gcy8f_cmSn5MtyYQ_YhWyga05PHh8HCdzfLMwao07vU09sp_AzV7ExJi-ppijeL930GaJ74wJ3cABO0fnrjClWQVM188c_l3c/w640-h360/H121+Moored+in+March.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some 11 miles from Whittlesey we came to March, a reasonable sized town in the fens. Here you can see Leo moored on the town moorings. The flowers on the left are in a planter on a road bridge over the old course of the River Nene. These days its route to the sea straight on from Peterborough.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ29sPEzUqhiCNWGgxBi-OMLPlMvI9N96-0sg35VqzL5-ui0xFSgpJ_Jpj-pHL4Xj01uBW78e8XNMISpF2HNqFcLYb2BT4Va9-l2XIkAbx1vxNQTVTtiaQw1-5nCsjsweeOcNhMS748bY/s1200/H123+March+Flowers+on+railings.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ29sPEzUqhiCNWGgxBi-OMLPlMvI9N96-0sg35VqzL5-ui0xFSgpJ_Jpj-pHL4Xj01uBW78e8XNMISpF2HNqFcLYb2BT4Va9-l2XIkAbx1vxNQTVTtiaQw1-5nCsjsweeOcNhMS748bY/w640-h360/H123+March+Flowers+on+railings.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The flowers on the railings were wonderful.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw-auxsQz_I0RXWqNgV3T9TC_z1HYHHS0yglZs602cMRKRQzO9_kAE5RS_DvuqiJh3lY-8ZvnTFR9WIMIVewnH-mXwa2TMzD6MRABA019g0PxGPYsrz0JChGSnK4fojJFTNWbWbH6Ydw/s1200/J001+Coming+through+March.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw-auxsQz_I0RXWqNgV3T9TC_z1HYHHS0yglZs602cMRKRQzO9_kAE5RS_DvuqiJh3lY-8ZvnTFR9WIMIVewnH-mXwa2TMzD6MRABA019g0PxGPYsrz0JChGSnK4fojJFTNWbWbH6Ydw/w640-h360/J001+Coming+through+March.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is leaving March on Thursday to go just a few miles to Upwell. The channel is narrow and there are plenty of moored boats through the town.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEQVXT_4CwK5AHL495XqpczJFxajIa3Nq-Zfureomv4B3xRJ3IU5lF0u7KHD6mtYgjqW_AdqFMG8dS6DYDhnaCc21fNhC0Q7L8hTJauJBEKa47INhQf54uchP7iIIRrebUjLqxR06c1k/s1200/J003+Old+River+Nene.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEQVXT_4CwK5AHL495XqpczJFxajIa3Nq-Zfureomv4B3xRJ3IU5lF0u7KHD6mtYgjqW_AdqFMG8dS6DYDhnaCc21fNhC0Q7L8hTJauJBEKa47INhQf54uchP7iIIRrebUjLqxR06c1k/w640-h360/J003+Old+River+Nene.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The skies in the fens are huge and the waterways are often very straight, sometimes with no bends for a mile or more.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMXl7_uok6CwZas4Vo04M1fIR7L0QqWDVeSwEYcnfs9GevwRszxjOeuZ7Mv30zGzTHKfmzWKyyJOhnWaIFIcdZgrf3YJsl7TFhyBSPlRQ5_m1bDzrnvC7-BplJPPmdhiXq5bLcsRhjR4/s1200/J004+Wind+turbines.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMXl7_uok6CwZas4Vo04M1fIR7L0QqWDVeSwEYcnfs9GevwRszxjOeuZ7Mv30zGzTHKfmzWKyyJOhnWaIFIcdZgrf3YJsl7TFhyBSPlRQ5_m1bDzrnvC7-BplJPPmdhiXq5bLcsRhjR4/w640-h360/J004+Wind+turbines.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We cruised through a large wind farm with 25 - 30 turbines. They are widely spaced and it took us half an hour to pass them.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu17kACchyphenhyphentMlkLhpz4tlWtLF3SszUgCLoef8hUj_cALp7_yOds2bhmLZUneeqV1FRA_p3wSuqmZxIntdTOdXm3c98D5qU_oHTMWwtb7W5s9oqZ4NW1-ob_KWg1dOk1PPwP4bzdsCqbo/s1200/J013+Upwell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu17kACchyphenhyphentMlkLhpz4tlWtLF3SszUgCLoef8hUj_cALp7_yOds2bhmLZUneeqV1FRA_p3wSuqmZxIntdTOdXm3c98D5qU_oHTMWwtb7W5s9oqZ4NW1-ob_KWg1dOk1PPwP4bzdsCqbo/w640-h360/J013+Upwell.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Upwell runs into its sister village of Outwell and both have a road running either side of the narrow navigable channel. Before we reached here we had come up Marmont Priory Lock which took us back up 6 feet or so.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNSivQt64tdF0n8n61r8my42gULrYPanOcls_TMeiTsOvQH1fpUYY1-TySFxCMkyClu8HP7RGGFaL-dK9NR_YglUnLFedr1XnVT5hdemgWVA7aqmZyXLkRciTvaALPeL-SnM9iWNV-kU/s1200/J019+Upwell+Church+%2526+Five+Bells.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNSivQt64tdF0n8n61r8my42gULrYPanOcls_TMeiTsOvQH1fpUYY1-TySFxCMkyClu8HP7RGGFaL-dK9NR_YglUnLFedr1XnVT5hdemgWVA7aqmZyXLkRciTvaALPeL-SnM9iWNV-kU/w640-h360/J019+Upwell+Church+%2526+Five+Bells.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are approaching one of several low bridges in Upwell with St Peter's church and the Five Bells pub in the view. Unfortunately the Five Bells was closed.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rfp99EjMJsW4tuyECgNa4gu4G5V7MjO-2lMyQIbdlpwN9OS7BQ7pAHvr0ekIiBmSmLOd_RRF5ZP6PgCKmb9i45DmmSy6vZUbe6seBVK77F5D_S_5dmj7VDLUyTuhOgbK330r5RbFB6I/s1200/J020+Low+bridge%252C+Upwell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rfp99EjMJsW4tuyECgNa4gu4G5V7MjO-2lMyQIbdlpwN9OS7BQ7pAHvr0ekIiBmSmLOd_RRF5ZP6PgCKmb9i45DmmSy6vZUbe6seBVK77F5D_S_5dmj7VDLUyTuhOgbK330r5RbFB6I/w640-h360/J020+Low+bridge%252C+Upwell.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This gives an idea just how low these bridges are! You might notice that we have taken the tubs of flowers down off the roof.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOssIZSk8yiN9xbBH8kDau6bwrpRx4qjafX8DFgrGrOypDJ0LttwEyIXsvL-XcsMRVpd3JXCdjp5LTivGrgLIFxaikPoexOI3pko9gki3jZ7bJVqRjWIwvTxKqgSg18ULt4rU9LbyB4E/s1200/J024+Jaunting+car%252C+Upwell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOssIZSk8yiN9xbBH8kDau6bwrpRx4qjafX8DFgrGrOypDJ0LttwEyIXsvL-XcsMRVpd3JXCdjp5LTivGrgLIFxaikPoexOI3pko9gki3jZ7bJVqRjWIwvTxKqgSg18ULt4rU9LbyB4E/w640-h360/J024+Jaunting+car%252C+Upwell.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Walking around Upwell yesterday evening we heard the sound of horse hooves and this jaunting car came along the road surprisingly fast. We only just caught it in the photo as it passed a parked car.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7UwWhjnRKCoRrBEcBHzG137eLeXsUuv6J7HeMFny8Ixk3xv14yflxZ8ueE0u3l8O0x1t8i-tntojx55jVHuYQWBCykJKLFHykw2HupbTjG9h1WIGva5NdioFkXvzFZIeKgloouLRnY4/s1200/J027+Up+to+Date+Cottage%252C+Outwell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7UwWhjnRKCoRrBEcBHzG137eLeXsUuv6J7HeMFny8Ixk3xv14yflxZ8ueE0u3l8O0x1t8i-tntojx55jVHuYQWBCykJKLFHykw2HupbTjG9h1WIGva5NdioFkXvzFZIeKgloouLRnY4/w640-h360/J027+Up+to+Date+Cottage%252C+Outwell.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Friday we cruised just 6 miles to Salter's Lode. Coming through Outwell we passed this cottage with a most intriguing name. It is called 'Up to Date Cottage' and that may have been right in 1901.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89Pg-Rk3WNnT4sFalr0QQxUaLTGAvY1qlE84bjyDs_TofnxtuPZXHw97WnrZAAcdUmUGqSZTMzeBB_Zbdj7Zmnmvja9wRijp5txSpv8qbaaSNC8BOtZ-Jr0HobPEPUnsNWi0JjmyVmek/s1200/J028+Outwell+Low+Bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89Pg-Rk3WNnT4sFalr0QQxUaLTGAvY1qlE84bjyDs_TofnxtuPZXHw97WnrZAAcdUmUGqSZTMzeBB_Zbdj7Zmnmvja9wRijp5txSpv8qbaaSNC8BOtZ-Jr0HobPEPUnsNWi0JjmyVmek/w640-h360/J028+Outwell+Low+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are approaching another of the very low bridges, this one in Outwell.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPs2rYlJdk5hQkSYQhqVapWZSZkf-FE_n0mbRWEMTtDVUbBILYigI9W-Z7pkP20b3o7igWEyamGXqea3glcO43DEQuhzFMo6HLLvYKQbTbbrt9r7wz7I5rKd9sEe2wW0uz2ZhEc_HNsU/s1200/J031+Crossing+Mullincourt+Aqueduct.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPs2rYlJdk5hQkSYQhqVapWZSZkf-FE_n0mbRWEMTtDVUbBILYigI9W-Z7pkP20b3o7igWEyamGXqea3glcO43DEQuhzFMo6HLLvYKQbTbbrt9r7wz7I5rKd9sEe2wW0uz2ZhEc_HNsU/w640-h360/J031+Crossing+Mullincourt+Aqueduct.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the route today has been either shallow or very weedy or both. The 6 miles should have taken us an hour and a half, but in fact took us over 2 hours. This photo is taken from the Mullincourt Aqueduct which we crossed coming away from Outwell. Below us is the Middle Levels Main Drain which is now the principal route for sending the water pumped out of the fields to the sea via the tidal River Great Ouse. You can bring a boat to the aqueduct along the channel below by turning right before Marmont Priory Lock but beyond the aqueduct </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">it is not navigable</span>.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLzC19H_rOKetdlA7i-pW1k4claFhyjIEC_CAaYR4GwZEoc-KHBMIMDfXh8ciFqtVaRhemIM1CQOUDRN_BpRcr4ZfJoEMSRuAiMEeY7fQwBD9zZZ9OmEbV4yu5bVuAgooODbEKN_6Qk0/s1200/J035+Loads+of+Spuds.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLzC19H_rOKetdlA7i-pW1k4claFhyjIEC_CAaYR4GwZEoc-KHBMIMDfXh8ciFqtVaRhemIM1CQOUDRN_BpRcr4ZfJoEMSRuAiMEeY7fQwBD9zZZ9OmEbV4yu5bVuAgooODbEKN_6Qk0/w640-h360/J035+Loads+of+Spuds.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This seems to be where our chips come from! There are huge fields of very healthy looking potato plants around here. We have been wondering how many tons of potatoes grow here and the weight added to the crop every day.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtugPmiFcEhXx73sivs4OMs-BsL8w8zlar2KxJqkMf-wK-YBCncO07c2jiYPeXBCIHIz4XiGMXz5Rda7SDg4Za6v0vZTeOMhscoRTS38lh1udo6c40aJF1J89ClVhXgRoq0cfWj3h5Wgw/s1200/J037+Bear+Fishing.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtugPmiFcEhXx73sivs4OMs-BsL8w8zlar2KxJqkMf-wK-YBCncO07c2jiYPeXBCIHIz4XiGMXz5Rda7SDg4Za6v0vZTeOMhscoRTS38lh1udo6c40aJF1J89ClVhXgRoq0cfWj3h5Wgw/w640-h360/J037+Bear+Fishing.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming through the tiny village of Nordelph where the weed was particularly bad, we passed this greedy bear with one fish in each paw. Surprising what you find on the Middle Levels!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklqbMCkwjUXeSSh-aZz1FPysLvlt6FzJTO3t-5dKJ_9Uuj3A0giHd5EpJYmSkiwT4wGLd03aAbcD2yqzVIadC3cwNkX10yJrNlgNFOHKPV7ljtpYdjwgdBpmTjgSj4WOQFocPMSviTJw/s1200/J041+Tidal+Ouse+at+Salter%2527s+Lode+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklqbMCkwjUXeSSh-aZz1FPysLvlt6FzJTO3t-5dKJ_9Uuj3A0giHd5EpJYmSkiwT4wGLd03aAbcD2yqzVIadC3cwNkX10yJrNlgNFOHKPV7ljtpYdjwgdBpmTjgSj4WOQFocPMSviTJw/w640-h360/J041+Tidal+Ouse+at+Salter%2527s+Lode+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And so to Salters Lode where the lock gives access to the tidal river. On Saturday (10th July) we are booked to go through the lock and then travel just half a mile or so on the tide to Denver Sluice where we can once more come onto non-tidal water. The tidal River Great Ouse is to the left with Well Creek, the non-tidal waterway to Upwell and Outwell through the lock to the right of the lock-keeper's house.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPttVbOisqcJypcta8lFYer98UhQ8a3kSYeppgTYHxuFI6tyo8zblnIWBoJ7T0SHGfOxR1pRZpxrTtA_YoCfHn67yl78ayOWl2CLPhLkMWLyuw_eQuxAUeoU5FxyYCOphJoHnsCXNSqM/s1200/J044+Denver+Sluice.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPttVbOisqcJypcta8lFYer98UhQ8a3kSYeppgTYHxuFI6tyo8zblnIWBoJ7T0SHGfOxR1pRZpxrTtA_YoCfHn67yl78ayOWl2CLPhLkMWLyuw_eQuxAUeoU5FxyYCOphJoHnsCXNSqM/w640-h360/J044+Denver+Sluice.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Friday afternoon we walked up to Denver Sluice which is shown in this photo. The lock is to the left, the rest of the structure being a series of sluices which release the water coming down the Great Ouse when the tide is low. This is a complicated set of waterways. Parallel with the Great Ouse is the non tidal Old Bedford River which was built in the 17th century by the Dutchman Cornelius Vermuyden and the tidal New Bedford River which largely replaces it. There are more waterways the other side of the Denver Sluice which I'll tell you about in an update to this blog tomorrow when we get there.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>So now it is Saturday. We have crossed the tidal section and to complete the story here is an account of the crossing this morning:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl9YFvIiv6N7dqtOA7xmKXYHeiPZtPc8W9eMNTLLY0J8LiyOp5expvrgzXWhsqNXmj8fxLva-cOKrdTYLLZXN0hLlyc6KUkBl5TG2MlGGyGEM-GAqQ1d4kKrWoCGvTU_p4tZFCSPQm4M/s1200/J048+Salters+Lode+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl9YFvIiv6N7dqtOA7xmKXYHeiPZtPc8W9eMNTLLY0J8LiyOp5expvrgzXWhsqNXmj8fxLva-cOKrdTYLLZXN0hLlyc6KUkBl5TG2MlGGyGEM-GAqQ1d4kKrWoCGvTU_p4tZFCSPQm4M/w640-h360/J048+Salters+Lode+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our booked time of departure this morning was 8.45 am but tides can be unpredictable and the water was much too high at that point to get under the beams to exit the lock. So we had to sit and wait for about three-quarters of an hour. Finally the lockie invited us into the lock which like most of the Middle Level Locks is only wide enough for one narrowboat at a time. We had to go up onto the river so one paddle in the guillotine you can see ahead of us was opened and slowly we went up until the guillotine itself could be lifted to let us out onto the tidal river. The lockie then told us of a change of plan because there were 5 "sea" boats coming out of Denver heading to King's Lynn downstream. They have priority because time is short for the tide to help them down there.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEG4Eh-DuOFLFtE1KAc_K-L7-UqAwBaS6BSmo4VkK8_OlPpDst-CX7VQt1dH3ox5zhY1y4X3mOGtSBHE4G1ELtSYVBLPrwKffYA_VsMWm8TX7WhC5iOj8pHUhhr5XcQuGv0Rz8H3Ira0/s1200/J052+Waiting+outside+Salters+Lode+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEG4Eh-DuOFLFtE1KAc_K-L7-UqAwBaS6BSmo4VkK8_OlPpDst-CX7VQt1dH3ox5zhY1y4X3mOGtSBHE4G1ELtSYVBLPrwKffYA_VsMWm8TX7WhC5iOj8pHUhhr5XcQuGv0Rz8H3Ira0/w640-h360/J052+Waiting+outside+Salters+Lode+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is Leo sitting on the wall below the lock waiting to go up river. In the meantime a narrowboat following us called Girl Ia (it's Cornish) was locked through.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu5qJIgZ3SVniBflw7Jxx0xwGiPSg6whJk-Dnk4RHBHWEs1LqMl1I_1C8DOGVPaUa39XOnZVAOCFzKpRasPOHkITN_tQi1voxSkMVsCJhPlAyedx3Qhhge0wxR2pJhHcT6fLEFWtXNM8/s1200/J055+Another+Sea+Boat+passing.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu5qJIgZ3SVniBflw7Jxx0xwGiPSg6whJk-Dnk4RHBHWEs1LqMl1I_1C8DOGVPaUa39XOnZVAOCFzKpRasPOHkITN_tQi1voxSkMVsCJhPlAyedx3Qhhge0wxR2pJhHcT6fLEFWtXNM8/w640-h360/J055+Another+Sea+Boat+passing.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is one of the sea going boats passing the lock. The wash was pretty bad even though they had slowed down to go past the lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YFeng9YxThIrasH-QFVx428jChYoNu1bTbye_Qbxc5b2vt5694Ju_-8k4C17exgOeaYRD9xz6OO6OI8oPbX3IDmdkje2dL4v-Tr1gX09F6cBL4CWw3UF9C8xIlNBAbmlVjJI5lKBd2I/s1200/J056+Guillotine+open%252C+Girl+Ia+behind+us.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YFeng9YxThIrasH-QFVx428jChYoNu1bTbye_Qbxc5b2vt5694Ju_-8k4C17exgOeaYRD9xz6OO6OI8oPbX3IDmdkje2dL4v-Tr1gX09F6cBL4CWw3UF9C8xIlNBAbmlVjJI5lKBd2I/w640-h360/J056+Guillotine+open%252C+Girl+Ia+behind+us.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In this photo you can see that the guillotine is raised and the second narrowboat can just about be seen behind us.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVmvfVjKxLgQbLydyJNbSdMCwVzakz0ntFlxBRocQE5RxFs9UovanaKPzDRU34RlLwzSggYrWQv7EAh2s0jiiuRdkana_80slT-0xHFVXKElOmpJM5hkn8MZyUkA2s2Yxb7UC2XnOqZY/s1200/J057+We%2527re+Off.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVmvfVjKxLgQbLydyJNbSdMCwVzakz0ntFlxBRocQE5RxFs9UovanaKPzDRU34RlLwzSggYrWQv7EAh2s0jiiuRdkana_80slT-0xHFVXKElOmpJM5hkn8MZyUkA2s2Yxb7UC2XnOqZY/w640-h360/J057+We%2527re+Off.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And finally we were given the all clear to head for Denver. The exit from Salters Lode Lock faces downstream so the advice is to give it lots of wellie and turn right as quickly as you can to face upstream. The tide was ebbing so there is a tendency for the boat to head down rather than upstream. So Ian is following the advice and leaving with the engine at about 2,000 rpm which is quite a lot for us and swinging right.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjbBpvVq7ig4Ak8dfs3DFr-hNzkZ1p9j_iXi2dJ1oEyuNpsJ_Eb03zSrpCEmT7DDjDRSqGz8YLrInorhOkVEYvRyuohEMncRi2aX5IFkBCNWGk_vm39qEj74cGoyAXqXTVbzw72Fh00U/s1200/J060+Girl+Ia+behind+us.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjbBpvVq7ig4Ak8dfs3DFr-hNzkZ1p9j_iXi2dJ1oEyuNpsJ_Eb03zSrpCEmT7DDjDRSqGz8YLrInorhOkVEYvRyuohEMncRi2aX5IFkBCNWGk_vm39qEj74cGoyAXqXTVbzw72Fh00U/w640-h360/J060+Girl+Ia+behind+us.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This view like the last one was taken by Helen standing on the front of the boat. Here we are having turned and now heading up river. The lock keeper's house is on the left bank and you can see Girl Ia coming out of the lock behind us and still to fully make the turn upstream. By this point Ian had dropped the revs first to 1800 and then further to 1600.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwrIortNMLNKyBKk2N3CfMG0LwQi405KGLZQquejfM48rKKGppNOcNlHum8jiL9CEfuPCj-0XDy5Sz8pa39FTqC_J56c4AEXqYMNJeGktPYhF9yoOvnHQZ4ttIJnl2HtP-dROiiT8agA/s1200/J063+Denver+Sluice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwrIortNMLNKyBKk2N3CfMG0LwQi405KGLZQquejfM48rKKGppNOcNlHum8jiL9CEfuPCj-0XDy5Sz8pa39FTqC_J56c4AEXqYMNJeGktPYhF9yoOvnHQZ4ttIJnl2HtP-dROiiT8agA/w640-h360/J063+Denver+Sluice.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Denver Sluice is less than half a mile from Salter's Lode. The lock is to the left and the rest of the structure controls sluices that let out the excess water from the non tidal River Great Ouse to head down to King's Lynn and the Wash when the tide is low. What happens when the tide is high? Fortunately there are other channels that can take the excess water</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">including a relief channel that takes water much further down towards King's Lynn and there is even a channel that takes water to Essex for the folk there to use.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtAsVRt-3otkPFVq_13QM46utSBUbihDbyCysZvwbbWWwftyIFiX_r0tZ_nISThKAGCaDQ426T8r3xbjFrl6O6mukZmDXMNT0qmq1E-04HBy2vZCtj4izB3N0mMBekdg7TbWeiMPtGRY/s1200/J065+In+Denver+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtAsVRt-3otkPFVq_13QM46utSBUbihDbyCysZvwbbWWwftyIFiX_r0tZ_nISThKAGCaDQ426T8r3xbjFrl6O6mukZmDXMNT0qmq1E-04HBy2vZCtj4izB3N0mMBekdg7TbWeiMPtGRY/w640-h360/J065+In+Denver+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Denver Lock is wide enough to take two narrowboats so we waited there for a few minutes for Girl Ia to join us before the guillotine behind us was brought down by the lockie and the lock filled to allow us to go up a few feet onto the non-tidal Great Ouse.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzJF9muJ0pY-Dv-9llej4707I7gf4CVxVyC6WlK3cvX2hYq7xCFE9IX-PLwvUXptkkrMUvz3kXR07wSuhyphenhyphenGM0KOEhK4CL_hUxXN-Q1MmGEgHnVRe49Pt1i1vBi5tBg1K1EbcQeIJyjzM/s2048/J067+Leaving+Denver+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzJF9muJ0pY-Dv-9llej4707I7gf4CVxVyC6WlK3cvX2hYq7xCFE9IX-PLwvUXptkkrMUvz3kXR07wSuhyphenhyphenGM0KOEhK4CL_hUxXN-Q1MmGEgHnVRe49Pt1i1vBi5tBg1K1EbcQeIJyjzM/w360-h640/J067+Leaving+Denver+Lock.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here we are coming out of the lock onto the Great Ouse above the tide.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The passage is not difficult provided boaters listen to the advice from the lock keeper and do what he says. Obviously things could go wrong and since we crossed against the ebb tide a mistake or engine failure could push the boat out towards the Wash. But this is a very short section of tidal river, it is fairly straight and probably a good first tidal passage. Interestingly a hire boat was coming across this morning after our two narrowboats, so it can be done by inexperienced crews. Everyone has to start somewhere.</p><p>So where are we off to now? The Great Ouse has four tributaries all of which are navigable as well as the main river which can be followed as far as Bedford. Tonight we are at Hilgay on the River Wissey, one of those tributaries. Watch our next update to see where we go.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-68838789134047350372021-07-03T12:48:00.002-07:002021-07-03T12:48:46.839-07:00Nene Locks and other delights<p>This posting on our blog is less a narrative of where we've been and more a recognition of some of the delights of the journey. Do let us know what you think of this new approach. </p><p>So let's start with the peculiarities of the Nene locks compared to those commonly met on the canals:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66pu3TTQcCOTx_ktGb6vjHQKDOxdCV0xPz5cmmu-vwBTtMcfQGjVA_9qBngHJBYLP1JrVaUccP0hSabFFSLeUy3TpRZ_jov-kphCv93QY_EUIGNqgK52R-wIFPK3LVc-6wOkn67lkimg/s1200/G073+Weston+Favell+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66pu3TTQcCOTx_ktGb6vjHQKDOxdCV0xPz5cmmu-vwBTtMcfQGjVA_9qBngHJBYLP1JrVaUccP0hSabFFSLeUy3TpRZ_jov-kphCv93QY_EUIGNqgK52R-wIFPK3LVc-6wOkn67lkimg/w640-h360/G073+Weston+Favell+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming out of Northampton the first few locks have customary 'V' gates at each end of the lock. But here at Weston Favell Lock is something which is more typical of the Nene Locks. Here we have 'V' gates at the upstream end and a guillotine at the lower end. The only snag with these is that boaters are expected to leave the guillotine in the up position. So, going down, you have first to lower the guillotine and then fill the lock by opening the paddles in the top gates. Most locks have electric guillotines but they are pretty slow, especially at Wadenhoe where a temporary and much lower geared motor has been put on. Reckon on at least 40 minutes to pass through that one.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4zVMixnO7tHSN4pLxx638bgbM9Lhkre7seO-0EwYN6nMNPoHwma-JCr88301Zzb21B6bgQKMR8wWu7QDUO6GxVPx1Z3vPRwAeQUANaTnt8U3OhaZS3Bze3n_ngh0LhTBk9c469vilM4/s1200/G077+Waterfall+at+Earls+Barton+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4zVMixnO7tHSN4pLxx638bgbM9Lhkre7seO-0EwYN6nMNPoHwma-JCr88301Zzb21B6bgQKMR8wWu7QDUO6GxVPx1Z3vPRwAeQUANaTnt8U3OhaZS3Bze3n_ngh0LhTBk9c469vilM4/w640-h360/G077+Waterfall+at+Earls+Barton+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These are the upstream mitre gates at Earls Barton. Note the wide gap above water level to allow excess flood water through and in this case a waterfall. In times of flood some of the locks have the mitre gates chained open and the guillotine is partially opened to allow movement of flood waters downstream. In these circumstances obviously boats are not allowed to use those locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XDdvuupbzxTVz5sXDkmXBL_bOixJlF3YkQpgu8qdmMTGPFl0rhpr4RYTWqfd4iWQ4IcBQCl00lWW8gTM6b5OpHsPutThTTXZjgUudKuZ1ZuUlf3N8_z2IiQVdhZbS1V3xI0t6N9j06I/s1200/G107+Upper+Ringstead+Lock+Wheel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XDdvuupbzxTVz5sXDkmXBL_bOixJlF3YkQpgu8qdmMTGPFl0rhpr4RYTWqfd4iWQ4IcBQCl00lWW8gTM6b5OpHsPutThTTXZjgUudKuZ1ZuUlf3N8_z2IiQVdhZbS1V3xI0t6N9j06I/w640-h360/G107+Upper+Ringstead+Lock+Wheel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now most of the guillotines are electric but there are usually 6 manual locks where you have to turn a large wheel to wind them up and down. Just at present there are </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">7 because Titchmarsh has been given a wheel to provide boaters with extra exercise. </span>This can be quite a chore and here you see Helen hard at it. The balance changes according to whether the gate is in the water or above it and different gates are harder or easier in any event. We have found that a screwdriver pushed through a hole in the wheel makes the job easier. In any event the manual ones are faster to operate than the electric ones. The first lift on the electric ones is very slight to allow the level to fall before making a full lift. On the manual ones you have to remember to do the same.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>For the rest of this update here are some varied delights of our cruising:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamq5qjTrfQlYbcauB3FYp4VQNcUXu3_5aHSi8NgiX6OgDLK9awKrYZLUe0G9kmy1jD5zLhDNDREYaJZCngJfCZTTEk6_WDHpLW-qYfziTseg92fW5uMxjOgZxZWCCNS4djHfX4R4YhyphenhyphenA/s1200/G130+Meadow+Brown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamq5qjTrfQlYbcauB3FYp4VQNcUXu3_5aHSi8NgiX6OgDLK9awKrYZLUe0G9kmy1jD5zLhDNDREYaJZCngJfCZTTEk6_WDHpLW-qYfziTseg92fW5uMxjOgZxZWCCNS4djHfX4R4YhyphenhyphenA/w640-h360/G130+Meadow+Brown.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We are fairly sure that this is Meadow Brown butterfly.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7XNXCOYfqYOuidT9ohZq37ZbL2bDuPASYtf8Ymwc7Gziix3exNgfJYFRsACPxPONOs0kcHzg0rMrL1A19BikzDLV_nLylhKKfDXAqsCLXEil0VdmcSnbnGdfrk2BAn0g3VX8wGiI7dQ/s2048/G132+Wadenhoe+Dovecot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7XNXCOYfqYOuidT9ohZq37ZbL2bDuPASYtf8Ymwc7Gziix3exNgfJYFRsACPxPONOs0kcHzg0rMrL1A19BikzDLV_nLylhKKfDXAqsCLXEil0VdmcSnbnGdfrk2BAn0g3VX8wGiI7dQ/w360-h640/G132+Wadenhoe+Dovecot.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the dovecot at Wadenhoe. Wadenhoe is a delightful quiet village and well worth a visit. We moored outside the King's Head and allowed ourselves to be tempted in for lunch and dinner. In our guide to the Nene, we've read that the dovecot was built in 1650 but according to a plaque on site, it dates from 1800 so we're not quite sure how old it is.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7SK0YuCSVd2pjrHr-7W3Rb96FZolqdkE55qVp0RWld6fJu1sbHVOwSvrEj50vx6KjYilfpxLJDOenETYLpqjii3G4lGwoA_x6slpCjg71d423ftGOuusCO0TwuFqZnfRmCNa7V7ktuw/s2048/G133+Inside+Wadenhoe+Dovecot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7SK0YuCSVd2pjrHr-7W3Rb96FZolqdkE55qVp0RWld6fJu1sbHVOwSvrEj50vx6KjYilfpxLJDOenETYLpqjii3G4lGwoA_x6slpCjg71d423ftGOuusCO0TwuFqZnfRmCNa7V7ktuw/w360-h640/G133+Inside+Wadenhoe+Dovecot.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Inside you can see all the 600+ nest boxes and a rotating ladder that allowed access. The doves were kept for food, both eggs and birds were eaten.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hPfAibafhc2yCk5HLOPulfIb-2qBPgMbAsjbvFQoLLmWrDpaIpXGXzq7QAwJiy6ey7RtTkVcR63DMBB3CzzIQzkrQZjgFZ4psNy3YEyAEaEXF96RPcfqj0fbT0ynPUX97h551QjnpZ8/s1200/G134+Wadenhoe+Dovecot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hPfAibafhc2yCk5HLOPulfIb-2qBPgMbAsjbvFQoLLmWrDpaIpXGXzq7QAwJiy6ey7RtTkVcR63DMBB3CzzIQzkrQZjgFZ4psNy3YEyAEaEXF96RPcfqj0fbT0ynPUX97h551QjnpZ8/w640-h360/G134+Wadenhoe+Dovecot.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the view looking up. Not a good idea if it were occupied!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ3Mm3qb81Yk84EUp721mdyjMk_3cIFOrDi0ww79NFuYy_5mFFskJI2rD6cJvP31PopnryYSM6eARtK2yEZL5_SQXRpkzHc71tJMFrD8wA1zqAMYba5GcjkXOCMjcPUNyMzGLSbz3YjA/s2048/G135+Nesting+boxes%252C+Wadenhoe+Dovecot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ3Mm3qb81Yk84EUp721mdyjMk_3cIFOrDi0ww79NFuYy_5mFFskJI2rD6cJvP31PopnryYSM6eARtK2yEZL5_SQXRpkzHc71tJMFrD8wA1zqAMYba5GcjkXOCMjcPUNyMzGLSbz3YjA/w360-h640/G135+Nesting+boxes%252C+Wadenhoe+Dovecot.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is a close up of the nesting boxes made of lath and plaster.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3R3O5W2v2Ynxc6CilxQrFgAn34FyFJJR4ZUMpUjuqIFKp6r9-kdB-T79LpIxOLTygTBzMhLeziXnBfcWsLf56Xz932p40HUk0vEnsol4KNgNTRP7gMI7y1rlEhsx-OX3T6xPoqlgh3o/s1200/H018+Fotheringhay+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1200" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3R3O5W2v2Ynxc6CilxQrFgAn34FyFJJR4ZUMpUjuqIFKp6r9-kdB-T79LpIxOLTygTBzMhLeziXnBfcWsLf56Xz932p40HUk0vEnsol4KNgNTRP7gMI7y1rlEhsx-OX3T6xPoqlgh3o/w640-h442/H018+Fotheringhay+Church.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fotheringhay, famous as the place where Mary Queen of Scots was executed and Richard III was born has a splendid church which is a real landmark of cruising the Nene.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lfnjgFSZcw6Y0DgnEPdF_BPgJuEThIWdjrYLtKII6t8qbOQ87Hen636jDcIqYP5Hl4PPW4vtwIqh_3p16V3sMDkIVpI_j9TRzDQtWAUpfC5o2EBg39VSRaw34TmWZfzCwRJ2NGBvbGo/s1200/H028+1890+Graffiti%252C+on+Fotheringhay+Church.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lfnjgFSZcw6Y0DgnEPdF_BPgJuEThIWdjrYLtKII6t8qbOQ87Hen636jDcIqYP5Hl4PPW4vtwIqh_3p16V3sMDkIVpI_j9TRzDQtWAUpfC5o2EBg39VSRaw34TmWZfzCwRJ2NGBvbGo/w640-h360/H028+1890+Graffiti%252C+on+Fotheringhay+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Surprisingly high up is some old graffiti.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurjLI_jyY-iEsLbzq9GNhPf1bLi4prEwZuKN1swFqO7drVu6G7w2C4whl_N-phFk3XaAnfnPpXYXbdcFgLep3kXW7UTM_O1ijo4sVpFDoTYc6ctNQBL5kKXWCOBh2Uza6kdzE_QVIhAo/s1200/H044+In+steam+at+Wansford+Station.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurjLI_jyY-iEsLbzq9GNhPf1bLi4prEwZuKN1swFqO7drVu6G7w2C4whl_N-phFk3XaAnfnPpXYXbdcFgLep3kXW7UTM_O1ijo4sVpFDoTYc6ctNQBL5kKXWCOBh2Uza6kdzE_QVIhAo/w640-h360/H044+In+steam+at+Wansford+Station.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last night (Friday 2 July) we moored at Wansford Station, a stop on the Nene Valley railway. We wandered up to the station and found this engine in steam.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChe0hQNI9NzAPIzrWztXCoTj4_Ko4frHEd0bfqerW8I37of2QxQTjrPvaEbVcCFqICxbAhaXAJYLpUVoW0xmpdP1JM12XuMqptMOL0mqsxBJwN9Zo7CIwXPu7P3YcCDwAZ6KWqZt1h-g/s1200/H053+Overton+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChe0hQNI9NzAPIzrWztXCoTj4_Ko4frHEd0bfqerW8I37of2QxQTjrPvaEbVcCFqICxbAhaXAJYLpUVoW0xmpdP1JM12XuMqptMOL0mqsxBJwN9Zo7CIwXPu7P3YcCDwAZ6KWqZt1h-g/w640-h360/H053+Overton+Lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today we've come just a short distance and a couple of locks to Overton Lake at Ferry Meadows, just short of Peterborough which will mark the end of our cruise down the Nene. A short and narrow channel allows boats to leave the river and enter the lake. It is a really novel experience taking a narrowboat out on such a wide stretch of water. The lake is plenty deep enough so we did a circuit of the lake </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">when we arrived</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a shame the weather was so grey </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-enBFF-0JQJ8Mu_guMi97Y721wRkETyD7yl0-r2QcLf4GKxX7_bnU9e_kZLKp60oBqiMDkimk7hk_P-eD99KcZlx4k-wMaf2ViR452lju4g5Nm-9Ghv8PYPBUtQLZqke4sSz9R3NrKM/s1200/H054+Hitching+a+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1200" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-enBFF-0JQJ8Mu_guMi97Y721wRkETyD7yl0-r2QcLf4GKxX7_bnU9e_kZLKp60oBqiMDkimk7hk_P-eD99KcZlx4k-wMaf2ViR452lju4g5Nm-9Ghv8PYPBUtQLZqke4sSz9R3NrKM/w640-h402/H054+Hitching+a+ride.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As well as allowing overnight mooring, there is plenty of wildlife here. One of the youngsters has hitched a ride.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghahZ6TvwEKPMLtUGc5DaejyQq-qPYsxanG8O-9lU2f8gCM4Dy4y2cJB9xZ8EAshFnt08on3JG0a_uk-scURSuMcEGqH3ecuZT78dqh3AtKaC0qfBGgYs10sz2tsQa7TRAk3PJtj0vpAU/s1200/H058+Black+Headed+visitor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghahZ6TvwEKPMLtUGc5DaejyQq-qPYsxanG8O-9lU2f8gCM4Dy4y2cJB9xZ8EAshFnt08on3JG0a_uk-scURSuMcEGqH3ecuZT78dqh3AtKaC0qfBGgYs10sz2tsQa7TRAk3PJtj0vpAU/w640-h360/H058+Black+Headed+visitor.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had some other visitors like this black headed gull. The Nene Park Trust have done a good job: wild life friendly planting, useful information boards, two cafes, boating, caravan and camp sites, small and large trains, cycle hire, playgrounds and plentiful paths. Plenty of people but not too many that it feels crowded. We were impressed.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkx1uYgsplUnnvtKDkx30H8hZ-EThGEj6HCdVmbnQ6tRqB5weFyreSEQ7EczahFnniyQ-vjer9nYV_GOdBty3tdd_yNAqLh2iYYJbUIW7pUeOG3MeUi4DfpADbTeYo45xZKWAdl45o80/s1200/H060+Moored+on+Overton+Lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkx1uYgsplUnnvtKDkx30H8hZ-EThGEj6HCdVmbnQ6tRqB5weFyreSEQ7EczahFnniyQ-vjer9nYV_GOdBty3tdd_yNAqLh2iYYJbUIW7pUeOG3MeUi4DfpADbTeYo45xZKWAdl45o80/w640-h360/H060+Moored+on+Overton+Lake.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not only that, but the sun has come out this evening.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We have a visit tomorrow from our grandson, not to mention his parents, so we plan to take them on a boat trip and show them around Nene Park. Should be fun for all of us. After that, we will press on into Peterborough for shopping and services before we leave the Nene on Tuesday passing through Stanground Lock (already booked) onto the Middle Levels.<br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-614206983627203592021-06-27T10:49:00.000-07:002021-06-27T10:49:00.477-07:00Just messing about on the river - the River Nene !<p> We are now gradually heading downstream on the Nene after coming down the 17 locks from the Grand Union Canal. We set off down the Northampton Arm on Wednesday (23rd June):</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb1dPwtqA5V9Q6lfDD5a68c4N4kLFn-3dz-F-Rck6FVoms2QDJO3EjE4eRrwX6mQwQDCdJqVgLM5GC8Rc_t2Fd8ypulW-6EdtePqGtUkuwSkknOLrhhtnxYBlAA6MrZNyXPXxbyXi4YE/s1200/G024+Gayton+Junction+sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb1dPwtqA5V9Q6lfDD5a68c4N4kLFn-3dz-F-Rck6FVoms2QDJO3EjE4eRrwX6mQwQDCdJqVgLM5GC8Rc_t2Fd8ypulW-6EdtePqGtUkuwSkknOLrhhtnxYBlAA6MrZNyXPXxbyXi4YE/w640-h360/G024+Gayton+Junction+sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the signpost at Gayton Junction where we turned off on Wednesday morning after deciding what licencing to buy for Environment Agency waters - we've opted for a gold licence giving us maximum flexibility. So we were heading for Northampton having come from Braunston. It may be less than 5 miles but there are 17 narrow locks down.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDkxYbznYJn06yosZI2lWwYUtFW8eKNAxBwsO1kGzly2m8qNmdzBsbw-KV5FzQZtYKHSrydN8OXBQhFsvq_q7YqlnEvnBxU0bwNDc0jGJB7-r6O_GBDm-XmN2DQlRysCYIWCk3v7CjXc/s1200/G027+Rothersthorpe+Top+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDkxYbznYJn06yosZI2lWwYUtFW8eKNAxBwsO1kGzly2m8qNmdzBsbw-KV5FzQZtYKHSrydN8OXBQhFsvq_q7YqlnEvnBxU0bwNDc0jGJB7-r6O_GBDm-XmN2DQlRysCYIWCk3v7CjXc/w640-h360/G027+Rothersthorpe+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Less than half a mile from the junction we came to the top lock. These are called the Rothersthorpe locks after the village we had visited the previous day. It is this flight of locks, being narrow, that prevents wider vessels coming up from the Nene onto the Grand Union.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63N5N3UeIlBwUV_9o58ImB7_wLVDArjU6BZfo3MDS24EqC4nm_wAV7MVgw_KbkITZP5LrBz2ADkDkfFnyZsPxVisjsr-HvRt-OAC4wcOw1djQRJYPhKLsDwfrk_l9u5MUSjgXxADDhzc/s1200/G029+%2527M%2527+Mosaic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63N5N3UeIlBwUV_9o58ImB7_wLVDArjU6BZfo3MDS24EqC4nm_wAV7MVgw_KbkITZP5LrBz2ADkDkfFnyZsPxVisjsr-HvRt-OAC4wcOw1djQRJYPhKLsDwfrk_l9u5MUSjgXxADDhzc/w640-h360/G029+%2527M%2527+Mosaic.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each of the 17 Locks has a mosaic of a letter which together spell "The Northampton Arm". Here is the 'm' from Northampton showing a mouse and a motor - a narrowboat with an engine commonly towing an unpowered butty.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpvbZQhAeN4E7qBZ484YDxk5lDt884Vsg08zxMMx6AY8sF7z0eRqEYbJpKWnetjmREbdKPG38D4MvAd0quDDixG4JTzE0Pxbx2JzIa8pFLXUksp0qEhfzqHrUsynvxQq0L4HRw9How6c/s1200/G030+Lift+bridge+on+flight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpvbZQhAeN4E7qBZ484YDxk5lDt884Vsg08zxMMx6AY8sF7z0eRqEYbJpKWnetjmREbdKPG38D4MvAd0quDDixG4JTzE0Pxbx2JzIa8pFLXUksp0qEhfzqHrUsynvxQq0L4HRw9How6c/w640-h360/G030+Lift+bridge+on+flight.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There used to be a lot of lift bridges down this flight of which some have been restored.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuwkUCf4t7GHBEqTlgVdLDJb_EuCEoB8UHJ44uOV9i_lOov8oVWrmYWvkq7gH208T_uiCUFLOsuIcY8psNAdGLCqx8y3JFq82hwu5tE6JSTUAgeynUV4ZWJjv9EWgBMB0F9-toKYccjQ/s1200/G032+Lock+under+M1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuwkUCf4t7GHBEqTlgVdLDJb_EuCEoB8UHJ44uOV9i_lOov8oVWrmYWvkq7gH208T_uiCUFLOsuIcY8psNAdGLCqx8y3JFq82hwu5tE6JSTUAgeynUV4ZWJjv9EWgBMB0F9-toKYccjQ/w640-h360/G032+Lock+under+M1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The main part of the flight has locks very close together and here at lock 12 we are under the M1. We met a boat here on its way up.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXOjA5VUZGEW0s8xhlm17UbZSq-zMyJVrNhJoc6qYmlBdOqJqtk_NlqBgvGs1FbTMl921P5G_Dt4cTLKVW6tY53DDnHgZOXP4S2v87mkRy81PrIo4NHSAhwdkFX4bqhKNTitorsk-QM4/s1200/G035+Clear+water+at+mooring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXOjA5VUZGEW0s8xhlm17UbZSq-zMyJVrNhJoc6qYmlBdOqJqtk_NlqBgvGs1FbTMl921P5G_Dt4cTLKVW6tY53DDnHgZOXP4S2v87mkRy81PrIo4NHSAhwdkFX4bqhKNTitorsk-QM4/w640-h360/G035+Clear+water+at+mooring.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After 13 locks we decided to call it a day and moored where a concrete side marked where a high pressure gas main crossed the canal. We were careful where we hammered in our mooring pins! The water was amazingly clear - it was not shallow, being about 4 feet deep, but the weeds looked as if you could touch them.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFSCRtdjiwyfrB4amymxfsaB4wNsn0GxDNGjlv3wDCcfL4RFwxjz2gZLtDCoHz26aVnqiWGzVUT9qtz-V8cSK4_RwaRwwEea5gG0eFUfDZIx1J9vllST19u7BAnQjmE_UtoyGULuFgmw/s2048/G038+Lift+Tower+Northampton.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFSCRtdjiwyfrB4amymxfsaB4wNsn0GxDNGjlv3wDCcfL4RFwxjz2gZLtDCoHz26aVnqiWGzVUT9qtz-V8cSK4_RwaRwwEea5gG0eFUfDZIx1J9vllST19u7BAnQjmE_UtoyGULuFgmw/w360-h640/G038+Lift+Tower+Northampton.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From miles away we could see this tower on the edge of Northampton. It was built by the Express Lift company to test their products and became the youngest listed building now it is no longer used.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_UTZcleEz56idYM5PIqBp0M23N16rNoZ6dtX0HVNCYaJcwWVmhasMeGfazsmWZWOr_b84fPV-Q932YofiWrIgj-vtbWRNSc9VxMotaofgYVpnDcY8djKrGs_x7niIvi9Fn1fzJ6x-3E/s1200/G040+Lock+17+onto+river.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_UTZcleEz56idYM5PIqBp0M23N16rNoZ6dtX0HVNCYaJcwWVmhasMeGfazsmWZWOr_b84fPV-Q932YofiWrIgj-vtbWRNSc9VxMotaofgYVpnDcY8djKrGs_x7niIvi9Fn1fzJ6x-3E/w640-h360/G040+Lock+17+onto+river.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday morning we carried on down to the river. This is the last lock, 17, before the Nene. We had to stop just below the lock to clear the propeller of weed as we were about to enter moving water. In fact the river is barely flowing, though it has a reputation for rising quickly in rain and had been on red boards (which means don't go boating) only a couple of days earlier.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXiVpl3mMtrS1WYWmoX4kGoE9r8t0asKNtMwHmSq8ufH0hDAmx1ijbVF_ndomTO81rVI8vXjl7UQgusEXcXXs6MkyedBuhhriGAH5Y1vTO7gCnw4K47h72zT_W21vGmCnqAEEygK-WOc/s1200/G043+Coming+to+South+Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXiVpl3mMtrS1WYWmoX4kGoE9r8t0asKNtMwHmSq8ufH0hDAmx1ijbVF_ndomTO81rVI8vXjl7UQgusEXcXXs6MkyedBuhhriGAH5Y1vTO7gCnw4K47h72zT_W21vGmCnqAEEygK-WOc/w640-h360/G043+Coming+to+South+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is Leo approaching South Bridge in Northampton. We moored just past here to restock and to have a look around the town.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFD1zE2b5FiknkyEO2TMxcTU4X5A1hUFxQ6_PuTUsB797XSxaPcy5nmYEYevvhG_4cjWd8GfpfDXZl84BoSthaz1epFes88k3Gx9wm0hVqXTdg94ucidrcIZa6HsQ0b4YMXqVDyzVDLQ/s1200/G048+Swiss+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1200" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFD1zE2b5FiknkyEO2TMxcTU4X5A1hUFxQ6_PuTUsB797XSxaPcy5nmYEYevvhG_4cjWd8GfpfDXZl84BoSthaz1epFes88k3Gx9wm0hVqXTdg94ucidrcIZa6HsQ0b4YMXqVDyzVDLQ/w640-h488/G048+Swiss+House.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just walking into town (after using the handy Morrisons) we passed this Swiss looking house.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciYcPzKjYoKklojk9CblnJwLP_eJ5mIV0ub-e9V2Lx02KkgeSu0uqNIzBsTSF7DlBh05gm_UFs4mvI3-CRZHViANykzejCX1YTOosZX0G7W7tuY6NCKM0Hwd4fZq5O_21tpe1KGbLa8s/s1200/G049+Guildhall%252C+Northampton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1200" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciYcPzKjYoKklojk9CblnJwLP_eJ5mIV0ub-e9V2Lx02KkgeSu0uqNIzBsTSF7DlBh05gm_UFs4mvI3-CRZHViANykzejCX1YTOosZX0G7W7tuY6NCKM0Hwd4fZq5O_21tpe1KGbLa8s/w640-h440/G049+Guildhall%252C+Northampton.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We've not been impressed with Northampton on previous visits but our views on the town have changed. This is the Guildhall which is a wonderfully preserved Victorian edifice which has been extended sympathetically in recent years.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PNQB-rLdtLZLvjmyxRE62zUbYPKZ17xvAC_-6Ttug2zAYmpgLOIMLfsianp0aPetZfY6-yBKk4AMMVUPtFN28XirftH51KpRBP0hPN-nOtD32DeXuCzto6XRIhO4750bkUcNuseosT8/s2048/G051+Francis+Crick%252C+Acquitane+Court.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGvuh3twr_uS3Hkk_MENEA8Xs5y86rD04wjgf9XgLdzFzCJ4-EegQG78gzh8rvfierukj3vjJteRHf05KVlBMMXU27xd3MJQcxvpctsV2fnVgExJ0wiR7204IL79QrrPPFD_bKio6gMo/s1200/G052+Acquitane+Court%252C+Guildhall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGvuh3twr_uS3Hkk_MENEA8Xs5y86rD04wjgf9XgLdzFzCJ4-EegQG78gzh8rvfierukj3vjJteRHf05KVlBMMXU27xd3MJQcxvpctsV2fnVgExJ0wiR7204IL79QrrPPFD_bKio6gMo/w640-h360/G052+Acquitane+Court%252C+Guildhall.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The extension is around a courtyard complete with bronze statues of local people.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_yKZs29z3JFMtnH79OAScMKGazu984YE-tbCg8ugTyooDhcqkJCpICRsTZXCIEHEz9-qd9l357Hth4REcTMsPQViHlKq5Eh1oEc0l99jLKqhnh3bZHGGFwTL2ii6RmHyWY1VEjxdKRk/s2048/G051+Francis+Crick%252C+Acquitane+Court.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_yKZs29z3JFMtnH79OAScMKGazu984YE-tbCg8ugTyooDhcqkJCpICRsTZXCIEHEz9-qd9l357Hth4REcTMsPQViHlKq5Eh1oEc0l99jLKqhnh3bZHGGFwTL2ii6RmHyWY1VEjxdKRk/w360-h640/G051+Francis+Crick%252C+Acquitane+Court.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the figures is Francis Crick of DNA fame, who we didn't know was brought up in the town. You can see that his statue is holding the famous double helix.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6nr0YxGVDe4CG4uoLwk0bEs91ofBu_5LE17JeyoL6JddICvDaGTMdAvn3rLoksODdBzClEEeoYdcsZgtbNyItpJFwn6gpqz1L2eL8XR-cOT_ejFNQm468VTr-vW2meQVxDZ-BH-ZSm0/s1200/G057+De+La+Pre+Abbey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6nr0YxGVDe4CG4uoLwk0bEs91ofBu_5LE17JeyoL6JddICvDaGTMdAvn3rLoksODdBzClEEeoYdcsZgtbNyItpJFwn6gpqz1L2eL8XR-cOT_ejFNQm468VTr-vW2meQVxDZ-BH-ZSm0/w640-h360/G057+De+La+Pre+Abbey.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Friday we decided to do some more sightseeing around Northampton. First we cycled south to Delapre Abbey and explored the walled garden, admired the parkland and treated ourselves to coffee at The Orangery cafe. We may well return to go inside the house when we come back this way.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKs4uaCbtvR9EtnFqpIK7cseY_lNvoCK4ynRiml-r5eV5Mo0FYw4hRXXrrV9W75Busg9vTdHZoR5lKVwwRwTyMbBcAsduLJ0aaff28wlxL6PuXRFDoSWX8bS7N0GtEZaqx67mIorUdmM/s1200/G060+Hall%252C+78+Derngate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKs4uaCbtvR9EtnFqpIK7cseY_lNvoCK4ynRiml-r5eV5Mo0FYw4hRXXrrV9W75Busg9vTdHZoR5lKVwwRwTyMbBcAsduLJ0aaff28wlxL6PuXRFDoSWX8bS7N0GtEZaqx67mIorUdmM/w640-h360/G060+Hall%252C+78+Derngate.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next visit was to 78 Derngate, a terraced Georgian house which was owned by the railway and ship modeller, W. J. Basset-Lowke who engaged the Scottish architect Charles Rennie Macintosh to refurbish the house. The results were amazing but not really restful to live in. The picture is of the hall/sitting room which was dark but intriguing. The panel to the right allows light in from the stairs to the lower floor.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAVPczJBRchpKoYTT3OBhPfYKCC2a-s5aUKfTvQa5-CHuaPQPmAlICOMeKBaZabt2iNV8yEuuVW4gMv5syF1QujvNtVPtcFSrpSCA0hkPWhcQ45ETsIDg7ejWVuzT1MPBFobED9A2T3s/s2048/G062+Guest+Bedroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAVPczJBRchpKoYTT3OBhPfYKCC2a-s5aUKfTvQa5-CHuaPQPmAlICOMeKBaZabt2iNV8yEuuVW4gMv5syF1QujvNtVPtcFSrpSCA0hkPWhcQ45ETsIDg7ejWVuzT1MPBFobED9A2T3s/w360-h640/G062+Guest+Bedroom.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The guest bedroom shown here would drive a visitor crazy. The parallel lines make the surfaces seem bent when they aren't. George Bernard Shaw slept there and when his hostess asked if he had any problems sleeping he is said to have replied "No madam, I sleep with my eyes shut".<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZH8Mrxig5pPQTI5XMknY7T2WfW5iQs1QPfq6Os4viNyPuMxe2nLTge2JWX6t83T4Kgj_i2EmtwFBjhURft8YsQ7JqeZFC3CS9nIdQa6VnunoIQdXd0FFTx6zxkRsCKrhuAV1sg-HdBk/s1200/G067+Entering+the+Washlands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZH8Mrxig5pPQTI5XMknY7T2WfW5iQs1QPfq6Os4viNyPuMxe2nLTge2JWX6t83T4Kgj_i2EmtwFBjhURft8YsQ7JqeZFC3CS9nIdQa6VnunoIQdXd0FFTx6zxkRsCKrhuAV1sg-HdBk/w640-h360/G067+Entering+the+Washlands.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After an excellent lunch at the Dining Room at 78 Derngate, we set off down river. Three locks brought us to this flood gate which gives access to the Washlands where water is accumulated in times of flood. A gate is pulled up from the bed of the channel keeping the flood water away from the town.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN9CroGADHezKyXrp0h8cRULaj-sb_zEeKW2SmHbX5dR5EFZVeJM0WyYJvdiLZpL-1hDxx2PqX1s5avid5JNNi0YosSr3GU64DvOZ-35f7oz67k5k5Dj4vBrNNG80FYxqaqgD_y2OUzI/s1200/G069+Cruising+the+Washlands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN9CroGADHezKyXrp0h8cRULaj-sb_zEeKW2SmHbX5dR5EFZVeJM0WyYJvdiLZpL-1hDxx2PqX1s5avid5JNNi0YosSr3GU64DvOZ-35f7oz67k5k5Dj4vBrNNG80FYxqaqgD_y2OUzI/w640-h360/G069+Cruising+the+Washlands.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Waters on the Washlands are wide and open.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAynS1vLfyriG12k9rtpDbBekGIUlP8OndkcpdznSwPQ3qLx5UdShtKHlSgZ6gybonQ406CA14gY3tMeb8pPwC4cwL9U6hPzvKRVj8yGEft3epPlqX0omzc7SLy-JKSiK3LUq6Qrn9OI/s1200/G070+Moored+on+the+Washlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAynS1vLfyriG12k9rtpDbBekGIUlP8OndkcpdznSwPQ3qLx5UdShtKHlSgZ6gybonQ406CA14gY3tMeb8pPwC4cwL9U6hPzvKRVj8yGEft3epPlqX0omzc7SLy-JKSiK3LUq6Qrn9OI/w640-h360/G070+Moored+on+the+Washlands.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the far end of the Washlands is this pontoon mooring where we spent Friday night. We took prime position looking out over the open waters. This mooring is open only in the summer as it is on the flood side of the gates. Later two other boats joined us.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR55Zcz4hsqndeKb9pM5FBBu_Zc3-LlA_W15_JE9OAMn7PxIFefEnkdIAN2F7r-ef-10dbRqwf1ZtZdn8CgIcC0jTkXIWZHl2-0kZK5iZ4OJ9Czg5vVwyV-du9GT1XyM4QnrRU3d8OOw/s1200/G073+Weston+Favell+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR55Zcz4hsqndeKb9pM5FBBu_Zc3-LlA_W15_JE9OAMn7PxIFefEnkdIAN2F7r-ef-10dbRqwf1ZtZdn8CgIcC0jTkXIWZHl2-0kZK5iZ4OJ9Czg5vVwyV-du9GT1XyM4QnrRU3d8OOw/w640-h360/G073+Weston+Favell+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday morning we went through the flood gate to Weston Favell Lock shown here. This was our first Nene Lock where the downstream gate is a guillotine. Most, including this one, are electric so can easily be lowered or raised by a finger pressing the button. However the process takes a long time. You have to leave the guillotine up so going downstream the locks are bound to be set against you.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbmneXinlYOIML48AGjD6RMqypffd6NKb4VQ7Pcgq2FY74sdzdbIX5W3UAMpK06hlDOqhpQqVqj5NWWrDtaW08GITRFOmcXczh54TMuKtGm7CR-Q2flSxLAnOV9lb8O4uZog6jHhOjhA/s1200/G074+Leaving+Weston+Favell+Lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1200" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbmneXinlYOIML48AGjD6RMqypffd6NKb4VQ7Pcgq2FY74sdzdbIX5W3UAMpK06hlDOqhpQqVqj5NWWrDtaW08GITRFOmcXczh54TMuKtGm7CR-Q2flSxLAnOV9lb8O4uZog6jHhOjhA/w640-h408/G074+Leaving+Weston+Favell+Lock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the view from the helm as the guillotine lifts. The boats in the lock cut below Weston Favell Lock are at the Northampton Boat Club.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzgL6EmM3J2p0mdO7Z0zo5zKbJ13aovjt3N8b331zsZw2btAok5gRS6KT3Fk3hVo4OLxe1fw3nHxib68Y9SNtY3DRUj4PZbX553rbmz1h8TULbhH0LlSl_Sq1oOiR8Xv-DuDHLkZwiaI/s1200/G080+Moored+above+Hardwater+Mill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzgL6EmM3J2p0mdO7Z0zo5zKbJ13aovjt3N8b331zsZw2btAok5gRS6KT3Fk3hVo4OLxe1fw3nHxib68Y9SNtY3DRUj4PZbX553rbmz1h8TULbhH0LlSl_Sq1oOiR8Xv-DuDHLkZwiaI/w640-h360/G080+Moored+above+Hardwater+Mill.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having stopped at White Mills Marina to join the Friends of the River Nene, we used one of their moorings on Saturday evening above Doddington Lock. It was pretty windy as the washing is demonstrating.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LwkjuMd8MIo6xwi5hmfITw4lhd6SW4ge9mB8xxM2yqQbGCGOTvC1ASXHwc9SF9g59ao0Vtu7Oerwj6Kv4Qqt7nOW9gjB83g2uxDSsXSepzfV9rrX-GMxVesr0qavWN9EJvLVbbF4lSg/s1200/G083+Great+White+Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1200" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LwkjuMd8MIo6xwi5hmfITw4lhd6SW4ge9mB8xxM2yqQbGCGOTvC1ASXHwc9SF9g59ao0Vtu7Oerwj6Kv4Qqt7nOW9gjB83g2uxDSsXSepzfV9rrX-GMxVesr0qavWN9EJvLVbbF4lSg/w640-h484/G083+Great+White+Egret.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> There were good views from the mooring of a lake with lots of bird life including a pair of great white egrets. This photo was taken with a long zoom. T</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">he village of Great Doddington is a fair walk up from the moorings but has good views over the valley and we rewarded ourselves with ice creams from the village shop,</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuDO_IoNAMZpXAyPR7clUMEtXx6ilnk_Zvo6Rd7l9V1sfxlfz4UpJuO06HwP6wnib3PROsq2FxtbFHxFLezPmjJ3HY8xgX5gmJH2o_UemPaVAHcwXw_0drel2YaJnCuOeKrVuMzlZt1Y/s1200/G085+Swans+at+Wellingborough.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuDO_IoNAMZpXAyPR7clUMEtXx6ilnk_Zvo6Rd7l9V1sfxlfz4UpJuO06HwP6wnib3PROsq2FxtbFHxFLezPmjJ3HY8xgX5gmJH2o_UemPaVAHcwXw_0drel2YaJnCuOeKrVuMzlZt1Y/w640-h360/G085+Swans+at+Wellingborough.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Getting off our mooring this morning was tricky with the strong wind but we managed to avoid leaving one of us behind. The bank was not ideal and we had to use our gang plank to get on and off the boat. Today (Sunday) we continued downstream into Wellingborough for services and Tesco. There are hundreds of swans here waiting to be fed. The elsan point is not working at the moment and seems from the sign to have been out of action for some time. Wellingborough is not an ideal place to moor because of the noise from Whitworth's Flour Mill opposite. So, having filled up with water and provisions we pressed on.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDrurdraxU8_Yt_73M1e7Rinm21XhFwNfRbkn2WtKBtbXhyyhz9QXvPyPyNFDUj-LWta8fhqJnv6OYgAGF729qiaClyHRARB_3BC8Y5Rjr_Gs7dWyt3jEQQ5okPqk2nEaSR42oRJw3-k/s1200/G092+Moored+at+Ditchford.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDrurdraxU8_Yt_73M1e7Rinm21XhFwNfRbkn2WtKBtbXhyyhz9QXvPyPyNFDUj-LWta8fhqJnv6OYgAGF729qiaClyHRARB_3BC8Y5Rjr_Gs7dWyt3jEQQ5okPqk2nEaSR42oRJw3-k/w640-h360/G092+Moored+at+Ditchford.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Nene reminds us of the upper Thames winding in a leisurely fashion through water meadows. This evening we've stopped at another mooring of the Friends of the River Nene at Ditchford. The red canoe seems to have been left here. We had a walk around the adjacent lake which is used for water skiing. Intriguingly today they are playing host to a group from the Philippine embassy.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YX-7VyreidR6apdUnoVRHP7tK33FaFaXjMuAwFYnvxA4HhW8BHXJGiAUV6VrgjVLjVh7Hb6WjkbgupGJVQs8WOSiA-2qYuFoDU3EehuwVUanLFjw-BQSIYzwcLEM5gt2Fe6y58jgMdE/s1200/G094+Ditchford+Water+skiing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YX-7VyreidR6apdUnoVRHP7tK33FaFaXjMuAwFYnvxA4HhW8BHXJGiAUV6VrgjVLjVh7Hb6WjkbgupGJVQs8WOSiA-2qYuFoDU3EehuwVUanLFjw-BQSIYzwcLEM5gt2Fe6y58jgMdE/w640-h360/G094+Ditchford+Water+skiing.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So we have water skiing for entertainment and good bird life and song when it stops. We've heard a cuckoo and seen and heard a couple of oyster catchers so far.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our plans from here are to meander gently down the River Nene to Peterborough before heading across the Middle Levels. We'd like some better weather: it has been cloudy, cool and breezy today, more like autumn than summer, and some blue sky would make all the difference. Please!<br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-32411976835977329912021-06-23T09:21:00.000-07:002021-06-23T09:21:52.757-07:00To Gayton Junction where we turn off the Grand Union<p> As I type this (shading myself from today's afternoon hot sun), we are moored on the Northampton Arm heading down to the river Nene. But this update is about our journey from Stockton to Gayton on the Grand Union. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHkQm-sQB1udXX6Eyx4Uy8CrnalY-2k0bjTJOiXsvWK0USFamSayxals-RMAB_gUpaMBBxUmDYpYLH7JjVaFP793HvgIuOTrVMXjjcnpb-3g9I_l41S2YBiPLQyRHlGR3bAehCNuDr1s/s1200/F038+Coming+to+Napton+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHkQm-sQB1udXX6Eyx4Uy8CrnalY-2k0bjTJOiXsvWK0USFamSayxals-RMAB_gUpaMBBxUmDYpYLH7JjVaFP793HvgIuOTrVMXjjcnpb-3g9I_l41S2YBiPLQyRHlGR3bAehCNuDr1s/w640-h360/F038+Coming+to+Napton+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our last set of locks on this section of the Grand Union was the three Calcutt Locks. We had stayed where we were on Friday because of the heavy rain but on Saturday we soon came to the bottom of the locks. Up two locks with a narrowboat called 'Eve' and then we stopped for fuel, our first fill up of the season. The picture shows the pound above the locks with us approaching Napton Junction. The boat in front is just turning left which was the way we were also heading.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwjv2luW7AR2t2ZLb6Sn0aAWOWckZHDOe3r4B_vgEtJX8ZDkjV95r5tfFgADs3KyJHBI738ZnHLxSZG1otWEhpcj6sVITuYneuy1CncBgv0op0SOD4T4IhZaAxq8w8FSISBSFa9SmGp8/s1200/F040+Napton+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwjv2luW7AR2t2ZLb6Sn0aAWOWckZHDOe3r4B_vgEtJX8ZDkjV95r5tfFgADs3KyJHBI738ZnHLxSZG1otWEhpcj6sVITuYneuy1CncBgv0op0SOD4T4IhZaAxq8w8FSISBSFa9SmGp8/w640-h360/F040+Napton+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here Helen on the bow (looking for boat traffic coming towards the junction) has taken a photo looking back at Ian on the helm as we turn the corner.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_oay3JpbMoAre9ejz1v7_ehJOkOAWbLIFk3cjnWwfIJFfkwBaDuUGJrkiqQVxmxIDCOkwBTl1dpRSLLTqSCoEkx97DFM1fb7KxN6NGeOjJl2PehrevMtfh8Rdk0-GX_5NMKb-qL_50k/s1200/F041+Napton+Junction+sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_oay3JpbMoAre9ejz1v7_ehJOkOAWbLIFk3cjnWwfIJFfkwBaDuUGJrkiqQVxmxIDCOkwBTl1dpRSLLTqSCoEkx97DFM1fb7KxN6NGeOjJl2PehrevMtfh8Rdk0-GX_5NMKb-qL_50k/w640-h360/F041+Napton+Junction+sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the sign at the junction. We had come from Warwick and were going to Braunston. To the right, narrow locks within a couple of miles lead up to the summit pound of the Oxford Canal. The pound we are now on was shared between the companies of the Grand Union and the Oxford Canals and the tolls for this section were disputed for years with the Oxford having the Grand Union over a barrel if they wished to carry goods (including barrels) between London and Birmingham. The boats behind the signpost are in Wigrams Turn Marina whose entrance is straight on from the junction to make a cross roads.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1r60XZquhSjv75KG1h50LzgWzTi1hCStUOgPRFymTyPq_2O6KKerp0DPpd0DCigMkQWlVQQnUMFMi73csLVrHI8wZex3WuWM65jnkisOEOyfUKbXSZG6EA1QdEOfA-2wW6y2ab9Lqjo/s1200/F045+Another+Jabulani.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1r60XZquhSjv75KG1h50LzgWzTi1hCStUOgPRFymTyPq_2O6KKerp0DPpd0DCigMkQWlVQQnUMFMi73csLVrHI8wZex3WuWM65jnkisOEOyfUKbXSZG6EA1QdEOfA-2wW6y2ab9Lqjo/w640-h360/F045+Another+Jabulani.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now we just had to put this on our blog. Our friends, William and Daphne, have a boat called Jabulani and the owners of this one said that there are only two on the system. The name is a Zulu word for rejoice or 'be happy'.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q0JFGjCnEDdWEaTuX7w4jrEZUIjxJoTsM8bXS84lQB8uAUvUDc07ljE36YZowxmoRCSEXi_pT1cNlCDbkEf-Hnb7hySE9yciuPARR_E3kcA2ST9xm74sff2TrZ4dwv3qvZ5KNC6T7bI/s1200/F046+Braunston+Church+from+Wolfhampcote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q0JFGjCnEDdWEaTuX7w4jrEZUIjxJoTsM8bXS84lQB8uAUvUDc07ljE36YZowxmoRCSEXi_pT1cNlCDbkEf-Hnb7hySE9yciuPARR_E3kcA2ST9xm74sff2TrZ4dwv3qvZ5KNC6T7bI/w640-h360/F046+Braunston+Church+from+Wolfhampcote.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored on Saturday about a mile short of Braunston on a nice country mooring from where we walked via Wolfhampcote into Braunston. Here is a distant view of Braunston Church from our walk. That is not a hot air balloon behind the trees but the top of a silo.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXAWCnXO2snEQgXTtfflVyny3hEvqh9RJHVMoJqbwB1KytBRqLCFcL88ghU8ZsYJlAUwQ61Fs8hiRNSmH9e-ITKEx7VA2QuS-zpOibYw3ms86dSE6sXUjz4JYSNwZsrnxoMLfmpTFOVo/s1200/F048+Wolfhampcote+Church.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXAWCnXO2snEQgXTtfflVyny3hEvqh9RJHVMoJqbwB1KytBRqLCFcL88ghU8ZsYJlAUwQ61Fs8hiRNSmH9e-ITKEx7VA2QuS-zpOibYw3ms86dSE6sXUjz4JYSNwZsrnxoMLfmpTFOVo/w640-h360/F048+Wolfhampcote+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wolfhampcote is a tiny hamlet with a large church with a squat tower. The church is no longer used for services but is looked after by the Church Conservators.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NIP72jcX19Gq-aiEdKcgrdJtphob5-XI-o6RM5qnHWbd1axeFyNPKIlQ2FpSyck2-ynqxA0Vuo_ZBzSal5UcLI12_ff5CVDZ_Ta68GzP9jI8luFKZBqo4yohjxP3EDcOwJbHLyjDZPM/s1200/F049+Signpost+at+Braunston+Turn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NIP72jcX19Gq-aiEdKcgrdJtphob5-XI-o6RM5qnHWbd1axeFyNPKIlQ2FpSyck2-ynqxA0Vuo_ZBzSal5UcLI12_ff5CVDZ_Ta68GzP9jI8luFKZBqo4yohjxP3EDcOwJbHLyjDZPM/w640-h360/F049+Signpost+at+Braunston+Turn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Sunday we came to the junction known as Braunston Turn. We have come from Birmingham and left is the narrow (7 foot gauge) North Oxford Canal towards Coventry and Rugby. We were heading right on the Grand Union towards London.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsN8iQdnrZpqehxLcuk4f4e-GKk75EIdb8HfEge2X8MX3DXYg4tvy4Btzy5Na59EZLlqGMbzTEey2ZLzExIhKGD1Lh1EiB10flU273mhjg8p1iRoZH6Y1S3sGeqfvZz4aGb4C1W5uU_I/s1200/F051+Braunston+Turn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsN8iQdnrZpqehxLcuk4f4e-GKk75EIdb8HfEge2X8MX3DXYg4tvy4Btzy5Na59EZLlqGMbzTEey2ZLzExIhKGD1Lh1EiB10flU273mhjg8p1iRoZH6Y1S3sGeqfvZz4aGb4C1W5uU_I/w640-h360/F051+Braunston+Turn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here you can see us heading towards this triangular junction. We go under the right hand bridge. Both are fine wrought iron bridges from Horseley Iron Works in Tipton.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxAvvfPBBOS3F5N4gFYZNU3prt1JTwydLrG8soVrWjwpN_-CPYkdTheG8uky4fTrY175Jn9ffCtkOmj6NmdODnaeJJwNODLoqxFx1tod4SNGPApzOaBcre0KPPGW5yX-AI43sEk_quXk/s1200/F053+Waiting+for+Braunston+Bottom+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxAvvfPBBOS3F5N4gFYZNU3prt1JTwydLrG8soVrWjwpN_-CPYkdTheG8uky4fTrY175Jn9ffCtkOmj6NmdODnaeJJwNODLoqxFx1tod4SNGPApzOaBcre0KPPGW5yX-AI43sEk_quXk/w640-h360/F053+Waiting+for+Braunston+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Braunston is a place usually teeming with boats but on Sunday it was surprisingly quiet and we soon joined a queue of just two boats to enter the bottom of 6 locks here. They seemed to take an age and I fully expected loads more boats to stack up behind us but we still went in on our own. We had a mission to get up the first two locks and then moor before our son David and his girlfriend Ash arrived to join us for lunch booked at midday at the Admiral Nelson. Fortunately, there was a space to moor and we even just had time to nip into the village to do a little shopping including cake for our visitors.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKcrnJtC7CM4Mk6E3Aa95jd3aRfisZpwhpaH6nHYWarg3F3ORAzMYI16Kg6lr22UuT2ome4d1rE5JODpalNJCiMQgVRGXq3iicldAU53Jj8iW9yZEh51eHQGp4TPaT8pUtjORL2c42Pg/s1200/F055+Ash+at+Lock+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKcrnJtC7CM4Mk6E3Aa95jd3aRfisZpwhpaH6nHYWarg3F3ORAzMYI16Kg6lr22UuT2ome4d1rE5JODpalNJCiMQgVRGXq3iicldAU53Jj8iW9yZEh51eHQGp4TPaT8pUtjORL2c42Pg/w640-h360/F055+Ash+at+Lock+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lunch was good and it was nice to see the youngsters again. The weather which had been drizzly and miserable, brightened up in the afternoon and David and Ash decided to join us for </span><span style="font-size: medium;">a
boating excursion. Despite her poorly foot you can see from this
picture that Ash did her fair share of getting us up the next 4 locks.
To be fair so did David and he also steered through the mile and a quarter
of Braunston Tunnel above the locks.<br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GG7ove-QUxFt_kOgHwGK8WgBeCinbiI_5nSLeG8r-QvfXGL1LEOF3gLGYtxhdFAzDIAt7xhOO11C9fJbGACydAHpHC83TqV2wCHHdIHpImKrXQjiDpn3UIvF4h029s1UQNHHejU1r-0/s1200/F057+Approaching+Norton+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GG7ove-QUxFt_kOgHwGK8WgBeCinbiI_5nSLeG8r-QvfXGL1LEOF3gLGYtxhdFAzDIAt7xhOO11C9fJbGACydAHpHC83TqV2wCHHdIHpImKrXQjiDpn3UIvF4h029s1UQNHHejU1r-0/w640-h360/F057+Approaching+Norton+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored in the open countryside beyond the tunnel and had tea and cake onboard before David cycled back to Braunston to pick up their car. We said our goodbyes and stayed there for the evening.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODI-ZW0y7lgk63rfLRY_yI0yiDA6ICYEeOxLwwiQeEFSa5TA7Y8NaL7XTTRk3qY45TavnBLYgNHVdP-s_y4xaecb52ZGumOu44zxahSWL7pdVBMJMDLWxKBLDi3I8zKf_tEsFyPss2wU/s1200/F060+Norton+Junction+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1200" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODI-ZW0y7lgk63rfLRY_yI0yiDA6ICYEeOxLwwiQeEFSa5TA7Y8NaL7XTTRk3qY45TavnBLYgNHVdP-s_y4xaecb52ZGumOu44zxahSWL7pdVBMJMDLWxKBLDi3I8zKf_tEsFyPss2wU/w640-h518/F060+Norton+Junction+sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's all junctions around here so on Monday morning we swiftly came to Norton Junction where the sign shows that the Leicester Branch of the Grand Union lies to the left, Braunston behind us and Brentford and London ahead.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6g4Ff8dbvg3kzn_CxShAJ0rl5BWpdAr2wYfNJ31oiZBfdkvy3OMZIV6uITnbQBDSIAVgscVhQ0-ox73iSEblNX2t3pmWH2HHn6_1vSmnjyxbf9jV8yNuSSuLRtK_L9xpLriK62lsjes/s1200/F062+Looking+back+to+GU+Main+Line%252C+Norton+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6g4Ff8dbvg3kzn_CxShAJ0rl5BWpdAr2wYfNJ31oiZBfdkvy3OMZIV6uITnbQBDSIAVgscVhQ0-ox73iSEblNX2t3pmWH2HHn6_1vSmnjyxbf9jV8yNuSSuLRtK_L9xpLriK62lsjes/w640-h360/F062+Looking+back+to+GU+Main+Line%252C+Norton+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This photo looking back shows the pretty cottage at the junction. We had just come through the bridge to the left.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWCYR3U_0I6slZB5CPvRU1K9diRR0ULqN3zcSE6amUUOBTlT1lfjG3m1wsRFrA9b8H1UtT0b67bq3qXKj2H2WaKc6LV_60dJXUFosD3vE_INVccRwJAKyAYw-y-6hEQO2hJhAF08gp2M/s1200/F064+Waiting+at+Buckby+Top+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWCYR3U_0I6slZB5CPvRU1K9diRR0ULqN3zcSE6amUUOBTlT1lfjG3m1wsRFrA9b8H1UtT0b67bq3qXKj2H2WaKc6LV_60dJXUFosD3vE_INVccRwJAKyAYw-y-6hEQO2hJhAF08gp2M/w640-h360/F064+Waiting+at+Buckby+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Around the corner we came to the top of the Buckby Locks, a flight of 7 that drop down to a long pound through Weedon to Gayton and Stoke Bruerne. We are in a short queue but we wished to fill with water and empty toilet and rubbish, all of which can be done here. To the right of the lock is the New Inn which we have patronised on other trips.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBbhr-jiH2ogWG6EiWSEVm5FAXjzQkd2_v45QqdXg36MK7-pPaCN2iGBt74XdzWixJrn5C1Ww6-IYC_ClIcnosFG4W33PVJwUWN5AKpjIggLEyC-7ukfrjQwvKK5Fce7kfoAO3f-fH9Y/s1200/F065+Chrisine+and+Helen%252C%252C+Buckby+Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBbhr-jiH2ogWG6EiWSEVm5FAXjzQkd2_v45QqdXg36MK7-pPaCN2iGBt74XdzWixJrn5C1Ww6-IYC_ClIcnosFG4W33PVJwUWN5AKpjIggLEyC-7ukfrjQwvKK5Fce7kfoAO3f-fH9Y/w640-h360/F065+Chrisine+and+Helen%252C%252C+Buckby+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We came down Buckby Locks with a nice couple, Phil and Christine, on a boat called Somerset Joy. Some of the gates on these locks are pretty heavy and the photo shows Christine coming over to give Helen a hand before they both pushed the other gate.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBCdTJSGK7tWbT7l1-tH6d4_WovHkgxR2E26575LDrjN7OvhX__6xXU8pU8ukGclCx3IG1LmH3KmWuVlArCoHeR6PjteZ3HdZaa4rARk4DaD2FgWs9E5d851fMRCNpse3xXTFu7QXMIw/s1200/F067+Leaving+Buckby+Bottom+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBCdTJSGK7tWbT7l1-tH6d4_WovHkgxR2E26575LDrjN7OvhX__6xXU8pU8ukGclCx3IG1LmH3KmWuVlArCoHeR6PjteZ3HdZaa4rARk4DaD2FgWs9E5d851fMRCNpse3xXTFu7QXMIw/w640-h360/F067+Leaving+Buckby+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the view looking back to the bottom lock as two boats go in and Somerset Joy emerges. We met lots of boats coming up as we went down which always makes the job easier and saves water.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKTn3yvKGsNGZ8kz6f9v8rUWL5nofTXmh3KTfa-6b4FnpiMZ2WULauM7ZJTXrNe0LSwzJe23V8o4nCUur5L1-5wAJ_oHYebZS-h3QCFl3PES8rFL45TIDG18KK3N2K_-Z78hgPN8npyg/s1200/F069+Dummies+by+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1200" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKTn3yvKGsNGZ8kz6f9v8rUWL5nofTXmh3KTfa-6b4FnpiMZ2WULauM7ZJTXrNe0LSwzJe23V8o4nCUur5L1-5wAJ_oHYebZS-h3QCFl3PES8rFL45TIDG18KK3N2K_-Z78hgPN8npyg/w640-h442/F069+Dummies+by+bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Through a bridge and then we found these strange folk hiding in the bushes! Not to mention the dog.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljVXV0YDjcwaukEcMItm9yX_-_7Hj4StA9s7ymcXWNg6aQuwnS719Qz8DsjDJweKnTX_DAP_PWtXQBTZhCQK8xY-qiNxZDMjGeXVfDQOo0K5afhewbsvSsUn6Q6X8lu_7gDESb0VP6uw/s1200/F073+Brockhall+Manor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljVXV0YDjcwaukEcMItm9yX_-_7Hj4StA9s7ymcXWNg6aQuwnS719Qz8DsjDJweKnTX_DAP_PWtXQBTZhCQK8xY-qiNxZDMjGeXVfDQOo0K5afhewbsvSsUn6Q6X8lu_7gDESb0VP6uw/w640-h360/F073+Brockhall+Manor.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored on Monday just short of Weedon and in the afternoon we cycled up the hill to Brockhall village. This is built of the lovely brown stone common in Northamptonshire </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">with a hall. a manor house and a church</span>. The village seems very remote though it is close to the M1 .<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-ohMMtjZ-ms51F88Bqpprlefk5oTW3ikhe3Om5ZTs8XGH0hlLFzTe5SsM-QRKmpcZ_P5-UOGZ3Q7FO_qpJ9J3cH8QvIVeLv0AFQ3-ou-AEQsp0eTcpxEKdKmPRbR-ljD9ZTYKU0DGBs/s1200/F074+Cottages+at+Brockhall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-ohMMtjZ-ms51F88Bqpprlefk5oTW3ikhe3Om5ZTs8XGH0hlLFzTe5SsM-QRKmpcZ_P5-UOGZ3Q7FO_qpJ9J3cH8QvIVeLv0AFQ3-ou-AEQsp0eTcpxEKdKmPRbR-ljD9ZTYKU0DGBs/w640-h360/F074+Cottages+at+Brockhall.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It also has these lovely thatched cottages covered in climbing roses. It is a truly delightful, quiet village. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2P_jn3ch5aGVmo3hpokQkcYsGpDEyyImrunfso23Sza9pvW37TfdtuZ_RD0FbIlxgRVPm8CAcQ5OzLg9d7iXc_rf9nnLkHeB5017_Yp-OVkKnbIP7lWoxqNw_jbl8Ub4Hf_Kd4Y8hqQ/s1200/F075+Church+and+Hall+at+Brockhall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2P_jn3ch5aGVmo3hpokQkcYsGpDEyyImrunfso23Sza9pvW37TfdtuZ_RD0FbIlxgRVPm8CAcQ5OzLg9d7iXc_rf9nnLkHeB5017_Yp-OVkKnbIP7lWoxqNw_jbl8Ub4Hf_Kd4Y8hqQ/w640-h360/F075+Church+and+Hall+at+Brockhall.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The church at Brockhall village is surrounded by tall trees. The house just to the right of the church tower is Brockhall Hall itself. The cycle ride back took us over rolling parkland and past the humps and bumps of a medieval village in a field as well as back over the M1 again.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WwDeCdRfinAxXrga8xCsGw6CTuy9QyAUJNEo8IH01R5QlNEXTOT59fNai-m89vmfoSCx2IfK2wTVE2HTTkT-1YOuJSYALpPJVeb5VwFjVdQIpgq9RsZVPj_En4in1Jbru1h-0amfvF0/s1200/G002+Jules+Fuels+nr+Weedon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WwDeCdRfinAxXrga8xCsGw6CTuy9QyAUJNEo8IH01R5QlNEXTOT59fNai-m89vmfoSCx2IfK2wTVE2HTTkT-1YOuJSYALpPJVeb5VwFjVdQIpgq9RsZVPj_En4in1Jbru1h-0amfvF0/w640-h360/G002+Jules+Fuels+nr+Weedon.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday (Tuesday) we cruised on into Weedon and out the other side. We passed these two fuel boats moored on a field where the crane shows they do lift boats out of the water. This is Southern Cross and a butty that together supply boats and houses along the canal with diesel, gas and coal. Who said canal trading was dead?<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RHIuH6QR285cUgDpRs_RQjJLPP2RK1yI-7byl-nx3FSRIm83bRN6FQEMgnCN8skXNpZ3XBOlGHzFbpRwPpLolXx5xNE6ZBxLrKlKdkfyAtZuSg1cPArG6ryvhpVv_oPX5BRxiGyKyTw/s1200/G009+Rebuilding+overspill+weir.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RHIuH6QR285cUgDpRs_RQjJLPP2RK1yI-7byl-nx3FSRIm83bRN6FQEMgnCN8skXNpZ3XBOlGHzFbpRwPpLolXx5xNE6ZBxLrKlKdkfyAtZuSg1cPArG6ryvhpVv_oPX5BRxiGyKyTw/w640-h360/G009+Rebuilding+overspill+weir.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we came through Weedon it was clear that an overspill weir was being rebuilt. The yellow buoys make clear that boats should keep their distance.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr27vi5n41US3UYgXvhsP3090LJbNTDdjJq5Ixqyc8f4TFXevbkbxr8U0_BxjWedYqBRIrOBJtomXT5kJ4tu2SxJmakj-mL0CVOEv3D5vDhv3Oar2ZwL6__-17-BkAksGG5u40IEcU-P4/s1200/G011+Willow+Tree+Marina.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr27vi5n41US3UYgXvhsP3090LJbNTDdjJq5Ixqyc8f4TFXevbkbxr8U0_BxjWedYqBRIrOBJtomXT5kJ4tu2SxJmakj-mL0CVOEv3D5vDhv3Oar2ZwL6__-17-BkAksGG5u40IEcU-P4/w640-h360/G011+Willow+Tree+Marina.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are passing Weedon boatyard. It was at this point that a short arm of the canal used to connect to the Royal Ordnance Depot at Weedon. This was built in 1802 to store armaments out of reach of the French when storing them on the southern coast might have spelled disaster.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_5SAxbQ0tTbBcPlMD_B8JPUCK5JAZA9uUt7gYkPspXRHSgRVEBbIF4F4LzDBcVmTizBNSuqkDA7vlIuNryWyZTSP6cT6mMlv3DP_WJAxOY5zkgx9iurrL-xyr_0cPQ4-QtCfzUWZp_0/s1200/G014+Linseed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_5SAxbQ0tTbBcPlMD_B8JPUCK5JAZA9uUt7gYkPspXRHSgRVEBbIF4F4LzDBcVmTizBNSuqkDA7vlIuNryWyZTSP6cT6mMlv3DP_WJAxOY5zkgx9iurrL-xyr_0cPQ4-QtCfzUWZp_0/w640-h360/G014+Linseed.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming towards Gayton we passed another blue field of linseed. It gives a blue haze not unlike the effect of bluebells in a wood earlier in the season.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-IKCUxh0Y_sR8xFO9KVmKwUHBvXW-X8UAHaHcJhsWS6SWg14EziI-fefSck_h0aohUNWfQVDrn_iESjArubg6Liy8F1Ws3VpRWc_zNtVrNJ4KUWQsu3p8U2lTksce-ohOd_brmMAXhMg/s1200/G018+Rothersthorpe+Church.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-IKCUxh0Y_sR8xFO9KVmKwUHBvXW-X8UAHaHcJhsWS6SWg14EziI-fefSck_h0aohUNWfQVDrn_iESjArubg6Liy8F1Ws3VpRWc_zNtVrNJ4KUWQsu3p8U2lTksce-ohOd_brmMAXhMg/w640-h360/G018+Rothersthorpe+Church.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From our mooring near Gayton we took the bikes and explored up the hills on both sides of the canal. Message to us - need to stop cycling up all these hills! We first went north of the canal to Rothersthorpe which gives its name to the lock flight we've come down today. It has this unusual shaped church tower. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfOD5XmYr6MKe88BGwqXCUGR1nC3RZ9QUvjnSxjTLqcGrg0DKMYuZLoX7qf3yN5uGYFnPuH6Chvish7INJ_MXn6Gm6IrJ54pCRDwcExrM_XeeN88TWo-anI71vOVgUXUwuoKxv1HAxo8/s1200/G019+Dovecot%252C+Rothersthorpe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfOD5XmYr6MKe88BGwqXCUGR1nC3RZ9QUvjnSxjTLqcGrg0DKMYuZLoX7qf3yN5uGYFnPuH6Chvish7INJ_MXn6Gm6IrJ54pCRDwcExrM_XeeN88TWo-anI71vOVgUXUwuoKxv1HAxo8/w640-h360/G019+Dovecot%252C+Rothersthorpe.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having looked at the church, we crossed a field, where the ramparts and ditches of an old Motte and Bailey Castle were apparent, to see this 17th century dovecot. We couldn't look too closely because it is in someone's garden.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnK4jKub0CyJCI__taosqsNFFqm-Nw4K1SaS20cJ5JwbWHwXE0xvVvk1CkbN6ASuagPLjnUZ4qNoa6w0tECp_y_Z3k4l0qb21w89-XPSJgeyPua_nZMeS1iDr7GhCBWRSvJ7LdZryzpk/s1200/G020+Looking+down+Rothersthorpe+Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnK4jKub0CyJCI__taosqsNFFqm-Nw4K1SaS20cJ5JwbWHwXE0xvVvk1CkbN6ASuagPLjnUZ4qNoa6w0tECp_y_Z3k4l0qb21w89-XPSJgeyPua_nZMeS1iDr7GhCBWRSvJ7LdZryzpk/w640-h360/G020+Looking+down+Rothersthorpe+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On our way back to the canal we crossed the top end of the Rothersthorpe Locks so this is a little taster of the next blog posting as we came down these locks today towards the River Nene. Our cycle ride yesterday took us over the canal and then up the hill to the south of the canal to Gayton, another quiet village at the top of the hill. The hill was too steep for us to cycle up at one point but the speedy descent back to the canal was great - more than 40 kph on a Brompton!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So our next posting will take us to a very different waterway as we cruise down the River Nene from Northampton towards Peterborough. We aim to travel slowly and to enjoy using our new inflatable kayak for the first time. So watch this space.<br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-89056357865829358642021-06-17T14:03:00.000-07:002021-06-17T14:03:09.002-07:00Heading south on the Grand Union<p> It's been some days since we updated our blog largely due to poor internet reception over the last few days. This posting brings us up to date as we approach the canal junctions around Braunston, in many ways the centre of the canal system. So let's get started on the story to today;</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvsz0D9by_KIzai5-WtYPByCsvQqGGE4BscH71HWHBTau0s330aTPhKPjhV28fgyJLyz9V4RNF0K4jtwJ4m3zHMXJZkcjJd_Iim-UugQFLMvCEDYF5TjXzn9lzOdxWeIhyT1b-NUOrgs/s1200/E058+Knowle+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvsz0D9by_KIzai5-WtYPByCsvQqGGE4BscH71HWHBTau0s330aTPhKPjhV28fgyJLyz9V4RNF0K4jtwJ4m3zHMXJZkcjJd_Iim-UugQFLMvCEDYF5TjXzn9lzOdxWeIhyT1b-NUOrgs/w640-h360/E058+Knowle+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our friend Maurice joined us on Friday evening (11 June) and stayed with us for a few days. On Saturday we set off, soon coming to the top of the Knowle flight of 5 locks. These are the first broad locks (take 2 narrowboats side by side) we have used since Stenson Lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal about 4 weeks ago. In this view at the top of the Knowle Locks you really get the impression that you are at the top of a hill.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyX0RPusV0c49k1gsC51V2S07LLiZKwh9KEkMAZfLZLEaQBSQSMAAkguHoSBKUm18AycQoq37WSpIp_RJjp9lQRi0aRxdjtAORKI3iKwJEWyA3WmmD8cTILVQPzloMZ68mXldQwdbPOI/s1200/E061+Knowle+Bottom+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyX0RPusV0c49k1gsC51V2S07LLiZKwh9KEkMAZfLZLEaQBSQSMAAkguHoSBKUm18AycQoq37WSpIp_RJjp9lQRi0aRxdjtAORKI3iKwJEWyA3WmmD8cTILVQPzloMZ68mXldQwdbPOI/w640-h360/E061+Knowle+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here we are looking back to the bottom of the locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3d1Eke-YWsdMCqNh0rILXL_XQ0a5T4DUDXiOkFjyCryxz0Z3Qkbeb1Ducd080C_gkJPZmBYIR-1D0WHwbC8eNkMPXYZ2hIUg1cOI59vL8JPhO7uZ33AlVzzLzC8DQaTAG3lE3cpAunBM/s2048/E063+Fox+at+Baddesley+Clinton.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3d1Eke-YWsdMCqNh0rILXL_XQ0a5T4DUDXiOkFjyCryxz0Z3Qkbeb1Ducd080C_gkJPZmBYIR-1D0WHwbC8eNkMPXYZ2hIUg1cOI59vL8JPhO7uZ33AlVzzLzC8DQaTAG3lE3cpAunBM/w360-h640/E063+Fox+at+Baddesley+Clinton.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a hot afternoon on Saturday and, after mooring near Kingswood Junction and close to the Navigation Inn, we walked a mile or two to the National Trust property at Baddesley Clinton. Helen is introducing herself to a fox in the grounds.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmboxVRljSQlOOWjHffhluNxYgyEttirnJjeZ4YB8ZyGMLf315bppHXYSR44CEgPxQgtH7xD4DEDhK5sHV7-aZPK5PlPaqONi55SVBNYCGmxLnqd8ZKLDX2v2biiU4sl4JsLut6tYt6o4/s1200/E065+Swallow+on+weathervane.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1200" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmboxVRljSQlOOWjHffhluNxYgyEttirnJjeZ4YB8ZyGMLf315bppHXYSR44CEgPxQgtH7xD4DEDhK5sHV7-aZPK5PlPaqONi55SVBNYCGmxLnqd8ZKLDX2v2biiU4sl4JsLut6tYt6o4/w640-h478/E065+Swallow+on+weathervane.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We treated ourselves to a cream tea and watched the swallows coming to and fro to their nest in a barn in the courtyard. This one, sitting on a weathervane, is watching to time its flight into its nest. It didn't seem fazed when the vane swung in the wind.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PKP98FR0oCR8Jr3M837QV_K88llqIvVHE-C_kY24I1jxthH-8AwdLI_lPTjHvdF_McuHpWuHiwiZdXQCflJL8CPxpxxrBikGuBJhPvxQHCP08nFmccRWrvywFaqLt-8o45N7L_STK6c/s1200/E067+Baddesley+Clinton.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PKP98FR0oCR8Jr3M837QV_K88llqIvVHE-C_kY24I1jxthH-8AwdLI_lPTjHvdF_McuHpWuHiwiZdXQCflJL8CPxpxxrBikGuBJhPvxQHCP08nFmccRWrvywFaqLt-8o45N7L_STK6c/w640-h360/E067+Baddesley+Clinton.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the fine moated house of Baddesley Clinton, dating from the 16th century or possibly earlier.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9w731fmqiSHyBpOrCNpWiyoFEBCqW3QSqKaUu23B16hijuLD9DKYad9-hkuW-QLiEIjaLzl2TG-SwYpmv1M7byVzvTpCPahOdbVGVQI1X6RKDaMduvmEp2BzymBdJo7ByBY8AD1DkM48/s1200/E069+Weathervane+Lyons+Farm.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9w731fmqiSHyBpOrCNpWiyoFEBCqW3QSqKaUu23B16hijuLD9DKYad9-hkuW-QLiEIjaLzl2TG-SwYpmv1M7byVzvTpCPahOdbVGVQI1X6RKDaMduvmEp2BzymBdJo7ByBY8AD1DkM48/w640-h360/E069+Weathervane+Lyons+Farm.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We walked back to the boat a different way and passed Lyons Farm with another weathervane. Having a boat called Leo we are keen to spot and record any lions on our travels.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9h4KLJYQfQtW-SnsMJdyArA641U71t9Dvw-dpx27Zl6k32G1AVxe4TbnulxuHs_p0jIaeN2foEJAJZpMXp27kd-bEu8bvZhobH42XNE4t7q9DoNd23ygiCaADyUeIAknZq2tZmmBWDc/s1200/E071+Kingswood+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9h4KLJYQfQtW-SnsMJdyArA641U71t9Dvw-dpx27Zl6k32G1AVxe4TbnulxuHs_p0jIaeN2foEJAJZpMXp27kd-bEu8bvZhobH42XNE4t7q9DoNd23ygiCaADyUeIAknZq2tZmmBWDc/w640-h360/E071+Kingswood+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a good evening meal at the Navigation Inn with Raymond and Yvonne, two friends of Maurice, we carried on our cruise on Sunday with the prospect of the Hatton flight of locks to come. This photo shows Kingswood Junction. Under the bridge to the right is a short canal that links to the Stratford Canal part way down the many locks down the hill from Birmingham to Stratford.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd-MikrTdtxeWOtaatKActiRuOnz3nXqGSFZ-XQ56Z3R1KDACfhcJVnaVUay5vGBJqPfKjy28e-aldIS9LH_xVfy__mYWEJIaO9V4xbBA2Xud8xgMaPvsU5w5-EJLbhC1ANkH8XsgOeY/s1200/E074+Shrewley+Tunnel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd-MikrTdtxeWOtaatKActiRuOnz3nXqGSFZ-XQ56Z3R1KDACfhcJVnaVUay5vGBJqPfKjy28e-aldIS9LH_xVfy__mYWEJIaO9V4xbBA2Xud8xgMaPvsU5w5-EJLbhC1ANkH8XsgOeY/w640-h360/E074+Shrewley+Tunnel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before tackling the Hatton Locks we came through Shrewley Tunnel as seen in this photo. The tunnel is only 433 yards long but it was very wet, especially in the first half. Umbrellas were very necessary! The towpath on the right leads up to a tunnel for boat horses.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX31WQEwqINWPFSlnpYD-4rmB9ugZrNw1drVOYym7CUd3y9N6z3xS1IkWPRks4ueVAr6uN1cTfCKKZsQu6DF6wvdJAdQxXCSxsQhOXDvmj7JXSHvdP5k78kPkaq_u6uU-dHB1gCnQjoMw/s1678/E076+Maurice+steering.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX31WQEwqINWPFSlnpYD-4rmB9ugZrNw1drVOYym7CUd3y9N6z3xS1IkWPRks4ueVAr6uN1cTfCKKZsQu6DF6wvdJAdQxXCSxsQhOXDvmj7JXSHvdP5k78kPkaq_u6uU-dHB1gCnQjoMw/w458-h640/E076+Maurice+steering.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lest you thought we had left Maurice behind, here he is steering Leo towards the Hatton Locks. There are 21 locks in this flight though we moored before reaching the bottom so only did 18 locks on Sunday.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroQvA333_qEhb8Jpv1LKZ2PZPfTBgGltrDLuDLvERq_rTMfN3xWmZZTjvuivkgSNtkwzredwrIbGBpIRWAKaLtwoZRbFWdzdOnGjAGrK0YyjLnACM7Rf-AoOQg67gC6eCGW0C4THDeEs/s1200/E077+Cafe+%252B+Top+Lock%252C+Hatton.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroQvA333_qEhb8Jpv1LKZ2PZPfTBgGltrDLuDLvERq_rTMfN3xWmZZTjvuivkgSNtkwzredwrIbGBpIRWAKaLtwoZRbFWdzdOnGjAGrK0YyjLnACM7Rf-AoOQg67gC6eCGW0C4THDeEs/w640-h360/E077+Cafe+%252B+Top+Lock%252C+Hatton.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Down one lock is a well known and well liked cafe, much used by cyclists and visitors as well as boaters. The cafe is to the left in this photo looking back to the top lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc95p1Vf9tvCugG3WcVqPSHF4k-16yN1N74glUNQje6mmM-knjbEITLe1NVl3pI9NfwL6dvyo05z5XXZVU4QbiLPga3DxWSJgjNqcLYPbBsUZHidhCF8l8oy8G6GVNvBlfrsPmM-RQq4/s1200/E079+Coming+down+to+Warwick.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc95p1Vf9tvCugG3WcVqPSHF4k-16yN1N74glUNQje6mmM-knjbEITLe1NVl3pI9NfwL6dvyo05z5XXZVU4QbiLPga3DxWSJgjNqcLYPbBsUZHidhCF8l8oy8G6GVNvBlfrsPmM-RQq4/w640-h360/E079+Coming+down+to+Warwick.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The main run of locks is known as the 'stairway to heaven'. This view looks down the flight straight to the St Mary's church in Warwick. We like the moorings near the bottom of the locks as being still very much in the countryside. After a hot afternoon lazing on the boat, we cycled to the Cape of Good Hope pub further down the canal where we had booked an evening meal sitting outside next to the canal. The food was truly excellent. Afterwards Maurice left to cycle home while we cycled back to Leo.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Bw1vVtS8Fce5-EjhTv7X33bajMkt5e1-WA3ZLkgZ_BmZMq4BKj5_tln4Adme4OuSJFOjnEhoO79IwwTtGgvXyzh7yBT6lC0K9Um3aosMfA8KsXpEGxYqsfWZWX-EqsaHWfLMsNWvrRU/s1200/E082+Hatton+Bottom+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Bw1vVtS8Fce5-EjhTv7X33bajMkt5e1-WA3ZLkgZ_BmZMq4BKj5_tln4Adme4OuSJFOjnEhoO79IwwTtGgvXyzh7yBT6lC0K9Um3aosMfA8KsXpEGxYqsfWZWX-EqsaHWfLMsNWvrRU/w640-h360/E082+Hatton+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday we carried on without Maurice to help us. This photo shows us coming to the bottom lock of the Hatton flight.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArrArlGpoqHdt3UYWt3a63LDomMkRU3Y5BZ5tvB9N0gSvKrC6o5YrQ6XXP3V0ugiZjOMHaam5GHtp5RZPo_3K7BshGO9FqGqXZtuO5E2ijzoEotiqBwuJPAOpdkLaSNnZcwEIHQKHXl4/s2048/E083+GU+Paddle.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArrArlGpoqHdt3UYWt3a63LDomMkRU3Y5BZ5tvB9N0gSvKrC6o5YrQ6XXP3V0ugiZjOMHaam5GHtp5RZPo_3K7BshGO9FqGqXZtuO5E2ijzoEotiqBwuJPAOpdkLaSNnZcwEIHQKHXl4/w360-h640/E083+GU+Paddle.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The paddle gear varies on different canals. The locks round here were originally narrow locks but were enlarged in the 1930s. The paddle gear is very distinctive. The works are all enclosed which must be good for durability and the locks work well, whether with one boat or two.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFlaWk_qI6_Y6WHVjMS7juK6FXFD4qeih0tqMIYBcRvHV5y2CXxOFvsluVw8UXyjy27FF1J0OX-mz-aMEyF2yDjyRRMqs8jjSk3oWPZNtC7svY-XDxtSevTvB8yu1G7AHZNrz_an0o00/s1200/E085+Cape+of+Good+Hope.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFlaWk_qI6_Y6WHVjMS7juK6FXFD4qeih0tqMIYBcRvHV5y2CXxOFvsluVw8UXyjy27FF1J0OX-mz-aMEyF2yDjyRRMqs8jjSk3oWPZNtC7svY-XDxtSevTvB8yu1G7AHZNrz_an0o00/w640-h360/E085+Cape+of+Good+Hope.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Only half a mile or so below Hatton Bottom Lock are another pair of locks. The top one is right next to the Cape of Good Hope pub where we had eaten on Sunday evening. The pub is to the left here just above the top lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWyiSs-9GNSZ1iKyFsmeKpwtUyzQceqFwnXJXlghxpF7rYpOFa1Ivw_NrABIY-uC3T40Y420N9s6Hh9Cl-VKOgvxs-UVo7NqmfLaikKmGTPLtHTycodHUE9erpuxoZZuhiquMc-SyINw/s1200/E087+Avon+Aqueduct.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWyiSs-9GNSZ1iKyFsmeKpwtUyzQceqFwnXJXlghxpF7rYpOFa1Ivw_NrABIY-uC3T40Y420N9s6Hh9Cl-VKOgvxs-UVo7NqmfLaikKmGTPLtHTycodHUE9erpuxoZZuhiquMc-SyINw/w640-h360/E087+Avon+Aqueduct.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had been going down locks all the way from Birmingham as we dropped down into the valley of the Warwickshire Avon which we then crossed on this aqueduct. After this we started climbing away from the valley. There is a possibility of building a few locks to take boats down onto the Avon and making the river navigable from Stratford to Warwick, but that remains a remote prospect.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJydrhLdB14vWd-o5xOPHvmtR3lyVU3Ol5jw5u-1ydS8KivHXqgyon2t45tKTjurBGxAqgHPs4wh1q1dBy-rslLjDqUc0D3oDb9pGoB-XksYV1uqwX1_qqM85T9LkkDxAk6CDSrDcqns/s1200/E089+Wall+Painting+Leamington.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJydrhLdB14vWd-o5xOPHvmtR3lyVU3Ol5jw5u-1ydS8KivHXqgyon2t45tKTjurBGxAqgHPs4wh1q1dBy-rslLjDqUc0D3oDb9pGoB-XksYV1uqwX1_qqM85T9LkkDxAk6CDSrDcqns/w640-h360/E089+Wall+Painting+Leamington.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We found this scary cat as we came through Warwick and Leamington Spa. A handy offside mooring gave easy access to a big Tesco for shopping on our way. We then carried on out of the built up area to moor near the village of Radford Semele<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oTDY9lHqA0vJnFzTN8tMiYl67DnLmKX1X25ZfOjI8yvnMqfl74-B7kBAhx3yQx4PN8esZ71bggwx2CQFpPus4jQjVBAqCfFScH0bNm7mWTGRO4DjpBmcWgZB7BGYPSIiFWyg5asgMEk/s1200/F002+Leo+waiting+below+Fosse+Bottom+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oTDY9lHqA0vJnFzTN8tMiYl67DnLmKX1X25ZfOjI8yvnMqfl74-B7kBAhx3yQx4PN8esZ71bggwx2CQFpPus4jQjVBAqCfFScH0bNm7mWTGRO4DjpBmcWgZB7BGYPSIiFWyg5asgMEk/w640-h360/F002+Leo+waiting+below+Fosse+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We've reduced our daily mileage and lockage recently as our son David and his girlfriend Ash are planning to visit at the weekend and we don't want to get too far away to worsen their journey. So on Tuesday we travelled all of two and a half miles (plus 5 locks). In the photo you can see Leo waiting below Fosse Bottom Lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8r-TnA51VNoXVS24jSxhxr76wlbaPR0tk8o6G-NN_wx41aHT6MfES58jMTWFrlInwyYJ9mE6NBHyuF0NCSg7PZggnGC_3sLX3qFCziCbUw6kCUqZQYLIq7nLq3jW6wXuzYHOfzVdMPA/s1200/F004+Fosse+Bottom+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8r-TnA51VNoXVS24jSxhxr76wlbaPR0tk8o6G-NN_wx41aHT6MfES58jMTWFrlInwyYJ9mE6NBHyuF0NCSg7PZggnGC_3sLX3qFCziCbUw6kCUqZQYLIq7nLq3jW6wXuzYHOfzVdMPA/w640-h360/F004+Fosse+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is Leo coming into the lock. Note the steps either side and what was originally a narrow lock to the left of the wide lock. The old narrow locks now function as bywashes with waterfalls down to the next pound.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuW3vz-ZSlIQQM3gnA49lin1qkgXEUCeEbe_71J2GYOuI133LpurRY6UgMpswQiUaFqIVDSRTtQ3w7J8-rijqZ3mDiMDmZcabWxQKQeC02UNIHH3s2BHVLCAOgmIV6DammFoii6OMxJM/s1200/F010+HS2+Site.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuW3vz-ZSlIQQM3gnA49lin1qkgXEUCeEbe_71J2GYOuI133LpurRY6UgMpswQiUaFqIVDSRTtQ3w7J8-rijqZ3mDiMDmZcabWxQKQeC02UNIHH3s2BHVLCAOgmIV6DammFoii6OMxJM/w640-h360/F010+HS2+Site.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday night we moored above Wood Lock and found we were moored exactly where HS2 will cross the canal, with huge construction sites either side of us. Why do they need so much land? The photo shows some of the works but we couldn't work out what all these towers and cranes are for. A lot of the work on the other side of the canal seems to be to do with drainage.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM3-os9nmE-171GhwPe2IlBbBajSS8jbV5VSygBZMHzqqNGhRw9u88_sqqVxzPf4AgmwIRuBWAi1JROtpI_a1FizUTvhgqq6vBoAJMRkwsjsg_dYIR5t9Yi6fBYfAXIl2oWIZ4lqskyI/s1200/F011+Evening+Light.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM3-os9nmE-171GhwPe2IlBbBajSS8jbV5VSygBZMHzqqNGhRw9u88_sqqVxzPf4AgmwIRuBWAi1JROtpI_a1FizUTvhgqq6vBoAJMRkwsjsg_dYIR5t9Yi6fBYfAXIl2oWIZ4lqskyI/w640-h360/F011+Evening+Light.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a lovely evening view looking out from the stern. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPrZQXq_WmiKeTMVdzsk7KER78Qc9UQfVcEvXxmz2WZdlfJxIbiHBWIClvxcP5hQdviyT7RVOQNAJBi4RmwWzsDBwviWLdZvW4iTfW0ARO_bfkI3ifvHge-qoIiK4wTVnwwJavORScgg/s1200/F013+Balloon+over+Welsh+Road+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPrZQXq_WmiKeTMVdzsk7KER78Qc9UQfVcEvXxmz2WZdlfJxIbiHBWIClvxcP5hQdviyT7RVOQNAJBi4RmwWzsDBwviWLdZvW4iTfW0ARO_bfkI3ifvHge-qoIiK4wTVnwwJavORScgg/w640-h360/F013+Balloon+over+Welsh+Road+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am sorry to say that we did not have a good night's sleep on Tuesday night. Ian woke up just after 2 o'clock for usual reasons but found that the world had changed! The boat was tipped over and inspection showed the canal had dropped in level by about 9 inches. Soon we were both up releasing the mooring lines and pushing the boat out into deeper water. Finally back to bed with a more level boat, but neither of us slept that well. Woke up again soon after 6 to find we were once more tilted and the water had dropped another 9 inches. Ian cycled to Wood Lock downstream to check if the paddles had been left up, but no so it was just that this pound leaked. The top gates at Wood Lock were leaking quite badly and the bottom gates were allowing this to seep out into the lower pound. So we decided we ought to move off and by about 7.20 am we were on our way, an unheard of start time for us. We were rewarded by the sight of a hot air balloon seen here above Welsh Road Lock, the next one up from the low pound. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NjqBExyy1Q3lDpZAAy7c5SY0F-zICFGP2uWRttHHczCvgrht6V_2SxRJFE8c1Xn11kT2pPX8VPa8YM82jy6MOsCquL3M9ttd8rTmh0FtlHvdud-3ULOURStw-PlyXUrZnTszDqvLL74/s1200/F014+Welsh+Road+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NjqBExyy1Q3lDpZAAy7c5SY0F-zICFGP2uWRttHHczCvgrht6V_2SxRJFE8c1Xn11kT2pPX8VPa8YM82jy6MOsCquL3M9ttd8rTmh0FtlHvdud-3ULOURStw-PlyXUrZnTszDqvLL74/w640-h360/F014+Welsh+Road+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is as we left Welsh Road Lock. The unusually large lock cottage reminded us of those on the Thames. Perhaps it shared the same architect?<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDV_BvryUyQQnNT880yGvsunWXHCfXXtN7TWvphBly6seE5ec1i5tH0hF73yARPnuR6on_76S6Z_9VBigp3_30mMIC7yEWqt-mrBnsrQEw0j2pK3v1LcT0dIgP9QMZoPTmio8Q7cPXhk/s1200/F016+Bascote+Staircase.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDV_BvryUyQQnNT880yGvsunWXHCfXXtN7TWvphBly6seE5ec1i5tH0hF73yARPnuR6on_76S6Z_9VBigp3_30mMIC7yEWqt-mrBnsrQEw0j2pK3v1LcT0dIgP9QMZoPTmio8Q7cPXhk/w640-h360/F016+Bascote+Staircase.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After Welsh Road Lock came the four Bascote Locks, the last two of which form a double staircase seen here as we approach them. So the rule is to make sure that the bottom lock is empty and the top one is full before you start up (or down) the staircase.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5ulldBoe6KyEJ9s2ouixWO9r6K-l65wO_eX8-1EXyYvfu0SL-ok-QeLf39wtD4YDpwdEZnv0Y0DXr9db-8fASm-LcAehSmaaUUEgNl5O_720rw8Fp_ArYVS4rhnbMs1FP2x2dEbHuL0/s1200/F017+Looking+down+Bascote+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5ulldBoe6KyEJ9s2ouixWO9r6K-l65wO_eX8-1EXyYvfu0SL-ok-QeLf39wtD4YDpwdEZnv0Y0DXr9db-8fASm-LcAehSmaaUUEgNl5O_720rw8Fp_ArYVS4rhnbMs1FP2x2dEbHuL0/w640-h360/F017+Looking+down+Bascote+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is looking down from the first lock of the staircase. You can see the single locks down below. We finished our cruising on Wednesday by about 9.15 am because of our early start. Often we don't set off until after that! We both felt a bit fragile after our lack of sleep, though Helen somehow found the energy to clean the carpets and the mats. Ian was more lethargic. It was another hot day but we did manage a walk in the afternoon into Long Itchington which is an attractive village where we patronised the local Co-op and had a drink at the Two Boats pub just below the next lock. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTmK9ZA7-fJF6fuEuTewDA4IwdL8WtGXHzOOGR26_xBoGc9ieIXBZhsrzLwm9T2RrhLYAx21MT4xMwHIJ3bOcw1uZrsrV4zr2orq4BCQufD9KCke4mjSSunBPRE9DHlbitmKvAxgJUR0/s1200/F023+Itchington+Bottom+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTmK9ZA7-fJF6fuEuTewDA4IwdL8WtGXHzOOGR26_xBoGc9ieIXBZhsrzLwm9T2RrhLYAx21MT4xMwHIJ3bOcw1uZrsrV4zr2orq4BCQufD9KCke4mjSSunBPRE9DHlbitmKvAxgJUR0/w640-h360/F023+Itchington+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a much later start here we are going up Itchington Bottom Lock. You can see clearly on the right the narrow lock which is concreted over and used as a bywash. Leo is in the wide lock alongside.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1Qe6w11xi4pM_JV7p7TnYN2hwQX91WVE6lWLBqtHYS7F__rfeyUNjcFpZrz0iuW6zcwoHzMvi8oRsqJqmPcs-uSoIo4j9aXsK9_YJbcPP05yMKor8AsvfIhVyh0GSelsiNpKwlShPr8/s1702/F027+Blue+Lias+pub+sign.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1Qe6w11xi4pM_JV7p7TnYN2hwQX91WVE6lWLBqtHYS7F__rfeyUNjcFpZrz0iuW6zcwoHzMvi8oRsqJqmPcs-uSoIo4j9aXsK9_YJbcPP05yMKor8AsvfIhVyh0GSelsiNpKwlShPr8/w452-h640/F027+Blue+Lias+pub+sign.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Above that bottom lock we were into the Stockton flight of 10 locks in total. We had a friendly CRT volunteer who helped us up most of the locks. After the second lock from the bottom we passed the Blue Lias pub which is unusual in having a dinosaur on its sign. Blue Lias is the local limestone which does have fossils.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Il37azkrG48w3zHNwnNXXfR_31PHVByzveuw_CF1vFb02yYBBvVMavnAYtIpAB2rIjkUWoUvM0I3eeFK26MVUWnQtGFMj4AbDm2cZO7fsBmVWWnqhBmjQsD8IpFgs19aE2N-zje8IBs/s1200/F028+Looking+up+Stockton+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Il37azkrG48w3zHNwnNXXfR_31PHVByzveuw_CF1vFb02yYBBvVMavnAYtIpAB2rIjkUWoUvM0I3eeFK26MVUWnQtGFMj4AbDm2cZO7fsBmVWWnqhBmjQsD8IpFgs19aE2N-zje8IBs/w640-h360/F028+Looking+up+Stockton+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are looking up the Stockton Locks climbing into the distance. Helen and our volunteer are by the left hand bottom gate. The locks were a delight to use. They were built in the 1930s and perhaps they had learned a thing or two by then. Often going up as a single boat in a wide lock the boat can get thrown from side to side by the incoming water. Not with these locks. Opening the paddle on the same side as the boat, a stream of water wells up on the other side from the boat holding it firmly to the side of the lock. Chains hang the sides of these locks (presumably for small boats to hold onto). We've found in the past that the chains scrape the paint off the hull as the boat moves to and fro. So we've developed a new technique - Helen pulls the chains up onto the lockside while we use it and then Ian drops them back into the water as he steers the boat out of the lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQfEa31UUzlwkFJQsqAKxicXd6bXik2CUrYmnTG-U_Ucr36IyN1BMuqM2glXwTNKnNTS3-ZvqAUoK5-LuJhGYBjChQwp-bAz5_S7bhqWn3D00UEJyq-tY4Y-GixdNVzWO4PCW3h6-niw/s1200/F029+Looking+down+Stockton+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQfEa31UUzlwkFJQsqAKxicXd6bXik2CUrYmnTG-U_Ucr36IyN1BMuqM2glXwTNKnNTS3-ZvqAUoK5-LuJhGYBjChQwp-bAz5_S7bhqWn3D00UEJyq-tY4Y-GixdNVzWO4PCW3h6-niw/w640-h360/F029+Looking+down+Stockton+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is the view looking down the Stockton Locks - a mini version of the Hatton 'Stairway to Heaven'.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>We are now approaching Calcutt where we climb the last 3 locks of this section of the Grand Union before it joins the Oxford Canal at Napton Junction. We are heading over the next week through Braunston to Gayton Junction where we will descend the 17 locks to Northampton and the River Nene.<br /><p><br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-47567750002123228362021-06-11T09:35:00.002-07:002021-06-11T09:35:32.241-07:00Escape from Birmingham<p> We are now moored on the Grand Union Canal at Catherine de Barnes which is often reckoned to be the first safe mooring coming out of Birmingham. We have cruised 10 miles and 11 locks today which is quite a lot for us these days. So this is the story of what we have been doing since the last update.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSk19QFO6Ddi1mTA-eEHYf2mRcDOOFQSD7y7KzB5fFOPdFM9heZu5lHRClzrGQZhwNoM1VZ91JEaL_k4dbr8ttc11rGvDX8UPo26oRyjSMCpTGTOb94zYpGmSLic0-3KZ-gnZEyKKK8U/s1200/E001+Tippler+at+Chasewater.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSk19QFO6Ddi1mTA-eEHYf2mRcDOOFQSD7y7KzB5fFOPdFM9heZu5lHRClzrGQZhwNoM1VZ91JEaL_k4dbr8ttc11rGvDX8UPo26oRyjSMCpTGTOb94zYpGmSLic0-3KZ-gnZEyKKK8U/w640-h360/E001+Tippler+at+Chasewater.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday (8 June) we left our lovely mooring below the dam of Chasewater Reservoir and set off back down the Anglesey Branch to Catshill Junction. Leaving the reservoir, we passed two of these structures which we think were used to load coal into narrowboats when the mines were operating here.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vzmmGMdQppAbi6i6J55RHyI8IhjaPfbMuof3c8LZIVRnRDJlsAXIn3unF9fGFOi9oubLxs0f8cy-NPRvkrnob93v-gMCm5HemN08LWNY5mExkhXukvvOofd2p31cmjQ84JJLRvAEBVM/s1200/E003+Country+view+from+Anglesey+Arm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vzmmGMdQppAbi6i6J55RHyI8IhjaPfbMuof3c8LZIVRnRDJlsAXIn3unF9fGFOi9oubLxs0f8cy-NPRvkrnob93v-gMCm5HemN08LWNY5mExkhXukvvOofd2p31cmjQ84JJLRvAEBVM/w640-h360/E003+Country+view+from+Anglesey+Arm.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the most northerly part of the BCN (Birmingham Canal Navigations) and the views confirm that we are now out in the country.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDu09sMFClnuXfb1NfO83g1w5qu1T2zRZTbAxyXtqidp2NtKPF0VsxAquf1D7HJgUL_qfRXP2vLHLgk-3dGVrpvcg6wiTzMjRuBJrTfl7RN2ulLv_wCUsfAF3NfVmDKZgX9ZiCQeUYGC4/s1200/E007+Adaptable+sign+at+Ogley+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDu09sMFClnuXfb1NfO83g1w5qu1T2zRZTbAxyXtqidp2NtKPF0VsxAquf1D7HJgUL_qfRXP2vLHLgk-3dGVrpvcg6wiTzMjRuBJrTfl7RN2ulLv_wCUsfAF3NfVmDKZgX9ZiCQeUYGC4/w640-h360/E007+Adaptable+sign+at+Ogley+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We stopped for a few minutes at Ogley Junction where the Lichfield Canal used to leave the BCN. Huddlesford Junction is on the Coventry Canal but between the two a lot of restoration needs to be done. We admired the forethought of whoever designed the sign as the word "being" can clearly be removed when the restoration is complete, leaving the spacing of the rest of the text looking perfect. No idea when we will be able to cruise this missing waterway. Many years we suspect.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnQyBtLBDrqxjPzCLWVBydpVJieqG8ZTdQyLg6QckHaro4l73PE7sr1Q9SJ7UflVvfQan61DMe2necZ-ft7LgXWxSr_F7b32zDPTlM2S89Tb3F5FSTOpEvXBPUMLGvf5f_YHARDp_rHs/s1200/E011+Narrows+after+the+turn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnQyBtLBDrqxjPzCLWVBydpVJieqG8ZTdQyLg6QckHaro4l73PE7sr1Q9SJ7UflVvfQan61DMe2necZ-ft7LgXWxSr_F7b32zDPTlM2S89Tb3F5FSTOpEvXBPUMLGvf5f_YHARDp_rHs/w640-h360/E011+Narrows+after+the+turn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once we had turned south at Catshill Junction there was a narrows, so Helen nipped off to take this picture. The bridge behind is at the junction. We are now on the Daw End Canal which was constructed as a branch of the Wyrley and Essington.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4Td30yhM2F6NOdUssG3vYqAOeMMK5Etw_cxXEru1OSqwdx2eHtUqYwyXC_t_DRWMoJdxWgWsWJItNbvAGeoHOVAA9VjxWNKBHIO7mr9pT_rxUCQyB9GXNPN1ioFnIGKui2X_K3gKXVc/s1200/E014+Elizabeth+at+Longwood+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4Td30yhM2F6NOdUssG3vYqAOeMMK5Etw_cxXEru1OSqwdx2eHtUqYwyXC_t_DRWMoJdxWgWsWJItNbvAGeoHOVAA9VjxWNKBHIO7mr9pT_rxUCQyB9GXNPN1ioFnIGKui2X_K3gKXVc/w640-h360/E014+Elizabeth+at+Longwood+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the end of the Daw End Canal is Longwood Junction which used to have an arm under the bridge to Hay Head but the arm is now just used for mooring boats. The unusual boat on the left is called Elizabeth and was built in the 1860s. We have seen her several times at different places on the waterways. We were told that she now has a new owner who is intent on restoring her, as she is now in a sorry state inside.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfx_Y5g6TzYwqDr__8ucp2fETt1VazynxPL-2Wd4DQjYDLTIAZeRjXathfJ7eE6G79voJzP2mN6-ws78kofnQIHEYnkX4HxHsqOilDZB2CZtiMCkZLXS8fI74EU6sXqgzZYkKMC4aRHg/s1200/E015+Rushall+Top+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfx_Y5g6TzYwqDr__8ucp2fETt1VazynxPL-2Wd4DQjYDLTIAZeRjXathfJ7eE6G79voJzP2mN6-ws78kofnQIHEYnkX4HxHsqOilDZB2CZtiMCkZLXS8fI74EU6sXqgzZYkKMC4aRHg/w640-h360/E015+Rushall+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From Longwood Junction the Rushall Canal links the Daw End with the Tame Valley Canal. On Wednesday we set off down the 9 locks of the Rushall. The picture is taken at the top lock where we made use of the services on the right.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIvt3Ya2pPNYvZEwkhxMqT-IiJKSZDkXDUi9OEZPNPpBjc-OoeVTYZmpAm9I68cuK6jelfNUMQS11fUOhp3ZWVbL3ngSGE9lgOWJGKzIKltyqZtcCEhAHkoY3OwA0apjWvdxqBvvVUsI/s1200/E019+Leo+from+Hill+Farm+Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIvt3Ya2pPNYvZEwkhxMqT-IiJKSZDkXDUi9OEZPNPpBjc-OoeVTYZmpAm9I68cuK6jelfNUMQS11fUOhp3ZWVbL3ngSGE9lgOWJGKzIKltyqZtcCEhAHkoY3OwA0apjWvdxqBvvVUsI/w640-h360/E019+Leo+from+Hill+Farm+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Rushall Canal gave us problems in the past when going the other way when we simply ran out of water going up the lock flight and Helen had to cycle up the flight to let more water down. This time we had no problems and once down the locks we soon moored close to the Tame Valley Canal. For non boaters to get an idea of where we were, this was close to where the M5 and M6 meet. A distant rumble of traffic could certainly be heard from Leo. The photo was taken through the iron framework of a nearby bridge.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMP3Wjgx4WSYAoMwhcdgN4It89Vv1PR8zP3PR0njPdwHVmxzB30Yq7_iMcyL9z646mjhtPWquzVn-ak1pO_ctCFGFrQU-l2eTpwx51PKof3QXnlkTy-zRRTutbejBzs1W5zx00sOtxM1c/s1200/E024+Rushall+Junction+sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMP3Wjgx4WSYAoMwhcdgN4It89Vv1PR8zP3PR0njPdwHVmxzB30Yq7_iMcyL9z646mjhtPWquzVn-ak1pO_ctCFGFrQU-l2eTpwx51PKof3QXnlkTy-zRRTutbejBzs1W5zx00sOtxM1c/w640-h360/E024+Rushall+Junction+sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Rushall Junction where the canal ends we turned left on Thursday morning onto the Tame Valley Canal. The picture shows the sign at the junction. We had come from Catshill Junction and were heading to Salford Junction.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGNRS3w0GzJfhvErQRn6lP_j67hnwAHRYmYPO1vP8JyiF9Jh-3I8UrAGRk_TmXjddoGgrTiIAN04ge7Hm5YysiFw8u_55PRG9sIb2_t-Hn7HRr38Y9Vk4IXWOv-2FW50Pw_WL_jcQNBI/s1200/E025+Chimney+Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGNRS3w0GzJfhvErQRn6lP_j67hnwAHRYmYPO1vP8JyiF9Jh-3I8UrAGRk_TmXjddoGgrTiIAN04ge7Hm5YysiFw8u_55PRG9sIb2_t-Hn7HRr38Y9Vk4IXWOv-2FW50Pw_WL_jcQNBI/w640-h360/E025+Chimney+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Tame Valley Canal was built late in the canal era and has deep cuttings, high embankments and is very very straight. This footbridge is called Chimney Bridge and gives a good idea of how deep are the cuttings.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLV8wr5x8XwM1jjmT7x58SS9xpOvVV7ULJQPIONloozu9Q8tNnt8ZUwR9NxDZ266wLGOT9IdkgmmCTDs-xuTeOwKTz6EK0Qi9lK26zLzvd7aOwVMPx99YAbqHceCDm6JJcE2WCGFIn9Oo/s1200/E026+Birmingham+from+Tame+Valley+Canal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLV8wr5x8XwM1jjmT7x58SS9xpOvVV7ULJQPIONloozu9Q8tNnt8ZUwR9NxDZ266wLGOT9IdkgmmCTDs-xuTeOwKTz6EK0Qi9lK26zLzvd7aOwVMPx99YAbqHceCDm6JJcE2WCGFIn9Oo/w640-h360/E026+Birmingham+from+Tame+Valley+Canal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From the embankments we could see right into the centre of Birmingham. The prominent Post Office Tower can be seen which is right beside the Farmer's Bridge flight of 13 locks (the old 13) into the city centre.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBvrIA70DEvU8HD9-CNXGxsjGsusSrnv3yzi8UBU8dFQ5WHxuh_e5mGf_yfe3HkwUu-MHp3n3jOe-fml7Y71Faw_z26_TCnvXwQg9yzfnmFXojfRrt7Mq1c512vIHRvmR5LNUG8klx2Q/s1200/E027+Very+straight+canal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBvrIA70DEvU8HD9-CNXGxsjGsusSrnv3yzi8UBU8dFQ5WHxuh_e5mGf_yfe3HkwUu-MHp3n3jOe-fml7Y71Faw_z26_TCnvXwQg9yzfnmFXojfRrt7Mq1c512vIHRvmR5LNUG8klx2Q/w640-h360/E027+Very+straight+canal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well I said the Tame Valley Canal is very straight!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n3Yqxe5jcEhdgsUaIK-LlICKMZtkbjPlsMDUTGL1nhsdXg5-QtVWbFfxv3Czg1yoBn62xPOuzPA4x1xAOSGUPaUCSXkjGCwS-S1_t9Nhmusxus6rpcozAKgrVIu5NrLOtLBv6Odn9o0/s1200/E028+Perry+Bar+Top+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n3Yqxe5jcEhdgsUaIK-LlICKMZtkbjPlsMDUTGL1nhsdXg5-QtVWbFfxv3Czg1yoBn62xPOuzPA4x1xAOSGUPaUCSXkjGCwS-S1_t9Nhmusxus6rpcozAKgrVIu5NrLOtLBv6Odn9o0/w640-h360/E028+Perry+Bar+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a few miles of pretty boring canal we came to the top of the Perry Barr Locks. There are 13 (the new 13) of these which drop the canal over 100 feet. The first 7 locks worked well but after that we had a few problems - weed in the pounds, leaking top paddles, bottom gates that refused to stay closed and flooding the towpath below one lock when we let the water go.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYW1VK-9ASOn6n5m0zWrdHI3CwbI8Uifoz5gqTiEJLaleSe4fNDBN1XR9GAup_x3zZMJaX1nvIxogZJxW6KRjW_WERqvYIkX-9TqIojLoRuE3XPMYACv9_8we17_bKgqiFsWqWM44iVs/s1200/E029+Alexander+Stadium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYW1VK-9ASOn6n5m0zWrdHI3CwbI8Uifoz5gqTiEJLaleSe4fNDBN1XR9GAup_x3zZMJaX1nvIxogZJxW6KRjW_WERqvYIkX-9TqIojLoRuE3XPMYACv9_8we17_bKgqiFsWqWM44iVs/w640-h360/E029+Alexander+Stadium.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alongside the Perry Bar Locks the Alexander Sports Stadium is being substantially rebuilt to host next year's Commonwealth Games.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0ANWuH_0DDvF1PUkp2gRA-mqiEYRd-fsGERUN8fdJ_E3ZlG0W67L41eA4aRFh5q0qSmRhzkFrHqeJF5_hyphenhyphenzHbDONKnIvFdHPAiyKd5dAUhLwBdkUtbQgeT68qAeLqBnC2KVWfzdpue0/s1200/E036+Spaghetti+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0ANWuH_0DDvF1PUkp2gRA-mqiEYRd-fsGERUN8fdJ_E3ZlG0W67L41eA4aRFh5q0qSmRhzkFrHqeJF5_hyphenhyphenzHbDONKnIvFdHPAiyKd5dAUhLwBdkUtbQgeT68qAeLqBnC2KVWfzdpue0/w640-h360/E036+Spaghetti+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having come down the 13 locks we soon came towards Salford Junction. This complicated canal junction lies underneath Spaghetti Junction where the A38 intersects with the M6. Underneath that web of motorway roads and links there is a railway, a junction of 4 canals and the River Tame. It's an amazing place.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7RTaBxL7GdrRG2AGDC6OliBAU3Sm4RcnvCJkizoA_DosMSTqI_aGPpBx_LF8PrGmkLRIwC2NysGFgoAxIuND02y2H3kDlzn0S20PldZ7MvS-EP_ao3_PC94UXSmD-X97C5t6UCrwYfE/s1200/E038+Spaghetti+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7RTaBxL7GdrRG2AGDC6OliBAU3Sm4RcnvCJkizoA_DosMSTqI_aGPpBx_LF8PrGmkLRIwC2NysGFgoAxIuND02y2H3kDlzn0S20PldZ7MvS-EP_ao3_PC94UXSmD-X97C5t6UCrwYfE/w640-h360/E038+Spaghetti+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are weaving around the pillars holding the motorway.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sNM9X-ljy_HTQgA3Xu6aXukX20QuezMbQfuXPhiggDhWytR9ynhORh4XGH4YqZ05OMI0OWSihVzJs9mLyx45Ww1h2IiTIvlcnpC7qIPlEVE1ODAipz4jUW8Ge7DqD_tZywU_1CYinS4/s1200/E041+Salford+Junction+sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sNM9X-ljy_HTQgA3Xu6aXukX20QuezMbQfuXPhiggDhWytR9ynhORh4XGH4YqZ05OMI0OWSihVzJs9mLyx45Ww1h2IiTIvlcnpC7qIPlEVE1ODAipz4jUW8Ge7DqD_tZywU_1CYinS4/w640-h360/E041+Salford+Junction+sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the sign at Salford Junction. We had come from Perry Bar and Tipton. Two canals turn right from here following different routes into the city and a fourth arm is the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. We took the second turn on the right.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zIKryNAT-uGiSfZuPHXbAkS3p_GH0naQzpLDY8RVxm-3QcsyViz_3jNGIRGuKHMw5ps7wQu9wNJ5HKRdnKr-FhFiNofg2O9wEtcDozJBUqT1Nu6SPDNGo7gXl10B88QGeGQXLKFORr4/s1200/E043+River+Tame+below.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zIKryNAT-uGiSfZuPHXbAkS3p_GH0naQzpLDY8RVxm-3QcsyViz_3jNGIRGuKHMw5ps7wQu9wNJ5HKRdnKr-FhFiNofg2O9wEtcDozJBUqT1Nu6SPDNGo7gXl10B88QGeGQXLKFORr4/w640-h360/E043+River+Tame+below.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Immediately after making the turn we crossed an aqueduct over the River Tame shown here. Avid readers of our blog will recall that we last saw the Tame downstream at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas several weeks ago.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg963OWdURjGl4SjNSLtkJYb7rws-377p8m5OdDcuGjg_U2OGdrdy4hc55_tYUn5v7dL7gNxvcP0uvYShlr1TfecH666fTroFtliBHuB3qm7hJz1JWOGKlCpLAYYicOn_avIsvo8vcqn8s/s1200/E049+Garrison+Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg963OWdURjGl4SjNSLtkJYb7rws-377p8m5OdDcuGjg_U2OGdrdy4hc55_tYUn5v7dL7gNxvcP0uvYShlr1TfecH666fTroFtliBHuB3qm7hJz1JWOGKlCpLAYYicOn_avIsvo8vcqn8s/w640-h360/E049+Garrison+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored overnight last night (Thursday 10th) at Star City soon after Salford Junction. Though famous in the Midlands as an entertainment centre, its attraction to us as boaters is that it has a secure mooring only accessible from land by means of a CRT (Canals and Rivers Trust) key. Today we finally made our escape from Birmingham by first climbing the 5 Garrison Locks. This photo gives a good impression of the dreary nature of the surroundings with derelict factories alongside the canal.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ij5OR-AGWOezCNWK8sHwL72UMh5uq8gvjO5YoJ_e7sctOX4iN66oEJDyZ-Eo1zSG-9OLuAmlPu4mO6XBF68Gmcf_Zs6OKW8k6gpQT4Z6jtd6AnOVj9j4sQdojdEwTy-XASEumcJTFDc/s1200/E050+Water+inflow+at+stern%252C+Garrison+Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ij5OR-AGWOezCNWK8sHwL72UMh5uq8gvjO5YoJ_e7sctOX4iN66oEJDyZ-Eo1zSG-9OLuAmlPu4mO6XBF68Gmcf_Zs6OKW8k6gpQT4Z6jtd6AnOVj9j4sQdojdEwTy-XASEumcJTFDc/w640-h360/E050+Water+inflow+at+stern%252C+Garrison+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An oddity of the Garrison Locks is that the paddles at the top gates have channels that mean the locks fill at both ends, not just the end by the paddles. This photo shows water bubbling up at the stern which is not usual. It does have the advantage of holding the stern of the boat clear of the bottom gates, thus saving any damage to our Yorkshire flag!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq_hXwVkjrWElVL0aMe8TLdyyi-EMdS7bULIugblbHj14UDj-McZYKM5PpNduDS-ANI5VRn7V0YAwSJycHRKIQiuvtdhDIMBDPir-aISzXhqIaOqu7Qbp4fXxQpRZlfi9FaFiRuk0Pb0/s1200/E052+Camp+Hill+Bottom+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq_hXwVkjrWElVL0aMe8TLdyyi-EMdS7bULIugblbHj14UDj-McZYKM5PpNduDS-ANI5VRn7V0YAwSJycHRKIQiuvtdhDIMBDPir-aISzXhqIaOqu7Qbp4fXxQpRZlfi9FaFiRuk0Pb0/w640-h360/E052+Camp+Hill+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Above Garrison Locks and a plethora of bridges we came to Bordesley Junction where we turned left to immediately go up the 6 Camp Hill Locks. To the right leads up the Digbeth Locks towards the city centre. In the photo you can see an arched bridge below the lock. This crosses the canal heading for Garrison Locks. Some of the graffiti is quite artistic but there is a lot of it.<br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINAP4WSI3oEanblFuXVfn3P2lLRKiqLHyBNRqLWZZXTs5p4k-mS-yzebbWbu9B_qbUMVoov43iey1lPm5wgxkeANK3I4PGtivTLdtBsj1znWS6c1ml-k3cvzTJrXa4-fUx1HRIsqaIBc/s1200/E054+Leaving+Camp+Hill+Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINAP4WSI3oEanblFuXVfn3P2lLRKiqLHyBNRqLWZZXTs5p4k-mS-yzebbWbu9B_qbUMVoov43iey1lPm5wgxkeANK3I4PGtivTLdtBsj1znWS6c1ml-k3cvzTJrXa4-fUx1HRIsqaIBc/w640-h360/E054+Leaving+Camp+Hill+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This picture was taken at the top of the Camp Hill Locks where we made use of the services which also provide a pretty secure mooring. The factory beyond the top lock has an awning which would have protected cargoes being unloaded from narrowboats.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We've enjoyed our visit to some of the more remote places on the Birmingham Canal Navigations but we're glad that we are now moving to better patronised parts of the waterways and some more countryside which we've missed. We are expecting our friend Maurice at the moment who has promised to help us with the Hatton Locks (foolish fellow!). So for the next few days we will be following the Grand Union south and east.<br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-17657453903321265852021-06-08T14:28:00.000-07:002021-06-08T14:28:30.552-07:00Walsall and the Curly Wyrley<p> We've now decided on a route that will take us around Birmingham to the north but not into the centre. So a circular form of Birmingham by-pass by canal. Last Friday we set off down the Oldbury Locks heading towards Walsall which we have not visited by boat before.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgE1Ugyo7hqWOZSHOvdt6WCdNGAgwk7nTO15UX_Yeru8BYbqMZVlKRg-_j8lsh8xRYgsShyphenhyphenrzGbvEbFWpHL6usl1UX7_ItGd-Lx1ZF_lWvdYQpEr1ZlCL2vrLUnM_mxvJ2ZVaN_qt_N8/s1200/D104+Old+Line+under+M5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgE1Ugyo7hqWOZSHOvdt6WCdNGAgwk7nTO15UX_Yeru8BYbqMZVlKRg-_j8lsh8xRYgsShyphenhyphenrzGbvEbFWpHL6usl1UX7_ItGd-Lx1ZF_lWvdYQpEr1ZlCL2vrLUnM_mxvJ2ZVaN_qt_N8/w640-h360/D104+Old+Line+under+M5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once down the Oldbury Locks we were on the 'Wolverhampton Level' of the Old Main Line and turned east for a stretch where the M5 has been built over the top of the canal. If you look into the distance you can see an original canal arched bridge which contrasts oddly with the newer road flyover.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVC8Y4bPZxPQOZGfyjFNmKT0BZzjHoxAzoekfC9IKOrwEe8zpakflclhcWevOGIqOZF4yZBvUQVMVjjfKwG5V6_YdpgplhnWYnTlfveiuZWTJitTnGFOnuIKQOeuSzNbE_nRHjXZ_cGQ/s1200/D105+Aqueduct+over+New+Main+Line.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVC8Y4bPZxPQOZGfyjFNmKT0BZzjHoxAzoekfC9IKOrwEe8zpakflclhcWevOGIqOZF4yZBvUQVMVjjfKwG5V6_YdpgplhnWYnTlfveiuZWTJitTnGFOnuIKQOeuSzNbE_nRHjXZ_cGQ/w640-h360/D105+Aqueduct+over+New+Main+Line.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soon the Old Main Line crosses the New Main Line which you can see through the forest of concrete columns holding up the M5. A railway runs nearby too, so three forms of transport are all close together.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qQ6RG5K33j4jhncFfEXdDCp4atUiFmyxRM3N2yL776mf73aWd5nMGFQZ7gwo4mqa3WPeioOwaawqFhhh9PUkKavvdXWyQL1CcmCiZX6YsEPcHufcqbW0ixOVs9CqaXPfSRBKQe1u2Eg/s1200/D107+Sharp+turn+into+Spon+Lane+Top+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qQ6RG5K33j4jhncFfEXdDCp4atUiFmyxRM3N2yL776mf73aWd5nMGFQZ7gwo4mqa3WPeioOwaawqFhhh9PUkKavvdXWyQL1CcmCiZX6YsEPcHufcqbW0ixOVs9CqaXPfSRBKQe1u2Eg/w640-h360/D107+Sharp+turn+into+Spon+Lane+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A mile or so further and our way was to turn sharp left down three Spon Lane Locks to drop to the New Main Line. And it was a very sharp turn. We had come from the canal to the left of the picture and turned almost back on ourselves into the top lock where you can see Leo facing the other way. We're glad our boat is not 70 feet long!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHE6XnuegPOfLdhOCfIeJuDdTpQvzhrh4AOWylgCL-5nDrSZIz36d2BY_wdSHtjAfOVpsupzw-dZtdLLFd4EJzC48Rdvcr0dBUJcGq6wDeXS59qD8j9L1lSdD3enLIadsRXRTFJDHUeU/s1200/D108+Spon+Lane+Bottom+Lock+and+Bromfield+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHE6XnuegPOfLdhOCfIeJuDdTpQvzhrh4AOWylgCL-5nDrSZIz36d2BY_wdSHtjAfOVpsupzw-dZtdLLFd4EJzC48Rdvcr0dBUJcGq6wDeXS59qD8j9L1lSdD3enLIadsRXRTFJDHUeU/w640-h360/D108+Spon+Lane+Bottom+Lock+and+Bromfield+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were now heading west and here Leo is waiting at the bottom of the three locks. Just below this lock we joined the New Main Line under the bridge on the right. The bridge on the left is over the New Main Line.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nxdgW8SfYnRb79MVJ09lA-L1y-rCgFimkc56ttNuDnt2arLe8hA0MYI91q634EmpQQK95ETz1yJYuWuArWeKtM1VfyjNDb2yUHjiLZfGm8K0YtU1HZWCfYT69kBvm59j3Aa-2IeBYiI/s1200/D111+Down+the+weed+hatch+at+Gauging+Station.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nxdgW8SfYnRb79MVJ09lA-L1y-rCgFimkc56ttNuDnt2arLe8hA0MYI91q634EmpQQK95ETz1yJYuWuArWeKtM1VfyjNDb2yUHjiLZfGm8K0YtU1HZWCfYT69kBvm59j3Aa-2IeBYiI/w640-h360/D111+Down+the+weed+hatch+at+Gauging+Station.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Below the locks is a gauging station. This is basically an island in the middle of the canal with a 7 foot wide gap either side. This was used for men to measure how much cargo you were carrying and to charge an appropriate toll. Cargo would be measured by a graded stick to work out how much of the hull was above the water and thus how heavy was the load. Anyway it made a convenient place to stop and clear the propellor. How do you like Ian's elbow length gloves? Going down the weed hatch is a common occurrence round here and you never know quite what you are going to find! Could be weed, could be plastic, could be something nastier. Best to take precautions.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislEoq7t1FHJZFJnO7drdvmPJT3i-RQzCZ0ljf87d0N4_aHv107AFdw8-07S86nHUtv94nGCFfDg9qUhd-mh1KfauO2XW6eNmr0IJjafVPOosRVycdF4bPhaa721Uazpkt6b0LobEW9C4/s1200/D114+Right+to+Walsall.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislEoq7t1FHJZFJnO7drdvmPJT3i-RQzCZ0ljf87d0N4_aHv107AFdw8-07S86nHUtv94nGCFfDg9qUhd-mh1KfauO2XW6eNmr0IJjafVPOosRVycdF4bPhaa721Uazpkt6b0LobEW9C4/w640-h360/D114+Right+to+Walsall.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just under a mile west at Pudding Green Junction, we turned right under the bridge off the New Main Line onto the Wednesbury Old Canal. New waters for us.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOoJ5mNZKcZeaLE8ku8Z5xXgLasWHlX6cX7UTwpVTTfKl4IklzEHFHyM1jI-GJhyphenhyphenESyfLvKtO8tW6Cf_H6Xvyv5V7mkYovVClZtxnsu7jU1o5ddtHzQOp4rE0Je_hEPeOnrpA95wKtvA/s1200/D118+Looking+down+Ryden%2527s+Green+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOoJ5mNZKcZeaLE8ku8Z5xXgLasWHlX6cX7UTwpVTTfKl4IklzEHFHyM1jI-GJhyphenhyphenESyfLvKtO8tW6Cf_H6Xvyv5V7mkYovVClZtxnsu7jU1o5ddtHzQOp4rE0Je_hEPeOnrpA95wKtvA/w640-h360/D118+Looking+down+Ryden%2527s+Green+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soon we came to the Ryder's Green Locks, a flight of 8 that leads down to Walsall.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYEJ7jy3M542_nlFrHXZtHu7tAzkvu_nwU-lzg1tetQMhIEJmooXH7IPtaQnuVsVMzFfkHGBVeDUiVXXk3KalRGNZpg0eqSNG_RWoznjtijFlbB7naG1eggwU9T6SHhX13cOfC-sWu3Y/s1200/D119+Lots+of+pallets+by+Ryden%2527s+Green+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYEJ7jy3M542_nlFrHXZtHu7tAzkvu_nwU-lzg1tetQMhIEJmooXH7IPtaQnuVsVMzFfkHGBVeDUiVXXk3KalRGNZpg0eqSNG_RWoznjtijFlbB7naG1eggwU9T6SHhX13cOfC-sWu3Y/w640-h360/D119+Lots+of+pallets+by+Ryden%2527s+Green+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In this view looking back up the Ryder's Green Locks you can see the piled up pallets either made or stored here. The surroundings are industrial round here.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RIPmQy1AXM_3dQIaC3JOzcrx1wwtF7NSAL9AvJMgplmrVmrUaycyy5ers8fsGhZ1blsuJVIcJC7r0J4weHbcJ2ILN2Egpq-Fhh99IK8uo65KZ9mW_yoBj09gYEoy9cUx3YJz9lwq7lw/s1200/D120+Turning+into+Ocker+Hill+Tunnel+Branch.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RIPmQy1AXM_3dQIaC3JOzcrx1wwtF7NSAL9AvJMgplmrVmrUaycyy5ers8fsGhZ1blsuJVIcJC7r0J4weHbcJ2ILN2Egpq-Fhh99IK8uo65KZ9mW_yoBj09gYEoy9cUx3YJz9lwq7lw/w640-h360/D120+Turning+into+Ocker+Hill+Tunnel+Branch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had been told of a safe mooring on the Ocker's Hill Tunnel branch not far from the bottom of the locks. Here we are turning under a side bridge into the branch. Immediately on the right once in the arm is a mooring that seems to be used by passing boaters or by CRT to store their work boats. With grass beside the mooring it was very pleasant and secure, in fact so secure that we couldn't go anywhere else from the mooring! Still it was a nice spot and there are always jobs to do.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeib6Z_qEBW_OtOuXoruNGa2irPv_xbWM80Vx55G7h6WEgyebtw8qn7vzkVr3RRgiDE1hGOi64wGKnlRHSHW419ILCZ8rtFRmOZk7BskmkGLt2BAYM6QS7U-yc-Xaz5CxeP6usnv7Vkrc/s1200/D123+Tame+Valley+canal+to+right.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeib6Z_qEBW_OtOuXoruNGa2irPv_xbWM80Vx55G7h6WEgyebtw8qn7vzkVr3RRgiDE1hGOi64wGKnlRHSHW419ILCZ8rtFRmOZk7BskmkGLt2BAYM6QS7U-yc-Xaz5CxeP6usnv7Vkrc/w640-h360/D123+Tame+Valley+canal+to+right.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday we backed out of our mooring and carried on north. Here we are passing Tame Valley Junction where the Tame Valley Canal goes to the right between the two bridges you can see. The Tame Valley Junction is a late one and is astonishingly straight and rather boring. So we didn't go that way but carried on straight ahead.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtf1qNhTQPFGXSRdQGFSKyqbLTe2eoMfvwomDmqjtKQkrsc2xpRer_KeygLdfTnt-CrJ0t90cO1jxc9gYG-ifRbgh2nmUfMGd-2pyVm6ny8A2vID2C8LUWsfsRc4uawUCvdh2HutEkuyM/s1200/D129+Green+%2526+Pleasant+Walsall+Canal.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtf1qNhTQPFGXSRdQGFSKyqbLTe2eoMfvwomDmqjtKQkrsc2xpRer_KeygLdfTnt-CrJ0t90cO1jxc9gYG-ifRbgh2nmUfMGd-2pyVm6ny8A2vID2C8LUWsfsRc4uawUCvdh2HutEkuyM/w640-h360/D129+Green+%2526+Pleasant+Walsall+Canal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The canal towards Walsall was surprisingly green and attractive. Some areas were industrial and some were private houses but the canal continues as a green corridor even where civilisation gets close on either side. I don't however want to suggest that this stretch was easy cruising. Ian went down the weed hatch three times in the 5 miles to Walsall.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_he3NPLI_V3G_56kW6EvijagF_hQnYN5p6R3EmdH5aYKImhKEIdTTmTm51Q5x3EiJCzQeolWOjeZ9OtHFOzTqkDB_FOW3dgOFsPyG3tchhb0WFp-yQ4NhmLmZLBy6wgxjEir30orp4c/s1200/D135+Walsall+Arm+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_he3NPLI_V3G_56kW6EvijagF_hQnYN5p6R3EmdH5aYKImhKEIdTTmTm51Q5x3EiJCzQeolWOjeZ9OtHFOzTqkDB_FOW3dgOFsPyG3tchhb0WFp-yQ4NhmLmZLBy6wgxjEir30orp4c/w640-h360/D135+Walsall+Arm+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Eventually we reached the junction with the short arm leading to Walsall basin. In the distance you can see a lock on the left which is the first of the flight of 8 Walsall Locks and on the right is the arm into Walsall.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYGHjKYt4JFP0lLfFzVCRRhNYJHFjYEn84XfXxE3GEdBxW57TBwg02-_LHpu391xHgsYKm7UQCZkDQsRphCv3i98bPp_Bvpo4e1wa3gtFZnwNj8NR2Ckznj3RTIXuDQrxFto7vgAl55k/s1200/D137+Walsall+Junction+sign.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYGHjKYt4JFP0lLfFzVCRRhNYJHFjYEn84XfXxE3GEdBxW57TBwg02-_LHpu391xHgsYKm7UQCZkDQsRphCv3i98bPp_Bvpo4e1wa3gtFZnwNj8NR2Ckznj3RTIXuDQrxFto7vgAl55k/w640-h360/D137+Walsall+Junction+sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the sign at the junction. We had come from Ryders Green Junction and were heading down the Walsall Town Arm. On Sunday we would be going up the 8 locks to Birchills Junction. The Canal Museum is sadly no more but we did meet Paul who used to run it.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Zu1jI57yUmXu2WOOTr7SnPxioFBGlmjwB-Y4VCOvYITl6my8ymyC9a-XYN8c0FYg-2VkEN4uJZZhz2Ideh26GjGDxQxjnYEpbsWhOZlRnyKw8x3SxadnOdUi9zxQqYkOY58cImpyiFg/s1200/D141+Moored+in+Walsall+Town+Basin.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Zu1jI57yUmXu2WOOTr7SnPxioFBGlmjwB-Y4VCOvYITl6my8ymyC9a-XYN8c0FYg-2VkEN4uJZZhz2Ideh26GjGDxQxjnYEpbsWhOZlRnyKw8x3SxadnOdUi9zxQqYkOY58cImpyiFg/w640-h360/D141+Moored+in+Walsall+Town+Basin.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Approaching the basin we pushed a spring loaded boom out of the way to enter the basin and moored, the only boat present in this central spot in the town. The huge balloon floating in the basin belongs to CRT and is there to warn you that the water is deep and it will be best not to fall in. It doesn't exactly say that but that is the intention. We had lunch in Brewers Fayre in the building to the left where we sat in a window watching the boat just in case. The worst we saw was two people taking pictures of each other leaning on Leo. After lunch we visited the art gallery and found an amazing collection of works by famous artists given by two friends, Sally Ryan and Katherine Garman (the latter married Jacob Epstein). After having our fill of Walsall we moved to a secure pontoon on the way back up the arm to escape the noise of the town centre basin on a Saturday night. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSUFHFZkeF2_fAPYmvx8qR7bFFjyEyrVP_D9tBx7vMW0n54HfE6seCE8yuKREtW5W72qcmLniuquR9-WTCUJ9g0XmqLFJmxohtXsWdsXfnguPNxn2jJV6bggGTdh_p5ZNGeIe6YowzXM/s2048/D145+Warehouse+at+Lock+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="2048" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSUFHFZkeF2_fAPYmvx8qR7bFFjyEyrVP_D9tBx7vMW0n54HfE6seCE8yuKREtW5W72qcmLniuquR9-WTCUJ9g0XmqLFJmxohtXsWdsXfnguPNxn2jJV6bggGTdh_p5ZNGeIe6YowzXM/w640-h452/D145+Warehouse+at+Lock+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday morning started with persistent rain and we came up the 8 Walsall Locks carefully as some of the paving by the locks was a bit slippery. Here the photo is looking down the flight from Lock 3 to Lock 2. The fine old warehouse to the left of the lock includes a side pound which used to allow boats into the building to unload.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIzZz3KVMm-c6tstiq0lc6qjM-9-cSY0R0ATGB53YxGGdSAkO0wFntZXI23E39ZvaAmQrlCXd5pcfsRKL7Pvio6xGtgIFfOxdqFD_pGQn51WWJlLAkNBcuCR42g21HKGaZoNq0QgqPfw/s3840/D146+Walsall+Top+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIzZz3KVMm-c6tstiq0lc6qjM-9-cSY0R0ATGB53YxGGdSAkO0wFntZXI23E39ZvaAmQrlCXd5pcfsRKL7Pvio6xGtgIFfOxdqFD_pGQn51WWJlLAkNBcuCR42g21HKGaZoNq0QgqPfw/w640-h360/D146+Walsall+Top+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are at the top lock. The single storey building was a toll office and the two storey one was a Boatmen's Rest. More recently it had been the Canal Museum until it closed, apparently due to lack of financial support.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZjJGKiW3WvXNiO_hhvYBd0DNwU6bSj0p_eHAf0yrQUhA0YeVEKRMn32FIK7Izhs-YyTpwkoK3uqkDiX2A9gNM01lAI-aHUD-VfhLVLWfCAbRGohTgkzGzWqiJcx-k0PBdSG2bK7YTDk/s2048/D147+Boatman%2527s+Rest+at+Top+Lock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1516" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZjJGKiW3WvXNiO_hhvYBd0DNwU6bSj0p_eHAf0yrQUhA0YeVEKRMn32FIK7Izhs-YyTpwkoK3uqkDiX2A9gNM01lAI-aHUD-VfhLVLWfCAbRGohTgkzGzWqiJcx-k0PBdSG2bK7YTDk/w474-h640/D147+Boatman%2527s+Rest+at+Top+Lock.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the plaque on the side of the Boatmen's Rest.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L72-OaGAmQy9yrUqZS9FCeUgiJzM8Of3OECCIGMF9KmdanxKgRz97eOdU9U-gsBkftVXRkwTgS7Kk_FGx5IadfudsXEM6ix4BSCBHGPdmwXjRZLBAxc4N9z2i-xDaFWGTpTRSLNuNTw/s2048/D150+Looking+down+into+the+water.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L72-OaGAmQy9yrUqZS9FCeUgiJzM8Of3OECCIGMF9KmdanxKgRz97eOdU9U-gsBkftVXRkwTgS7Kk_FGx5IadfudsXEM6ix4BSCBHGPdmwXjRZLBAxc4N9z2i-xDaFWGTpTRSLNuNTw/w640-h360/D150+Looking+down+into+the+water.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The water above the locks was exceptionally clear so I tried a photo looking down into it from the back of the boat. If you look carefully you can see a few fish too.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVP16en-bznuT1DjknYgypN_sE6Ibri7OrnQMvPeoI7usKjW9FGTbCTGZ8EOBcOBokr1M6wQSj8SJxAEGbEQEth_BDAdikbH9ivatB6InbM6e6uWWJtL1eyjBOPCk0zX22-OGKAGsh5k/s3840/D160+Looking+back+from+mooring.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVP16en-bznuT1DjknYgypN_sE6Ibri7OrnQMvPeoI7usKjW9FGTbCTGZ8EOBcOBokr1M6wQSj8SJxAEGbEQEth_BDAdikbH9ivatB6InbM6e6uWWJtL1eyjBOPCk0zX22-OGKAGsh5k/w640-h360/D160+Looking+back+from+mooring.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A half mile beyond the top of the locks we came to Birchills Junction where the Walsall Canal meets the Wyrley and Essington Canal (widely known as the Curly Wyrley). Here we turned right (east) and after a few weedy and twisty miles we moored at Pelsall Common where this photo was taken. This is open country of heathland and pools. The yellow flowers are on gorse bushes and there are also lupins.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe1_U0lSa22tgBSc0sooMp4M6PyKkQVMIUSobtj4aftuLpP3FLosJ6C1_yIslhgIxYP6uI0Dk6_x15ygZOByCUyqTgXHSH7XL0RBHete2xBkCJJyo4dXsK69ayWG1SIx55YzEwhqgZ4s/s3840/D161+Irises+in+bloom.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe1_U0lSa22tgBSc0sooMp4M6PyKkQVMIUSobtj4aftuLpP3FLosJ6C1_yIslhgIxYP6uI0Dk6_x15ygZOByCUyqTgXHSH7XL0RBHete2xBkCJJyo4dXsK69ayWG1SIx55YzEwhqgZ4s/w640-h360/D161+Irises+in+bloom.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And these yellow flowers further down the cut are of course yellow iris. On Sunday for the first time in three days we met other boats, albeit only a couple of them. In the afternoon we went for a walk over the common and back along the Cannock Extension Canal, a short branch which goes north and which we've decided not to visit. We've been before and it is not as interesting as Pelsall Common.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqC5QkRPmgU2JJfRXiX7gxm0JAHC6hW255zvig00wBO4d1yiuwLCVSnSMWs3arj__jgvrFM9psW9Nu0X2f0pCZFh3oyXtCDXx9VvjjLSJDJzUOPAJt62PFr6-amtOT-IGEnd22VK5vDbw/s3840/D163+Man+at+work.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqC5QkRPmgU2JJfRXiX7gxm0JAHC6hW255zvig00wBO4d1yiuwLCVSnSMWs3arj__jgvrFM9psW9Nu0X2f0pCZFh3oyXtCDXx9VvjjLSJDJzUOPAJt62PFr6-amtOT-IGEnd22VK5vDbw/w640-h360/D163+Man+at+work.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday (yesterday) we cruised just 5 miles to Chasewater. We liked this CRT contractor carrying his road works sign on the mower.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Em6VTIb4Gv5ektmTK9EIElGs0QUtBiMCgFN7OAG_-pbMg_q1E4Gxm_lpTG_dR_0KTbXlGzEMGZZ2wG5HChvy7Tws0OQnx69aAg2ydF52jNLU0elrIiAh6gwRfQO0Z7huYUkmH8qHTs/s3840/D164+Path+through+the+weed.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Em6VTIb4Gv5ektmTK9EIElGs0QUtBiMCgFN7OAG_-pbMg_q1E4Gxm_lpTG_dR_0KTbXlGzEMGZZ2wG5HChvy7Tws0OQnx69aAg2ydF52jNLU0elrIiAh6gwRfQO0Z7huYUkmH8qHTs/w640-h360/D164+Path+through+the+weed.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The canal here is pretty weedy - we've made our own track through the weeds. However we managed the journey without lifting the weed hatch. We stopped at Tesco at Brownhills to replenish the larder</span><span style="font-size: medium;">. This must be one of the most accessible supermarkets to a canal - just cross the road by the canal and there you are.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKecFJ6RMpi0m4Sgy-j5-YJsGuwhdpHxBS4UCRqVWCrtlCRMSaM-NgpP6a_0RGBwQEOOYuDQUrMOJ81_d_gMal6eiBRrKVEwheQWGtPwjmB-D869ZTMc2MsDjRbxmIx0UALhL2UnOeFKM/s3840/D168+Out+in+the+country.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKecFJ6RMpi0m4Sgy-j5-YJsGuwhdpHxBS4UCRqVWCrtlCRMSaM-NgpP6a_0RGBwQEOOYuDQUrMOJ81_d_gMal6eiBRrKVEwheQWGtPwjmB-D869ZTMc2MsDjRbxmIx0UALhL2UnOeFKM/w640-h360/D168+Out+in+the+country.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Half a mile beyond Tesco we came to Catshill Junction and turned left. Almost immediately it became apparent that we really were out in the country and had shaken off the suburbs of Walsall and Birmingham.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oZ4hU4w5B61_zvRtFByVIT3o4GLgCe3JZ7IRpXI1hDfPpU3xDlKOCinY8apUR_is-34irwnnn_ynQ0_pe_vJ04gG6mrCz1P152cYzAriiiXVpXhmIv726w4ssYFQv77ce0MlOzlR9XU/s3840/D169+Coming+to+Ogley+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oZ4hU4w5B61_zvRtFByVIT3o4GLgCe3JZ7IRpXI1hDfPpU3xDlKOCinY8apUR_is-34irwnnn_ynQ0_pe_vJ04gG6mrCz1P152cYzAriiiXVpXhmIv726w4ssYFQv77ce0MlOzlR9XU/w640-h360/D169+Coming+to+Ogley+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not far up is Ogley Junction. Straight on under the bridge is the Lichfield Canal which used to join the Coventry Canal at Huddlesford and may one day do so again. Our way lay to the left for another mile along the Anglesey Branch to a dead end, but a really delightful dead end. We went under the M6 Toll to emerge on the most northerly part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations and moored right below the dam of the Chasewater Reservoir.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVycBqDL7OkZK36v5yOh9EuTpmIHN9iH8n1dpovv-dlsV6J3yX9DLdWal8Uz0wYEuQdazksDYPjAiIoJLbbqbsQ2xbUsYJ2IVyYSN3Nb8zdhIqXm4PlC18-ZV79JYujNQJhx8Lz3JHuE/s3840/D180+Willow+Snow.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVycBqDL7OkZK36v5yOh9EuTpmIHN9iH8n1dpovv-dlsV6J3yX9DLdWal8Uz0wYEuQdazksDYPjAiIoJLbbqbsQ2xbUsYJ2IVyYSN3Nb8zdhIqXm4PlC18-ZV79JYujNQJhx8Lz3JHuE/w640-h360/D180+Willow+Snow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday afternoon we walked right round the reservoir, a distance of about 3 or 4 miles. This is an area of old coal mines now turned into common land. One footpath was under water and the only reason we can see for that is that the land may still be subsiding into the mines beneath. The willow trees are shedding their seeds at the moment and walking through woods we were amazed to see a coating of what looked like snow but proved to be willow seeds a few inches deep like cotton wool lying on the ground.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoe7NA1yfzbYjwhsdqx9RoXGbOeJ0rS1GoHADOH3rfGd5Xv2N9mwwOx1z8ts8NmQ7MxtWS9l1rZkNGxVUDqhlC2R2sDPlyPSGmEOFraT7y9ibm5RTeWVRCP7GvHCpoPTVGJsm3y8j-To/s3840/D182+Brownhills+West+Station.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoe7NA1yfzbYjwhsdqx9RoXGbOeJ0rS1GoHADOH3rfGd5Xv2N9mwwOx1z8ts8NmQ7MxtWS9l1rZkNGxVUDqhlC2R2sDPlyPSGmEOFraT7y9ibm5RTeWVRCP7GvHCpoPTVGJsm3y8j-To/w640-h360/D182+Brownhills+West+Station.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Around Chasewater the old mine railway has been turned into a tourist attraction, though unfortunately not open on a Monday. This is Brownhills West Station.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ6SLZSvy5Yt5LmT0f7vSpzDZCAXaXOiJ7KL-N9MLrumxZBFoGJ9nSs9xLpHIoVW7XbaM3pQu8PZGVgfYe_t38IuvLaD_Ae3wlFr8Ycblowob8spOTkJ3DWdfUxh7Hx6oFG6cLWnCdAo/s3840/D184+Evening+light+from+our+mooring.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ6SLZSvy5Yt5LmT0f7vSpzDZCAXaXOiJ7KL-N9MLrumxZBFoGJ9nSs9xLpHIoVW7XbaM3pQu8PZGVgfYe_t38IuvLaD_Ae3wlFr8Ycblowob8spOTkJ3DWdfUxh7Hx6oFG6cLWnCdAo/w640-h360/D184+Evening+light+from+our+mooring.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Anglesey Branch ends in a small lake just below the dam of the Chasewater Reservoir. It is a delightful peaceful spot despite being not far from the M6 Toll. As usual whilst travelling on the BCN we were on our own, though when we left this morning another boat was just arriving.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>So that brings us up to date to where we were last night. Today we've set off south to by-pass Birmingham to the east. We're now moored close to the top of the many locks (22) we must go down to reach Spaghetti Junction which is also a big junction for the canal system under the roads which are raised up on pillars above the water. But that is for the next update. Hope you enjoyed this one.<br /><p><br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-14019667663207229732021-06-04T10:08:00.000-07:002021-06-04T10:08:49.128-07:00Lots of Silver Propeller Points - four in four days!<p> Well I said we were on a mission to gain silver propeller points and the title speaks for itself.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-nKcvMqBCw58HiimrPD9bA-m1SktLTKL_kJx_0uqb0NOnl1n3xuDxudvU7z2Ny6ag53cYl2OIiSyVPvrfhlW2r85A-cKCuRDQROPQ8FzjyFZwhk3e73MG_NsKMgfha4813qpd3DsXWM/s1200/D002+Swan+family.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-nKcvMqBCw58HiimrPD9bA-m1SktLTKL_kJx_0uqb0NOnl1n3xuDxudvU7z2Ny6ag53cYl2OIiSyVPvrfhlW2r85A-cKCuRDQROPQ8FzjyFZwhk3e73MG_NsKMgfha4813qpd3DsXWM/w640-h360/D002+Swan+family.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just a warning that there are lots of photos on this update to our blog - there is a lot of interest on this part of the canal system. So let's start with something else - here is a family of swans with tiny cygnets which must be fairly recently hatched.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmObNh7Jb3fIW2YiY-AwI4n4S3Dr8ighY6RQ2xLQ0bgMFOML8HR5K58pSTKYAiXgzsyqb-mL7XNg3Vo1MyGuCTPOmojXcOKOXRw8eW3ZAeoJHvTNnd2FR0twqFCjof83V-P0Slk9Gqns/s1200/D005+Looking+up+Delph+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmObNh7Jb3fIW2YiY-AwI4n4S3Dr8ighY6RQ2xLQ0bgMFOML8HR5K58pSTKYAiXgzsyqb-mL7XNg3Vo1MyGuCTPOmojXcOKOXRw8eW3ZAeoJHvTNnd2FR0twqFCjof83V-P0Slk9Gqns/w640-h360/D005+Looking+up+Delph+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday having spent the night on the Fens Branch for a silver propeller point, we set off up the 8 Delph locks. The bottom and top locks of this flight are a little separate but the six in the middle are in a dead straight line - a bit like the Caen Hill Locks on the Kennet and Avon. Each lock has a waterfall beside it as in this picture.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHeq6uSFOfj-9_wJsGa95LFVDsOoq-eR4Ba-gnSM-o6rli48IWuhrGtKPizP7L0LlYcWT7IetqYMI78Rs-VRes8OMsfvb1AZztOyulBKs92v8LPeVCitak3zT2pIAYYIHBm99mXUn25Y/s1200/D007+Ninelocks+bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHeq6uSFOfj-9_wJsGa95LFVDsOoq-eR4Ba-gnSM-o6rli48IWuhrGtKPizP7L0LlYcWT7IetqYMI78Rs-VRes8OMsfvb1AZztOyulBKs92v8LPeVCitak3zT2pIAYYIHBm99mXUn25Y/w640-h360/D007+Ninelocks+bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now here is a strange thing. You will notice that this bridge is called Ninelocks bridge. But why Nine Locks when there are only eight? The answer is that there used to be 7 middle locks but these were rebuilt as 6 so making the total 8 rather than 9. If you look through the bridge the old course of the locks below Leo (which is in the top lock) used to go under the iron bridge to the left. Now it goes right to the new flight of 6.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7h5hbXUawcKplQ6uMpbSmyTxLOFs65Jf4jn6EWb_CLyIK_bikPzsJhMoRtmw0Nm8BN-_UOcLu7gB1kkH2q7ahk9YfROP8R5s9SnVIzSDKzoTPPtD2alK7waCk9T5ZjRKuEU2suR6vuc/s1200/D009+Waterfront%252C+Merry+Hill.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7h5hbXUawcKplQ6uMpbSmyTxLOFs65Jf4jn6EWb_CLyIK_bikPzsJhMoRtmw0Nm8BN-_UOcLu7gB1kkH2q7ahk9YfROP8R5s9SnVIzSDKzoTPPtD2alK7waCk9T5ZjRKuEU2suR6vuc/w640-h360/D009+Waterfront%252C+Merry+Hill.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once up the Delph Locks we soon came to Merry Hill, a modern shopping centre built on the site of an old steel works. After buying Ian some new clothes to replace those falling apart, we carried on through "The Waterfront" shown here. This is a modern development complimented by the canal passing through.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMpLcwkKDBZCfxsw89rO-B2FShADynBHqcokOrSodeoNYyR4Rt9Jk7g2DGniNwpeJsBfJpauNKeCrK_iNlsTIEKASG3tRpVna1uUS74CkrUsnVxnrlkYplgH91gV3rHQVOnqd7pWNy5E/s1200/D013+Park+Head+Locks+ahead.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMpLcwkKDBZCfxsw89rO-B2FShADynBHqcokOrSodeoNYyR4Rt9Jk7g2DGniNwpeJsBfJpauNKeCrK_iNlsTIEKASG3tRpVna1uUS74CkrUsnVxnrlkYplgH91gV3rHQVOnqd7pWNy5E/w640-h360/D013+Park+Head+Locks+ahead.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few miles from Merry Hill we came up Blowers Green Lock which at twelve feet deep is the deepest in these parts. Above here the main canal route on the Dudley no 2 Canal heads right. However in our quest for points we went straight ahead up the 3 Park Head Locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudeDhFond59tIu__j5KAnGF6SqDXB6AtJUponSTclvWpsmM8xnjTRARXbxTE6Rv0BO2yDRiybcm7jL8WAxVtq1epa887rj4fTbz_EwQVHFGHySXpKhAC8776H_NprBcLq43LphV6Otic/s1200/D018+Moored+at+Park+Head.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudeDhFond59tIu__j5KAnGF6SqDXB6AtJUponSTclvWpsmM8xnjTRARXbxTE6Rv0BO2yDRiybcm7jL8WAxVtq1epa887rj4fTbz_EwQVHFGHySXpKhAC8776H_NprBcLq43LphV6Otic/w640-h360/D018+Moored+at+Park+Head.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the top of the Park Head Locks is the Dudley Tunnel which runs through the hill and comes out by the Black Country Museum. That would be a fine route except that the tunnel is too low to allow Leo through. So we turned round and moored for the night. The area a</span><span style="font-size: medium;">round Park Head Locks is fascinating with various side branches and
it used to be a hive of industry but is now a pleasant open area of grass
well used by locals. A bridge by the top lock has photos and messages
about a young chap who hanged himself from the bridge about a year ago.
Very sad.<br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31lcte5yts6BOxbDOTfVBzlbEU-Pt0P4srw1p_bR4iHjRjKx6PRjAxuSt_fqZ0oUrGRAwwIn4w8eDllEOFTmiFb12VX2_SqeCVstuheChQ3OkL20MUwyx9u2a0zrFR5jcF_VpjZoAtEA/s1200/D019+Dudley+Tunnel+South+Portal.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31lcte5yts6BOxbDOTfVBzlbEU-Pt0P4srw1p_bR4iHjRjKx6PRjAxuSt_fqZ0oUrGRAwwIn4w8eDllEOFTmiFb12VX2_SqeCVstuheChQ3OkL20MUwyx9u2a0zrFR5jcF_VpjZoAtEA/w640-h360/D019+Dudley+Tunnel+South+Portal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few yards beyond our mooring was the entrance to the Dudley Tunnel with its very low profile and a gauge to measure your boat, though all passages have to be booked and no engines are allowed, so we would have to 'leg through' even if Leo would fit.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-odPC_DyZrtcqjk5aXw1_MHLm5f7-B8tgmsqZRiRN4x5zYP4eu4RYLMG8OTpGQchuH_N_lKfHIyChegZexLGMSmxKLfvyziqP80waXakoVF_6WitncMorb6OMMCSag4hRFIegv-fQ_4/s1200/D022+Looking+down+Park+Head+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-odPC_DyZrtcqjk5aXw1_MHLm5f7-B8tgmsqZRiRN4x5zYP4eu4RYLMG8OTpGQchuH_N_lKfHIyChegZexLGMSmxKLfvyziqP80waXakoVF_6WitncMorb6OMMCSag4hRFIegv-fQ_4/w640-h360/D022+Looking+down+Park+Head+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the view under the old railway viaduct from the top of the Park Head Locks. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXLOKpgRtiod4O2iT3ro5srpbnzZXJbyoTNG0-2Y-pv9dYa9U9JtYajxLPypsPWpFG6DYDpJ99e-tPdXaec3x9LYhV_bhn9EDZ2ctx51Jej1Kt2oWPeOSKoPAmMdsSTWa3QSQnf7lr-M/s1200/D023+Park+Head+Locks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXLOKpgRtiod4O2iT3ro5srpbnzZXJbyoTNG0-2Y-pv9dYa9U9JtYajxLPypsPWpFG6DYDpJ99e-tPdXaec3x9LYhV_bhn9EDZ2ctx51Jej1Kt2oWPeOSKoPAmMdsSTWa3QSQnf7lr-M/w640-h360/D023+Park+Head+Locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here we are on Wednesday setting off down those 3 locks back to the main canal.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtj_ZO4tSeNnktLlAEy7EbgdKlQB1EwpwRPC01uycI6pwQPN1h4KPu-PlaD6DaxjWiJZ0VbmTwJUB5E1I-yJqpOh9n6FzA4Pl2bTyjgfDJPz0JZ7nYUmNUvjJPTZPRUjXod7ofO5ErJQ/s2048/D024+Miner+signpost.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtj_ZO4tSeNnktLlAEy7EbgdKlQB1EwpwRPC01uycI6pwQPN1h4KPu-PlaD6DaxjWiJZ0VbmTwJUB5E1I-yJqpOh9n6FzA4Pl2bTyjgfDJPz0JZ7nYUmNUvjJPTZPRUjXod7ofO5ErJQ/w360-h640/D024+Miner+signpost.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Along the Dudley no 2 Canal a number of figures give information or point the way. Here a miner shows Blowers Green one way and Bumble Hole the other. Aren't the names wonderful?<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimCCFkiL8_VuGP4LHOQ-Dqq6Al0q6GyX42ZramJj0MBgDg-ZGNcoQRPyzrhPxj4ax4laY9fz0USXo9EjGZ8lZkOzFBfM1glhH_dKa6SiK08agLzndMjfSr2NqUTPBoO_j5jDwsjnY6Og/s1200/D029+Brewin%2527s+Tunnel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimCCFkiL8_VuGP4LHOQ-Dqq6Al0q6GyX42ZramJj0MBgDg-ZGNcoQRPyzrhPxj4ax4laY9fz0USXo9EjGZ8lZkOzFBfM1glhH_dKa6SiK08agLzndMjfSr2NqUTPBoO_j5jDwsjnY6Og/w640-h360/D029+Brewin%2527s+Tunnel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is another example of a tunnel that was later opened out. This one is called Brewin's Tunnel.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQzzvCrOirI7oIUPsURI401oqX_eixQ2B9iuRirnRxGZk-ozjacYN8ct1qilKJxbsTQAlBdYYDyinjMk4HitwNqf5FcsRW2shi3wF6e8Uy6KPo7U4qvJxaheHBansJeQ2cjzYWEGq2JY/s1200/D032+Hills+from+Dudley+no+2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQzzvCrOirI7oIUPsURI401oqX_eixQ2B9iuRirnRxGZk-ozjacYN8ct1qilKJxbsTQAlBdYYDyinjMk4HitwNqf5FcsRW2shi3wF6e8Uy6KPo7U4qvJxaheHBansJeQ2cjzYWEGq2JY/w640-h360/D032+Hills+from+Dudley+no+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once through this 'tunnel' the canal is on the side of the hill with extensive views to the south west.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWLPnpSSNO-TqcFOJiSz5E4ld-DcUzqxFCcOiHobRZoodld3fi8iceaoqQWkWRNn6RgCUPgg5V0MwLBlE6bt4zT8CotdNn3-BYzCMN0hpL_9p5xebxguADVBldMbe3BzSvqt4bWLAp8I/s1200/D034+Masts+on+hill.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWLPnpSSNO-TqcFOJiSz5E4ld-DcUzqxFCcOiHobRZoodld3fi8iceaoqQWkWRNn6RgCUPgg5V0MwLBlE6bt4zT8CotdNn3-BYzCMN0hpL_9p5xebxguADVBldMbe3BzSvqt4bWLAp8I/w640-h360/D034+Masts+on+hill.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the distance we could see the transmitter towers on the hill above Birmingham.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgLzxjuL1GV3-CILrOudNqTcCRyku8RxyNgWFoOq0I0HgEI_hvtoQeu_VjEKzmprpN3R_fKyFDnCIt1l4FSgI8FbbsHXRJHdslZP9h6tHc-03wye8bGMTna2dhbcBMrbZBDOq9VPWeBk/s1200/D036+Crossroads+at+Windmill+End.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgLzxjuL1GV3-CILrOudNqTcCRyku8RxyNgWFoOq0I0HgEI_hvtoQeu_VjEKzmprpN3R_fKyFDnCIt1l4FSgI8FbbsHXRJHdslZP9h6tHc-03wye8bGMTna2dhbcBMrbZBDOq9VPWeBk/w640-h360/D036+Crossroads+at+Windmill+End.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Distances are quite short and we soon came to Windmill End. Here there is a crossroads with turns apparent under the two bridges. Left goes to the short Boshboil Arm and right goes for nearly 3 miles to Hawne or Coombeswood Basin to collect yet another point. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTYoEY0x8Mj4J8ynoCEuM1QPV9SEcQK07k1YQ0DSIAzzlk2odYKMhq_gef6OeKojrdgRbAQjshwUe537FvZoGfeM5NDrZPUVBt-crMzIijFdgasBDjzY0a-n3mQ9Aw5xGS2dnPxDDKsY/s1200/D037+Signpost+Windmill+End.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTYoEY0x8Mj4J8ynoCEuM1QPV9SEcQK07k1YQ0DSIAzzlk2odYKMhq_gef6OeKojrdgRbAQjshwUe537FvZoGfeM5NDrZPUVBt-crMzIijFdgasBDjzY0a-n3mQ9Aw5xGS2dnPxDDKsY/w640-h360/D037+Signpost+Windmill+End.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the signpost at Windmill End. We had come from Stourbridge and were heading to Hawne Basin.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ3SmFcTl2BDNxFDoa6ohJdPqItODmc1BvTal4hm7T3Ry9M4iBualKx27RxxVWV__oSu3q1oY-cLHyUhV1UnrR-QEHhJdau1w5BVvN4HL6QoYMULZycdfZd8zmM_5qcrbQ5afO3wLFbo/s1200/D042+Gosty+Hill+Tunnel+N+Portal.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ3SmFcTl2BDNxFDoa6ohJdPqItODmc1BvTal4hm7T3Ry9M4iBualKx27RxxVWV__oSu3q1oY-cLHyUhV1UnrR-QEHhJdau1w5BVvN4HL6QoYMULZycdfZd8zmM_5qcrbQ5afO3wLFbo/w640-h360/D042+Gosty+Hill+Tunnel+N+Portal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">About a mile and a half down this canal we came to Gosty Tunnel. Not only is this tunnel narrow and low (only one narrowboat at a time) but it was also very silted up so our progress was slow though the tunnel is only 500 yards long.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHzzlmOB78XByseVYIErataoVTnkcfr1MMh7gDd2atBI7UV3gpbxVmwBFnt7C6j1ZeRKU_WPYeEOxqTu7wfTQzJ5X72U-vHKHjqn-PKF6w-FsFGWqyH5ex8AULW0tvuOd2eCaH009rkw/s2048/D044+Inside+Gosty+Hill+Tunnel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHzzlmOB78XByseVYIErataoVTnkcfr1MMh7gDd2atBI7UV3gpbxVmwBFnt7C6j1ZeRKU_WPYeEOxqTu7wfTQzJ5X72U-vHKHjqn-PKF6w-FsFGWqyH5ex8AULW0tvuOd2eCaH009rkw/w360-h640/D044+Inside+Gosty+Hill+Tunnel.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Much of the tunnel is quite high inside but there are two sections where the roof comes down to just above the roof of the boat as here. Some joker has put up a scary picture which comes at you out of the dark.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrfSpA4GKQSdezASrQgQx_rDVLqZJjh-FpY2ffFjz5SwQKozyTfXjXs_ga-ifBxvUPy8NXZapwFfsALhnrLO2FSQmojIIIMpxdBepWBVXqyNg-JvL7OaEiuBoqiZMMBC1MRDdaIE610Y/s1200/D046+Looking+back+to+Tunnel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrfSpA4GKQSdezASrQgQx_rDVLqZJjh-FpY2ffFjz5SwQKozyTfXjXs_ga-ifBxvUPy8NXZapwFfsALhnrLO2FSQmojIIIMpxdBepWBVXqyNg-JvL7OaEiuBoqiZMMBC1MRDdaIE610Y/w640-h360/D046+Looking+back+to+Tunnel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally we got through into the daylight. An old steel tubing works remains to the right but you can see the tiny tunnel entrance to the left.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2UUgiiS08eWgrJNB9c6pp8EhGQX2aUDX01wbrSLsCXk5NvSaFZg2jQxZFXXBeVRHN1s05YwX11ym9ox8P7eK7iLWHjCDrrfoncVaffwHcC7zI7tBL3pNqmawSvRK6xONMKIqrz0_vuM/s1200/D048+Turning+at+Hawne+Basin.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2UUgiiS08eWgrJNB9c6pp8EhGQX2aUDX01wbrSLsCXk5NvSaFZg2jQxZFXXBeVRHN1s05YwX11ym9ox8P7eK7iLWHjCDrrfoncVaffwHcC7zI7tBL3pNqmawSvRK6xONMKIqrz0_vuM/w640-h360/D048+Turning+at+Hawne+Basin.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here we are turning the boat round outside the entrance under the bridge to Hawne Basin. The Dudley no 2 Canal now ends here but used to carry on through the Lapal Tunnel, a longer version of the low and narrow Gosty Tunnel to join the Worcester and Birmingham Canal south of the centre of Birmingham.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_7AbNYW7sjrxcMyV6UVOtZwQ777JJ3fe9bJKgDQLmosAxuJelKLbyoBvkvcvDR6Q7zyF5ilK-n51hjUKTm7dI3064Vpu9jvbcyYz72jKCD2P3sK94SgC8b-oq27gg3EEUzsjGhCwqhQ/s1200/D051+Hawne+Basin+entrance.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_7AbNYW7sjrxcMyV6UVOtZwQ777JJ3fe9bJKgDQLmosAxuJelKLbyoBvkvcvDR6Q7zyF5ilK-n51hjUKTm7dI3064Vpu9jvbcyYz72jKCD2P3sK94SgC8b-oq27gg3EEUzsjGhCwqhQ/w640-h360/D051+Hawne+Basin+entrance.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We liked this sculpture of a lad throwing a rope which is just outside Hawne Basin.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUpWb7ekknqXOBr-ubsRXq6M0lBRQSxn4UV0iX-5w_YIAyGxGuObugp5abDpjNIRnHyJbdTbi0iEI7FnjwhQsWW__zxcxD3NcbljTu73dQ21oRoCmr8UZsYXX2zMmPB02uH_x1YTWHSQ/s1200/D054+Dead+Shopping+Trolley.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUpWb7ekknqXOBr-ubsRXq6M0lBRQSxn4UV0iX-5w_YIAyGxGuObugp5abDpjNIRnHyJbdTbi0iEI7FnjwhQsWW__zxcxD3NcbljTu73dQ21oRoCmr8UZsYXX2zMmPB02uH_x1YTWHSQ/w640-h360/D054+Dead+Shopping+Trolley.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This canal was badly silted and had lots of rubbish in it. Here you can see the wheels of an upturned shopping trolley. Best not to get that wrapped round the propeller.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E6ufmtz5XnPhn3sR3GotUXJju5HchxR_-Rah7hdgwjrxRrvaTLdcCDJSBfDwTPi7IA7ygCl_06JlRZ1iRUPDqSaf-Bk1zamr9hGW1smOWeXPWM_yPWBLTHrMIUPvtWQB7LLpMxDkpkY/s1200/D056+Enterting+Boshboil+Arm.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E6ufmtz5XnPhn3sR3GotUXJju5HchxR_-Rah7hdgwjrxRrvaTLdcCDJSBfDwTPi7IA7ygCl_06JlRZ1iRUPDqSaf-Bk1zamr9hGW1smOWeXPWM_yPWBLTHrMIUPvtWQB7LLpMxDkpkY/w640-h360/D056+Enterting+Boshboil+Arm.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are back at Windmill End. We went straight across at the crossroads into the Boshboil Arm where we spent Wednesday night. Again this is an old industrial site which is now a green area much loved by the locals. We walked from the boat part way up the hill above Netherton Tunnel that we went through on Thursday.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlbEzJRUHfnMfLuqLaYz-8dzZ6R9Xu30ZmHEHpgD7dKfj2LG4_Uh1RTWuRTxWScdtP-4pN-w7slIPgoGNUfC8H8fsj1ROpfapl3WUT-owlW-5KRQ7fJyGzTpdw4o1Xi5iuERLHy-y9uQ/s2048/D061+Pumping+Engine%252C+Windmill+End.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlbEzJRUHfnMfLuqLaYz-8dzZ6R9Xu30ZmHEHpgD7dKfj2LG4_Uh1RTWuRTxWScdtP-4pN-w7slIPgoGNUfC8H8fsj1ROpfapl3WUT-owlW-5KRQ7fJyGzTpdw4o1Xi5iuERLHy-y9uQ/w360-h640/D061+Pumping+Engine%252C+Windmill+End.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Above the canal is Cobbs Engine House which used to pump water out of the mines here.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GRJOs-hJr0i2CfLVEW8br1U2JeHZ0KwcdTTJrrSrdxNV3eD9hsF2iiIhTcNo_QAnChuA6objaxFC3ByjTw6d5K1jMbEE5i2GIVDaOlVngvXmYEKL_OAhKOMaOTSu2AAp9N3QnxaRchA/s1200/D063+Moored+on+Boshboil+Arm.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GRJOs-hJr0i2CfLVEW8br1U2JeHZ0KwcdTTJrrSrdxNV3eD9hsF2iiIhTcNo_QAnChuA6objaxFC3ByjTw6d5K1jMbEE5i2GIVDaOlVngvXmYEKL_OAhKOMaOTSu2AAp9N3QnxaRchA/w640-h360/D063+Moored+on+Boshboil+Arm.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is Leo on Wednesday evening moored on the Boshboil Arm in splendid isolation. This was the second night we spent on a disused arm which has the merit of not having boats going past, not that there are many boats round here at the moment.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0FlfdXmNGVMzwg_9QZB4hDiyBQYXdpreqY2SeVAMLh7X_KE2Yh8pqFZ2RJekoLP8drBue4vjKmaLAduG_CUARFT2K_eMMTZ6cJQaJOE8BtZjDEFoKVa7q0AL1KmJIfrU48L2WOQDVJ8/s1200/D066+Netherton+Tunnel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0FlfdXmNGVMzwg_9QZB4hDiyBQYXdpreqY2SeVAMLh7X_KE2Yh8pqFZ2RJekoLP8drBue4vjKmaLAduG_CUARFT2K_eMMTZ6cJQaJOE8BtZjDEFoKVa7q0AL1KmJIfrU48L2WOQDVJ8/w640-h360/D066+Netherton+Tunnel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thursday morning we left Windmill End and went through the Netherton Tunnel. Compared to the claustrophobic confines of the Gosty Tunnel, Netherton is like a cathedral with towpaths either side and the roof high above. This tunnel was a recent one having been opened in 1858. While there are towpaths and you can walk through, the one on the west is closed and both have puddles of water most of the way which might be quite deep, so wellies would be needed. The tunnel is about 3,000 yards long and took us about 30-40 minutes to get through. There is room to pass other boats but we saw none, though a headlight seemed to be following us and we passed another boat soon after we came out.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qd8kK9Oy9RQGvMIMw6morzPU3oP2Eqbj8pKQRrlqeZDUCHxLlRNljcczk1djlZAEQaHo9inNRSZC3zVxlRmWvFXyyHWkiJ8JG28acrMdm9hYMJSDd3DjiNu8EPju5FsHnUE_pxSEj_0/s1200/D068+Under+the+Old+Main+Line.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qd8kK9Oy9RQGvMIMw6morzPU3oP2Eqbj8pKQRrlqeZDUCHxLlRNljcczk1djlZAEQaHo9inNRSZC3zVxlRmWvFXyyHWkiJ8JG28acrMdm9hYMJSDd3DjiNu8EPju5FsHnUE_pxSEj_0/w640-h360/D068+Under+the+Old+Main+Line.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are having just emerged into the daylight. Notice the drops of water on the roof, mostly coming down the ventilation shafts. Ahead of us is a bridge carrying the Old Main Line across this tunnel link.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BpAUfLzp5ufk1HXb6JiXNShm73BfedKS1HXNHvl1VEyfe3rFnipqrqQnc-FzyBUNWIezN5_PXumPJy_rlN7SlLVkKJFIkZhW_AmMDbsfIqi6cA7QBELacuoYuLkWt4MsZ3clFmjlmP8/s1200/D079+Under+the+M5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BpAUfLzp5ufk1HXb6JiXNShm73BfedKS1HXNHvl1VEyfe3rFnipqrqQnc-FzyBUNWIezN5_PXumPJy_rlN7SlLVkKJFIkZhW_AmMDbsfIqi6cA7QBELacuoYuLkWt4MsZ3clFmjlmP8/w640-h360/D079+Under+the+M5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Around Birmingham and Wolverhampton is probably the only place on the canal network where you do need a map to avoid taking a wrong turning. At the end of the Netherton Tunnel link canal we turned right onto the New Main Line, then right again in half a mile onto the Gower branch where three locks (two together in a staircase and one on its own) took us up to the Old Main Line. The latter was built by Joseph Brindley, and in travelling from Birmingham to Wolverhampton goes up 3 locks, winds around a lot and eventually gets there. Thomas Telford was later engaged to shorten the route and by means of embankments and cuttings achieved a shortening from 22 miles to 15 miles. His 3 locks up come closer to Wolverhampton so for much of the route there are two parallel canals - the Old and New Main Lines with the Old being 20 feet above the New. For a mile or so of the Old Main Line the M5 has been built above it on huge concrete pillars as shown in this photo.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopcPrb_BqMog_YEJltpmLBsiarJUXzDMNqj0zHHf4NdnCIhrd0HRyiTGEGTHMgPA3JgrEjkVrhg_OeO3U0G4r2P0eI5GF7vKGA1HjqpqnxWzCnwlFnTttevMArzw3Q_dscJDj5hpDYyQ/s1200/D082+Oldbury+Top+Lock+and+Pump+House.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopcPrb_BqMog_YEJltpmLBsiarJUXzDMNqj0zHHf4NdnCIhrd0HRyiTGEGTHMgPA3JgrEjkVrhg_OeO3U0G4r2P0eI5GF7vKGA1HjqpqnxWzCnwlFnTttevMArzw3Q_dscJDj5hpDYyQ/w640-h360/D082+Oldbury+Top+Lock+and+Pump+House.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another short stretch on the Old Main Line and we made a difficult sharp right turn to the foot of the 6 Oldbury Locks. At the top (the top lock is shown on the left of this picture) is the Titford Pump House shown here which is also the headquarters of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS). We intended to moor overnight here, but first another silver propeller point beckoned.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSGiDp0s41tgMR0GUQJipbDtTPf6UZCt8gNWIAhkufdH3TxQc5mPZojcFkf8zrRafVnY3Q6xq_BblzDz30b5XOPSShrYKwq3CNuuf7EyP9kvKnPQR1b-KxXHqVc2D5wJ3wx7gDsc1W3w/s1200/D088+In+first+Titford+Pool.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSGiDp0s41tgMR0GUQJipbDtTPf6UZCt8gNWIAhkufdH3TxQc5mPZojcFkf8zrRafVnY3Q6xq_BblzDz30b5XOPSShrYKwq3CNuuf7EyP9kvKnPQR1b-KxXHqVc2D5wJ3wx7gDsc1W3w/w640-h360/D088+In+first+Titford+Pool.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A rather silted and rubbish filled canal goes for a mile beyond the top lock to the Titford Pools. This is the highest part of the BCN at 511 feet above sea level - higher than the summit of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal over the Pennines. After a slow and difficult mile a Y junction leads to a narrow entry onto the first of two pools. These are reservoirs which have recently been dredged to 7 or 8 foot depth and so are fine for cruising across in a narrowboat and doing circuits of the lake, much to the surprise of the extensive bird life. The strange concrete posts support the M5 which crosses this pool. You can, so we understand, even zigzag between the posts, though we didn't try this.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPwS4ktt1C7P2saPgoAsdVd6MCX0yDjdR0bS6wfc9nWmCRShgnvMM4b1yWNEinRwDl0yB8PW6JtCe7VRobKvmUKaVyTRrdRvaCt7DhsvxJY7sbyZK0MV9rqqVzU45xz1kj42PCNqUuWg/s1200/D093+Second+Titfield+Pool.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPwS4ktt1C7P2saPgoAsdVd6MCX0yDjdR0bS6wfc9nWmCRShgnvMM4b1yWNEinRwDl0yB8PW6JtCe7VRobKvmUKaVyTRrdRvaCt7DhsvxJY7sbyZK0MV9rqqVzU45xz1kj42PCNqUuWg/w640-h360/D093+Second+Titfield+Pool.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Up the other arm of the Y junction took us under the motorway and into the second pool. This is even bigger and just as navigable, though Helen had to pull the bow round by hand from the shore after our successful attempt to navigate round the island. A fallen willow tree made this difficult but the open water is fine.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmFiQzRbZjQsusciHdUhOsDXSZdeB4Ot-eRBY7iSc558NSFKPTlUTGvx63M9A2sYnzDhkYCY2izH4uqHej1jGxGPd6dG172yZmIFYtXm6IaXxhPKd0N7zNryuDf1CIi33M0ygDGOVj38/s1200/D097+Moored+on+Second+Titfield+Pool.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmFiQzRbZjQsusciHdUhOsDXSZdeB4Ot-eRBY7iSc558NSFKPTlUTGvx63M9A2sYnzDhkYCY2izH4uqHej1jGxGPd6dG172yZmIFYtXm6IaXxhPKd0N7zNryuDf1CIi33M0ygDGOVj38/w640-h360/D097+Moored+on+Second+Titfield+Pool.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored on the second pool for lunch. This would make a good overnight mooring but for the noise of the M5. Not only was it a good lunch spot but there is an Aldi and an Asda within a few minutes walk and accessible directly from the towpath.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We returned after lunch along the silted mile of canal and spent the night next to the Pump House where there are full services and a hospitable reception from the BCNS folk, most especially Phil Barlow who was a mine of information about where we are going next. We've decided that we ought to take Leo along some parts of the BCN that we have not travelled before, so today we have started out towards Walsall. But more of that in our next update.<br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-43189597298529313842021-06-01T12:39:00.000-07:002021-06-01T12:39:21.297-07:00Up the hill towards Birmingham<p> At our last posting we were heading south on the Staffs and Worcs Canal heading for Autherley and Aldersley Junctions. So this update takes us forward from there.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTehfxxrsZPYN3VbbaS1tByg-b8GqdN5ekKZ5guqEsAOzFRxlx3mRmquqM8z6chhiDR6r7cGlU-nP3_IFHAuFOx_53VYmqz673LYQ9dUGO-6L1VzRU5YbfjSnM3a75kfAVIV3qvVg2S7c/s1200/C074+Pendeford+Rockin.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTehfxxrsZPYN3VbbaS1tByg-b8GqdN5ekKZ5guqEsAOzFRxlx3mRmquqM8z6chhiDR6r7cGlU-nP3_IFHAuFOx_53VYmqz673LYQ9dUGO-6L1VzRU5YbfjSnM3a75kfAVIV3qvVg2S7c/w640-h360/C074+Pendeford+Rockin.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Friday we first had to navigate the Pendeford Rockin'. This is a very narrow stretch of canal cut through solid rock where there is not enough room to pass another boat. There are 4 passing places but fortunately we didn't need to use them as we met no boat in the narrows.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fKWZbYPZazZHac-HOaHqe9rk8MHmmb4N9MPGm4auxS62s_XiwiriAeUZq_mAtH_xtqbU0b40LNi5-pVXaT5mG4eJMlfZKLWWoG7sSZ8YZlhnGP1jooBv4cedPqANNC8RauPlJ_TDp54/s1200/C078+Autherly+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fKWZbYPZazZHac-HOaHqe9rk8MHmmb4N9MPGm4auxS62s_XiwiriAeUZq_mAtH_xtqbU0b40LNi5-pVXaT5mG4eJMlfZKLWWoG7sSZ8YZlhnGP1jooBv4cedPqANNC8RauPlJ_TDp54/w640-h360/C078+Autherly+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Autherley Junction the Shropshire Union Canal branches off to the right - in the direction of Chester. We went straight on towards Stourport.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINMewGsh73VkQeh_dEF1q-xm3vRDAk4MxccQduXftWHOBrJB4Xq-z3bq_IDU4mN32BSO_XXLXbZ23sMWnI6UJIuEnzTFXaty5OLdZxkGnx9V-NQBVm_MbBgi8ANpN3ORYLsAGTb9-f8I/s1200/C084+Aldersley+Junction.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINMewGsh73VkQeh_dEF1q-xm3vRDAk4MxccQduXftWHOBrJB4Xq-z3bq_IDU4mN32BSO_XXLXbZ23sMWnI6UJIuEnzTFXaty5OLdZxkGnx9V-NQBVm_MbBgi8ANpN3ORYLsAGTb9-f8I/w640-h360/C084+Aldersley+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Only half a mile further and we came to Aldersley Junction where a turn left takes boats up 21 locks to Wolverhampton and on into Birmingham. In the picture you can see the first of the 21 locks. This is the short route to Birmingham but we didn't go that way either. We stuck with the Staffs and Worcs for the time being.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYo5UcIYqNTXzNXxDG-NBK6Eue-huFtlSaCp762mVlyh18noeFKNBOqGC43VnJfoM_-HnU40I6ycYqd11uFpaX3N98imf8NspB4NB1N4K-gp5jjdeGTCjbWybH-fLSmBBx6vzYA3OkiYw/s1200/C086+Circular+Weir%252C+Compton+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYo5UcIYqNTXzNXxDG-NBK6Eue-huFtlSaCp762mVlyh18noeFKNBOqGC43VnJfoM_-HnU40I6ycYqd11uFpaX3N98imf8NspB4NB1N4K-gp5jjdeGTCjbWybH-fLSmBBx6vzYA3OkiYw/w640-h360/C086+Circular+Weir%252C+Compton+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Both those junctions are on the summit level of the Staffs and Worcs but at Compton Lock we started going down towards the River Severn at Stourport. Quite a few of the locks on this southern section of the canal have these intriguing circular weirs. The water from the canal above the lock goes down the hole in the middle and comes out below the lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOrTCMg44BssFDeAiiimGaHmag1QyO21lVe4fAWwjtwyc4KUcIXgN1uUx5oogiQgk9COtPjMl889ljBWnGYCnfPrDbVwL_Y_hGWq-3HIEBJAdeuTM4yn8GV5JuG0FreGkzonkqkqlV_A/s1200/C087+Wightwick+Mill+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOrTCMg44BssFDeAiiimGaHmag1QyO21lVe4fAWwjtwyc4KUcIXgN1uUx5oogiQgk9COtPjMl889ljBWnGYCnfPrDbVwL_Y_hGWq-3HIEBJAdeuTM4yn8GV5JuG0FreGkzonkqkqlV_A/w640-h360/C087+Wightwick+Mill+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here at Wightwick Mill Lock you can see another fine example of a narrow bridge below the lock. The gouges in the brick arch were caused by tow ropes in the days of horse drawn narrowboats.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgzy54EKx6NYl8VT3QaCapaA32GLmEKqqn6FxbpQxeqpfvSOpQZ1-1HLGfgTyoI70Tpl7R739iNzXgZK7WHVnVRV47teizF7k0YFzlugaaAd6zIP8ikgDA91W9I3KHR31Q0gTFWFvn4Y/s1200/C088+Bywash+below+Wightwick+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgzy54EKx6NYl8VT3QaCapaA32GLmEKqqn6FxbpQxeqpfvSOpQZ1-1HLGfgTyoI70Tpl7R739iNzXgZK7WHVnVRV47teizF7k0YFzlugaaAd6zIP8ikgDA91W9I3KHR31Q0gTFWFvn4Y/w640-h360/C088+Bywash+below+Wightwick+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the locks have vicious bywashes below, like this one at Wightwick Lock. These push the boat strongly to one side so you have to power through and hope!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihw8qWkP1Y-gaYAOIyg4NM7-VPqAugZJoGEGw_iSuIMbRfLS-n_4wydrrEyi-SU5hMee5UJOQw3fUfjGNg6j4EFeZjo-spYGun9ZPsAOPuWXSFAE9PaOlyb_VZO4hqDoxe886u2yxcXQI/s1200/C091+Wightwick+Manor.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihw8qWkP1Y-gaYAOIyg4NM7-VPqAugZJoGEGw_iSuIMbRfLS-n_4wydrrEyi-SU5hMee5UJOQw3fUfjGNg6j4EFeZjo-spYGun9ZPsAOPuWXSFAE9PaOlyb_VZO4hqDoxe886u2yxcXQI/w640-h360/C091+Wightwick+Manor.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Friday afternoon we had a visit to Wightwick (pronounced 'Wittick') Manor. This was built by a Mr Mander in the late 1890s. He made his money from making paint and varnish. He was friendly with William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites and this is a real Arts and Craft house.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HLemV4dl8cIUnX3gNs2n9pwvudBQwevUN2iZmvFwb1Udu7SfghzKP8-ja2p9NXMuBdc_DeWdJ8fETFrQOJVpdDZqDp1ZrCxCtnbnS0FQooTtKN1G7w4W1DejK4kKz85uIRRgjkoKMjk/s2048/C100+Bratch+Instructions.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HLemV4dl8cIUnX3gNs2n9pwvudBQwevUN2iZmvFwb1Udu7SfghzKP8-ja2p9NXMuBdc_DeWdJ8fETFrQOJVpdDZqDp1ZrCxCtnbnS0FQooTtKN1G7w4W1DejK4kKz85uIRRgjkoKMjk/w360-h640/C100+Bratch+Instructions.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday we came down a few more ordinary locks and then came to the Bratch. This has three locks together dropping the canal by 30 feet. They are not quite staircase locks, having a short pound of just a few feet between the bottom gates of one lock and the top gates of the next. So how does this work? Here are the instructions, but in essence the short gap between the locks is joined by tunnel to a side pond to provide the water to fill the lock below you.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciOg0845maCRlZvmMfx6f6o_qQhLw9uEFbuvQcxjs_dA7wLufOg6BJj6kjjQFtJac1YKIPOqbF3RxWEYvBRoizAg-If9EQtZ-4foEcxo2Eas4i9VffS9dhshNILRKtO9wgypyNdsQBFQ/s2048/C101+Looking+down+on+middle+lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciOg0845maCRlZvmMfx6f6o_qQhLw9uEFbuvQcxjs_dA7wLufOg6BJj6kjjQFtJac1YKIPOqbF3RxWEYvBRoizAg-If9EQtZ-4foEcxo2Eas4i9VffS9dhshNILRKtO9wgypyNdsQBFQ/w360-h640/C101+Looking+down+on+middle+lock.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a photo looking down on a boat in the middle lock. Note the blue paddles and go back to the instructions - "Blue before Red is what the man said." There was a lock keeper so we were not likely to make a mistake.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYm3NNdUY77l02lkOts30WCd7NPmjtCfZjJ4nqAZcXXLBtQkYOWgnKXH_UjswphllY-x0BFQ2DxoV7kop78dqkG1oaXrVsNXmihNxUFeHgAga1DZzmZLShpvAzx6Tnu2GjschtBI-Ccw/s1200/C105+Looking+back+from+Middle+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYm3NNdUY77l02lkOts30WCd7NPmjtCfZjJ4nqAZcXXLBtQkYOWgnKXH_UjswphllY-x0BFQ2DxoV7kop78dqkG1oaXrVsNXmihNxUFeHgAga1DZzmZLShpvAzx6Tnu2GjschtBI-Ccw/w640-h360/C105+Looking+back+from+Middle+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a view looking back from the middle lock to the top lock. You can see the bottom gates of the top lock just the other side of the far footbridge. The little octagonal toll office next to the bridge is a feature of the Bratch Locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKqgWS1bUoBotMjzflmYaxy0GcKVmpjjgTfSMZjYlUr9hQa1-OpSCk5tDrDZW35CayxEaPR4P7FDPtTrYo7bO_IhPBEzkkw7uoVMWHdZA7l38ItlgziVLeZI-VKZh0xOl4TC4FGpFDPg/s1200/C107+Bratch+Locks+from+bottom.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKqgWS1bUoBotMjzflmYaxy0GcKVmpjjgTfSMZjYlUr9hQa1-OpSCk5tDrDZW35CayxEaPR4P7FDPtTrYo7bO_IhPBEzkkw7uoVMWHdZA7l38ItlgziVLeZI-VKZh0xOl4TC4FGpFDPg/w640-h360/C107+Bratch+Locks+from+bottom.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here is the view from the bottom of the Bratch Locks with a boat waiting to go up.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5bUCe56ZYDnmQAOQDcQHmQZntKU66CEGKpp1WgXUG2UsJpJ0ES-tQOAuOPYGzv92u2tCS98WNY5MU1zmOZLpl18jfsGphAklWM75qBwuuwIy-UsMf1ee7n3k3ua0ltaBAFM9dPmYMAw/s1200/C119+Hawthorn+blossom.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5bUCe56ZYDnmQAOQDcQHmQZntKU66CEGKpp1WgXUG2UsJpJ0ES-tQOAuOPYGzv92u2tCS98WNY5MU1zmOZLpl18jfsGphAklWM75qBwuuwIy-UsMf1ee7n3k3ua0ltaBAFM9dPmYMAw/w640-h360/C119+Hawthorn+blossom.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The hawthorn blossom this year has been spectacular. This is looking back from Leo above Rocky Lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRA4d8hsYfH3PAAF50eHgLjkbFLwNhjl7FC2k9c5_wkTeXTUdj9XU763RVsWXRnfK-hC32lmnB6bks-G9ak5tKDh6K4XmP9-GAO2GrLKMCW2jX_vDb9IXQTfHTscau7oAAslf955Owog/s1200/C120+Rocky+canal.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRA4d8hsYfH3PAAF50eHgLjkbFLwNhjl7FC2k9c5_wkTeXTUdj9XU763RVsWXRnfK-hC32lmnB6bks-G9ak5tKDh6K4XmP9-GAO2GrLKMCW2jX_vDb9IXQTfHTscau7oAAslf955Owog/w640-h360/C120+Rocky+canal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rocky Lock is well named being cut into the solid sandstone. Sandstone cliffs feature a lot on this part of the canal.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_M-FICIXzU6w9IdRL2K9De6ILpf4un3WTsRApUmKeD4wDufF9zsdX5yl96NyQUlsBUw0D-qXW8CnhDJQmC4RtYF_TMggk56AP0JAAfnIZxkneR3tFMCnDoE_u6iZXnfr6OWYCQCynRQM/s1200/C124+Stourton+Junction+signpost.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_M-FICIXzU6w9IdRL2K9De6ILpf4un3WTsRApUmKeD4wDufF9zsdX5yl96NyQUlsBUw0D-qXW8CnhDJQmC4RtYF_TMggk56AP0JAAfnIZxkneR3tFMCnDoE_u6iZXnfr6OWYCQCynRQM/w640-h360/C124+Stourton+Junction+signpost.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Sunday after Gothersley Lock the canal crosses the River Stour (as in Stourport and Stourbridge) on an aqueduct and we reached Stourton Junction where the Stourbridge Canal sets off up 4 locks towards Stourbridge and Birmingham. So on this signpost, an attractive one with fingers, we had come from Wolverhampton and turned off towards Stourbridge and Birmingham, leaving Stourport on the River Severn for another day.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaxB6CmDZA5V6-6rXG-d-oCiuTHuDorcOPk3-EiGyasG5jnnI7uAIqX7FlFQEzHihXgbXMZmpESJFlgvsEb6ygnQGm1nZy2izTGV_9sXT3c142p2BbCYRULnYDRqenRYMHWZs2xis84A/s1200/C126+Coming+into+Stourton+Bottom+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaxB6CmDZA5V6-6rXG-d-oCiuTHuDorcOPk3-EiGyasG5jnnI7uAIqX7FlFQEzHihXgbXMZmpESJFlgvsEb6ygnQGm1nZy2izTGV_9sXT3c142p2BbCYRULnYDRqenRYMHWZs2xis84A/w640-h360/C126+Coming+into+Stourton+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here Leo is coming into Stourton Bottom Lock. We were lucky as another boat was just coming out of the lock when we arrived. They are turning left towards Stourport.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcsvf_KRwYo-k7j2pHBR0oHxzEe_fwHxs3G3dxqsVtoiSYBIIoK-myF9lglokwf0BgxDs0sDUclwYqN3MeKBxYVK9uRYW-LAwXUuMfDsHOPN0uWhuWrqGrikgVw50n361Ens1UrE7JTY/s1200/C130+Split+bridge%252C+lock+2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcsvf_KRwYo-k7j2pHBR0oHxzEe_fwHxs3G3dxqsVtoiSYBIIoK-myF9lglokwf0BgxDs0sDUclwYqN3MeKBxYVK9uRYW-LAwXUuMfDsHOPN0uWhuWrqGrikgVw50n361Ens1UrE7JTY/w640-h360/C130+Split+bridge%252C+lock+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the little footbridges at the locks here are like those on the Stratford Canal in that they have a gap in the middle allowing ropes to pass through in the days of horse drawn boats. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGhyvXH8OFN0ydgIqCSkqqNTel32cWgenIuJRbVmiG179TCDdcbzoAqkDIWhUqjHhkQCbS3m7NmSQkZW_c0v3Xddq1fIyhoCcNcNR0Ic7I_iAc9zQTE36bFcUelRbmzrkN0O5NQl2Tns/s1200/C132+Stourton+Mooring.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGhyvXH8OFN0ydgIqCSkqqNTel32cWgenIuJRbVmiG179TCDdcbzoAqkDIWhUqjHhkQCbS3m7NmSQkZW_c0v3Xddq1fIyhoCcNcNR0Ic7I_iAc9zQTE36bFcUelRbmzrkN0O5NQl2Tns/w640-h360/C132+Stourton+Mooring.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having come down 4 locks on the Staffs and Worcs and up 4 on the Stourbridge Canal we decided on Sunday to enjoy the sun and dry the washing, so we stopped soon above the Stourton Locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo-mHkOsWDgvxvuwNLmFKSYI5SBlM9sEQZBUYlsmJwu1SSd2IjaSyI5w1vAwymPEKVTFhmvtr7trV3ISLmsTzZqBvy8JpGXme8T6YLeUo8xOazlQw-omfEzNggxYZqz28x8NOb_OJ-Hw/s1200/C133+Path+through+buttercups.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo-mHkOsWDgvxvuwNLmFKSYI5SBlM9sEQZBUYlsmJwu1SSd2IjaSyI5w1vAwymPEKVTFhmvtr7trV3ISLmsTzZqBvy8JpGXme8T6YLeUo8xOazlQw-omfEzNggxYZqz28x8NOb_OJ-Hw/w640-h360/C133+Path+through+buttercups.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we'd done a few jobs (a boater's work is never done) we went for a delightful walk along the Stour valley and crossed this meadow covered in buttercups.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgUZZrebOscr6rEN1uQ0QFX4Ud1_gh9t7AtICp8towcpx-UbRNHmvVYnMVbiSUDGnCdgY6LlLdMTI2xtFN10_fxxi6_lGvJjRAluJZ4ss_-Ri3BrGAVJuaxBrI2_uJHbPMeAiVDbwUcc/s1200/C140+Stourbridge+Bottom+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgUZZrebOscr6rEN1uQ0QFX4Ud1_gh9t7AtICp8towcpx-UbRNHmvVYnMVbiSUDGnCdgY6LlLdMTI2xtFN10_fxxi6_lGvJjRAluJZ4ss_-Ri3BrGAVJuaxBrI2_uJHbPMeAiVDbwUcc/w640-h360/C140+Stourbridge+Bottom+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday we went up the 16 Stourbridge Locks. 16 is the most locks we've done in a day so far this year. Here you can see Leo coming into Stourbridge Bottom Lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqTeWyiTU4sfcW7Po7lUVTdKPpSOv-lbE5EfKTkINZovyCR9S0lfu0ag3QnYup9E2N4hSHWJ1CGVTDMVJaCmIsoNiq4GyPRNPHDHqxx6bntStfVJOTtGDSqXnraqpzcLdsSvnXUyE1M0/s1200/C141+Foamy+Lock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqTeWyiTU4sfcW7Po7lUVTdKPpSOv-lbE5EfKTkINZovyCR9S0lfu0ag3QnYup9E2N4hSHWJ1CGVTDMVJaCmIsoNiq4GyPRNPHDHqxx6bntStfVJOTtGDSqXnraqpzcLdsSvnXUyE1M0/w640-h360/C141+Foamy+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The water foams easily here so it looked as if Leo was having a bubble bath.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbLkddaPCAOMsOXUFdOalPTM7WrlaSdmWmff3rxGvgO2imOxNY5I-UzlBmQTbbG1HzNvAM05WqFWZtK6hi7QPyJ4HaVwJfIqRvjXmqwWWEgojfNE3T9IGB5ArP30Xp57Qn6e02o2Pemk/s2048/C144+Moored+by+Red+Cone.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbLkddaPCAOMsOXUFdOalPTM7WrlaSdmWmff3rxGvgO2imOxNY5I-UzlBmQTbbG1HzNvAM05WqFWZtK6hi7QPyJ4HaVwJfIqRvjXmqwWWEgojfNE3T9IGB5ArP30Xp57Qn6e02o2Pemk/w360-h640/C144+Moored+by+Red+Cone.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once we'd come up 4 locks of the16 we found the mooring free outside the Red Cone and stopped there to explore. This is one of only four remaining glass cones left in the UK and one of the best preserved in Europe. A furnace at the centre of the cone melts glass in 'pots' and the glassmakers who are also inside the cone but around the central furnace can make glass objects by blowing or moulding the molten glass. Neither of us knew much about the glass making process and found it very informative. There are also several small craft workshops with some lovely crafty sewing, jewellery and glass work (appropriately) going on. Coffee was followed by shopping and a return to the cafe for lunch.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7d6ksM1O2gZYtSTMklKVAYxeUwg27Iz3FqM5jnI-Unzfs7bs4pIrnEDhqNbkwZdUAvWIj-y89cjajDdu6fBhJ-Fcvb0CY1B65P3iqF0r_8c9-94aiv4ym-YoRgs8UXN5oNCTVNLWnEE/s1200/C147+Locks+9+%2526+10.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7d6ksM1O2gZYtSTMklKVAYxeUwg27Iz3FqM5jnI-Unzfs7bs4pIrnEDhqNbkwZdUAvWIj-y89cjajDdu6fBhJ-Fcvb0CY1B65P3iqF0r_8c9-94aiv4ym-YoRgs8UXN5oNCTVNLWnEE/w640-h360/C147+Locks+9+%2526+10.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After lunch we finished off the remaining 12 locks taking us 145 feet higher in total. Locks 9 and 10 share the peculiarity of the Bratch Locks with a short gap between the top gate of one and the bottom gate of the next.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf50xQxmp62MIlmwMJtHENoaMQkwT2YGm2ANsaraKXbO98IFMeOy20eGRGRFwIkaJLV2RSz88dXqGSyACgAa7uJwWL8bf_1TMylwQu2CAdO_kt1mRxLVDZD3E26r2g24i21SdQmMkt_w/s1200/C148+Side+pond+for+9+%2526+10.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf50xQxmp62MIlmwMJtHENoaMQkwT2YGm2ANsaraKXbO98IFMeOy20eGRGRFwIkaJLV2RSz88dXqGSyACgAa7uJwWL8bf_1TMylwQu2CAdO_kt1mRxLVDZD3E26r2g24i21SdQmMkt_w/w640-h360/C148+Side+pond+for+9+%2526+10.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once again the mystery is that a tunnel connects the small intervening space with a side pond shown here next to the lockside cottage.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGRd5X9lFzFEVl5Eu3MjR0OylNur-mX59bmlbBTRh7s48OmNWC4KmUCKuQwHYNGBuaPkZiij6Vezt_THfLLyQdI34NfqpIXX7XllwXxFEHKqaCttPHBgX9Rb63G5ka-8lfx7fDdlaW_Q/s1200/C149+Looking+back+down+the+flight.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGRd5X9lFzFEVl5Eu3MjR0OylNur-mX59bmlbBTRh7s48OmNWC4KmUCKuQwHYNGBuaPkZiij6Vezt_THfLLyQdI34NfqpIXX7XllwXxFEHKqaCttPHBgX9Rb63G5ka-8lfx7fDdlaW_Q/w640-h360/C149+Looking+back+down+the+flight.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is looking back down the flight from Lock 9 (they are numbered from 1 at the top to 16 at the bottom) and you can see the Red Cone clearly in the distance.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTB7Jl8hm4-BNHzGsmhfNW3rzCMfybwVeTr07mfvbyzbrsa62lp6ycrW_D3mTFQyHY9NXBFc_RzUwDntm2cech3ChsGX-Dbg4Zxn2lzYauo77KDPQrlwxG_bLFAbTotyGVOD7hlWaywY/s1200/C155+Coming+to+turning+point%252C+Fens+Branch.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTB7Jl8hm4-BNHzGsmhfNW3rzCMfybwVeTr07mfvbyzbrsa62lp6ycrW_D3mTFQyHY9NXBFc_RzUwDntm2cech3ChsGX-Dbg4Zxn2lzYauo77KDPQrlwxG_bLFAbTotyGVOD7hlWaywY/w640-h360/C155+Coming+to+turning+point%252C+Fens+Branch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One reason for coming this way into Birmingham is that we aim to get a number of Silver Propeller points. I've probably explained this scheme before but I'll do it again here. The IWA (Inland Waterways Association) has a scheme to encourage boats to visit little frequented parts of the waterways. If you take photos of your boat at each one of the listed locations you visit and go to 20 of them then you get an award. Our tally stands at 16 or 17 so we aim to complete the job this year. Above the Stourbridge Locks a branch leads north to one of the Silver Propeller locations - the Fens Branch. So the picture shows us heading up the Fens Branch. The aim is to turn the boat by the two bridges and reverse under the bridge to the left and moor there.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB5VoKLRHqNrf9HxjSWbf-FWqHi8cdA1l26ZJ7XLIBZRrxZckqpfHbiHThDHA4J3RRHD85Rt4udYuE0SsF3xIvPeO27zyq-VTO-hssejASqfT0pUnDwHqNVD-M6hjw3JhSqyxO8QUCgw/s1200/C160+Moored+on+Stourbridge+Extension+Canal.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB5VoKLRHqNrf9HxjSWbf-FWqHi8cdA1l26ZJ7XLIBZRrxZckqpfHbiHThDHA4J3RRHD85Rt4udYuE0SsF3xIvPeO27zyq-VTO-hssejASqfT0pUnDwHqNVD-M6hjw3JhSqyxO8QUCgw/w640-h360/C160+Moored+on+Stourbridge+Extension+Canal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So here we are having reversed down the branch off a branch and strictly this is the Stourbridge Extension Canal rather than Fens Branch. On Monday evening we explored the nature reserves around the two branches and found some lovely large lakes that form a series of reservoirs for the canals.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>In the next few days we'll climb the 8 Delph Locks to reach Merry Hill (aka Merry Hell) and then seek more silver propeller points in the less frequented arms of the waterways, so do come back and view the next update in a few days time.<br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-82927974392789894302021-05-28T11:02:00.000-07:002021-05-28T11:24:48.648-07:00South again on the Staffs and Worcs Canal<p> Since our last blog we have turned left at Great Haywood off the Trent and Mersey onto the Staffs and Worcs Canal which is one of our favourites. We are often asked which is our favourite canal and our answer is usually 'the one we've just cruised' but the Staffs and Worcs certainly has a lot going for it. So here is an update starting last Monday.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9-P9qRkU8RnXrfWd59uZ4jIE0DVUN4K-NvCFD4Y8YonVXQJalqc5_UJ26ZzD01roKbRP6uYUrxJ1HKutHDlxlTqnm9-R6FkA0F0mba3g7PCTo_84bFBwt4pIHqdbLp85RLW18ekxCQM/s1200/C026+Boats+in+field+nr+Colwich.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9-P9qRkU8RnXrfWd59uZ4jIE0DVUN4K-NvCFD4Y8YonVXQJalqc5_UJ26ZzD01roKbRP6uYUrxJ1HKutHDlxlTqnm9-R6FkA0F0mba3g7PCTo_84bFBwt4pIHqdbLp85RLW18ekxCQM/w640-h360/C026+Boats+in+field+nr+Colwich.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From our mooring on the edge of Rugeley we crossed the River Trent once again but on an aqueduct and carried on for a few miles to Great Haywood Junction. We passed a field with two narroboats. Not sure what the story is here but the green one at least was being lived in.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwvqAaZ4Q1V1qtOs1RWfiKgp-I70ypTUZD8B6hd82AqogWhGUxeuWoykWjAulln00ZOzAhHJupvDjOMcTNFCm2-Tt8qcPglrCwPj8PbOwFxnvUga_ralnesvpg8_UyAdq1IHYxmnkDrQ/s1200/C027+Colwich+Lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwvqAaZ4Q1V1qtOs1RWfiKgp-I70ypTUZD8B6hd82AqogWhGUxeuWoykWjAulln00ZOzAhHJupvDjOMcTNFCm2-Tt8qcPglrCwPj8PbOwFxnvUga_ralnesvpg8_UyAdq1IHYxmnkDrQ/w640-h360/C027+Colwich+Lock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are approaching Colwich Lock, the first of two that come before the junction. You can see Helen on the left walking up to operate the lock while Ian stays onboard to drive Leo into the empty lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7E6nxXT647OG_EvtWI0CiS8ryvc1lpqmv0NfxNODjYs5SDQw0VR1SdrqMReA-Wy8b6VLitowxWepN6qyj0q5vOkOg8JvX-BIFcycE2jDCjN-pONcSIMJ7Tx0s5u687_ILR3zd11hDqc/s1200/C029+Great+Haywood+Junction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7E6nxXT647OG_EvtWI0CiS8ryvc1lpqmv0NfxNODjYs5SDQw0VR1SdrqMReA-Wy8b6VLitowxWepN6qyj0q5vOkOg8JvX-BIFcycE2jDCjN-pONcSIMJ7Tx0s5u687_ILR3zd11hDqc/w640-h360/C029+Great+Haywood+Junction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After Haywood Lock we soon came to Great Haywood Junction shown here. Straight on the Trent and Mersey leads to Stoke on Trent, through the Harecastle Tunnel and down to Middlewich as a vital link heading north. Our way this time lay left under the bridge which is the start of the Staffs and Worcs Canal.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAVmijw-0e701L_WitpNmFShDNd9jUC0Srnfyk-q8hq9wVRWux9GsfLL7bVCri0DL12UudJDRW4FWmKC2OQMG-q9hKTDczJHUj2B5ca0OOyEZRdoqNA6nNsYGaQLZ7LmEdWGbf7IeA6U/s1200/C031+Crossing+the+Trent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAVmijw-0e701L_WitpNmFShDNd9jUC0Srnfyk-q8hq9wVRWux9GsfLL7bVCri0DL12UudJDRW4FWmKC2OQMG-q9hKTDczJHUj2B5ca0OOyEZRdoqNA6nNsYGaQLZ7LmEdWGbf7IeA6U/w640-h360/C031+Crossing+the+Trent.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soon after the left turn we crossed the River Trent for the last time.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxba9atFHesA77QYEN6bUPFSbghOPHTL-s5kKenQVO4VsM6olFFWaIgFkBEK8XcRCCSQabNQ-TkSYGLf1sE4CD4U2TcxFbIyklp3STloHOTCqTavKDNQJkg5Qgllkm8sOFb_fLfPu3xrs/s1200/C033+Tixall+Wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxba9atFHesA77QYEN6bUPFSbghOPHTL-s5kKenQVO4VsM6olFFWaIgFkBEK8XcRCCSQabNQ-TkSYGLf1sE4CD4U2TcxFbIyklp3STloHOTCqTavKDNQJkg5Qgllkm8sOFb_fLfPu3xrs/w640-h360/C033+Tixall+Wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Half a mile from the junction the canal crosses Tixall Wide, a lake which was dug at the request of the landowner to improve the appearance of the canal as it crossed his estate. It is an interesting place to moor and we've heard of boaters who, not having found a space to moor, have dropped an anchor in the middle!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkvUXKRBXRg4Ypfy2ag40MJPLKVyJ3sjla5hydJI5XTzgrxNUWD82fU01WTkQp2qLjN1GbIVTkNXqrq4Yy0iBnAkIJp1ND7utzhDCstYYfamY-HOO5-M9LqW2w1s8K-O9-VmSHJru8n4/s1200/C036+Crossing+the+Sow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkvUXKRBXRg4Ypfy2ag40MJPLKVyJ3sjla5hydJI5XTzgrxNUWD82fU01WTkQp2qLjN1GbIVTkNXqrq4Yy0iBnAkIJp1ND7utzhDCstYYfamY-HOO5-M9LqW2w1s8K-O9-VmSHJru8n4/w640-h360/C036+Crossing+the+Sow.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having left the Trent, the canal </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">follows </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the valley of </span>one of its tributaries </span>the River Sow. here we are crossing the Sow on another aqueduct.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jmpxptNNYTin23BT4wnknv4feW3VrqXEQ-MWzKHf67g5jChl39BdDcyONxIquDorujMMmbQxOS60mDQRrhZmuAjFNR_DeQapxT4yVzc74GWIJ5nGhh69tdHvwesGXzNV5W_jBMBqrHs/s1200/C038+Turnover+Bridge+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jmpxptNNYTin23BT4wnknv4feW3VrqXEQ-MWzKHf67g5jChl39BdDcyONxIquDorujMMmbQxOS60mDQRrhZmuAjFNR_DeQapxT4yVzc74GWIJ5nGhh69tdHvwesGXzNV5W_jBMBqrHs/w640-h360/C038+Turnover+Bridge+105.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a turnover bridge where the towpath changes sides of the canal. The design is clever and enables a towing horse to cross the canal without having to be detached from the boat. If you imagine a horse coming towards you from the other side of the bridge on the right it follows a spiral path climbing onto the bridge and then comes down on the left still facing towards the camera. <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6Py3kM4czV-XnGMxGQEyMwslllASnAemPBCFeQvJJJLWHkcfW76oLbZoga9-bGgkMQjvEHobU8gdJOKgwM6_o-73Nw53NltjoNpU8C_puDlvDkvnkIaPm-9uftlmPbEHjyUK6Fb0MPs/s1200/C041+Stafford+Link.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6Py3kM4czV-XnGMxGQEyMwslllASnAemPBCFeQvJJJLWHkcfW76oLbZoga9-bGgkMQjvEHobU8gdJOKgwM6_o-73Nw53NltjoNpU8C_puDlvDkvnkIaPm-9uftlmPbEHjyUK6Fb0MPs/w640-h360/C041+Stafford+Link.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday evening we moored near a bend where a branch used to go down a lock and follow the River Sow into Stafford. There is work in progress to restore this link and here you can see the construction work.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lkNKBX8V16NVYeM6NZeGiFc2pcYr97wf8OgwDt2jipduOB8YIURjzT3YTP5aAj3FfEa5oU3H1lDs0NDIDwn_5o4NvIpYll2TxAutnlVBmZlmcFIh6qtcGwjQ2Hqjm6J7tTUXHJAlUr0/s1200/C042+Stafford+Link+-+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lkNKBX8V16NVYeM6NZeGiFc2pcYr97wf8OgwDt2jipduOB8YIURjzT3YTP5aAj3FfEa5oU3H1lDs0NDIDwn_5o4NvIpYll2TxAutnlVBmZlmcFIh6qtcGwjQ2Hqjm6J7tTUXHJAlUr0/w640-h360/C042+Stafford+Link+-+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This picture taken from the far side of the works shows scaffolding in what might one day be a lock which will take boats down onto the River Sow.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GfZB7B27IpYD4Ms8ajUUTdHV0mjk9_YYZmELAaXb-Yb5V6g4AOohWE2ZV70XJhV14Zje-WO4-IKaqoUj1sgtoBz6ionkOcTyg7g30TVxQGfvmH0Wrf1v40kVbPPbNSrTD97YdE2gAjg/s1200/C043+Confluence+of+Sow+%2526+Penk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GfZB7B27IpYD4Ms8ajUUTdHV0mjk9_YYZmELAaXb-Yb5V6g4AOohWE2ZV70XJhV14Zje-WO4-IKaqoUj1sgtoBz6ionkOcTyg7g30TVxQGfvmH0Wrf1v40kVbPPbNSrTD97YdE2gAjg/w640-h360/C043+Confluence+of+Sow+%2526+Penk.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having walked round the construction site we walked on towards Stafford. Here is the confluence of the Rivers Sow (left) and Penk (under the photographer's feet). There is a lot of water in both (and in all the fields) after the rain we've been having. From where we were moored the canal turns south to follow the valley of the Penk.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimi5USLyE5ymU6hWDYdHnxvBxkaamy7QKM8QVsWVvz3Xx3CqyGrLEvkbnmdkC2VsP8dtcryTG9UXokPk5GwIcOlm4IBEIQ6hhFqCOWbMFonGSMxgCYAFZM3ulR_b8D-NwZ1JiswpljLnc/s1200/C045+Stafford+Junction+Signpost.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimi5USLyE5ymU6hWDYdHnxvBxkaamy7QKM8QVsWVvz3Xx3CqyGrLEvkbnmdkC2VsP8dtcryTG9UXokPk5GwIcOlm4IBEIQ6hhFqCOWbMFonGSMxgCYAFZM3ulR_b8D-NwZ1JiswpljLnc/w640-h360/C045+Stafford+Junction+Signpost.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the sign at what will one day be a canal junction. We had come from Great Haywood and were heading for Wolverhampton. River Canal Rescue is like an AA service for boats and happens to have its headquarters on an industrial estate next to the canal here. Perhaps they paid for the sign?<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZAjcXO_v7XXq0Rn4u0EG1EUy8OrtDzVq3cfMwh4ljj8_xmIIqOwgY4-lFVZ57Qfhj3bxzAqthbAlGkj2DSR4Fd5_-Y3fPj3L2uKqYZT9nGmiXvKiAYZoM9P_2XEvY_Yq8cES-CnFTno/s1200/C047+Deptmore+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZAjcXO_v7XXq0Rn4u0EG1EUy8OrtDzVq3cfMwh4ljj8_xmIIqOwgY4-lFVZ57Qfhj3bxzAqthbAlGkj2DSR4Fd5_-Y3fPj3L2uKqYZT9nGmiXvKiAYZoM9P_2XEvY_Yq8cES-CnFTno/w640-h360/C047+Deptmore+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday we carried on south coming first to Deptmore Lock shown here. At 10 feet 4 inches this is a deep one and one of 12 along here that take boats up to the summit level.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXbMqNoir-lVam4amJkWxc9O7Pzi_UH0DCXqeIWrkHwk-e0i96JC525daPt9zjocLlw3VpVrytNB3F3sUNZhwjXAPXg-nLtWbAdlm3-zh8O45r1yGVNzy5DBnw9bzuvkNKOvweYQgyOM/s1200/C049+Turning+post%252C+Shutt+Hill+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXbMqNoir-lVam4amJkWxc9O7Pzi_UH0DCXqeIWrkHwk-e0i96JC525daPt9zjocLlw3VpVrytNB3F3sUNZhwjXAPXg-nLtWbAdlm3-zh8O45r1yGVNzy5DBnw9bzuvkNKOvweYQgyOM/w640-h360/C049+Turning+post%252C+Shutt+Hill+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Shutt Hill, the next lock, there used to be a wharf and the odd looking white tipped post was used to pull boats round the corner and into the lock.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjj1h0Cm8MalLd75kWRek1LxipJg1wVEGT8FNUXxx0I27xU7I-MRxk6audnJUV7w2sXEUqPAa5dvUqrmhPV3Kg0icl9pLZ_HhVGEP_5uEnN-378WH6KThSmNrgL0H-tDgNH3tIsYMu1M/s1200/C050+Ducks+above+Park+Gate+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjj1h0Cm8MalLd75kWRek1LxipJg1wVEGT8FNUXxx0I27xU7I-MRxk6audnJUV7w2sXEUqPAa5dvUqrmhPV3Kg0icl9pLZ_HhVGEP_5uEnN-378WH6KThSmNrgL0H-tDgNH3tIsYMu1M/w640-h360/C050+Ducks+above+Park+Gate+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming out of Park Gate Lock a family of ducks sidled out of our way across the top of the bywash. For boaters to note - the branch of Midland Chandlers which used to be alongside Park Gate Lock at Penkridge has now closed.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kw3OzchRVyZ4xbsrE_SOH-hysPc7T_G9iTXXo97K8XRx4aQR7nx5kqN2gL2g3If6juSZXdaR3HtVfifJCf-k5RJYmqHJY3mOPggVXnYBU4HxYrbY5ic_LWhnJAE4APsmrlfJpm_5T5c/s1200/C052+Penkridge+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kw3OzchRVyZ4xbsrE_SOH-hysPc7T_G9iTXXo97K8XRx4aQR7nx5kqN2gL2g3If6juSZXdaR3HtVfifJCf-k5RJYmqHJY3mOPggVXnYBU4HxYrbY5ic_LWhnJAE4APsmrlfJpm_5T5c/w640-h360/C052+Penkridge+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a boat coming out of Penkridge Lock while we are waiting to go in. Notice the tunnel for horses on the right which goes under the road and gives access to the lock. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday, </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">we moored </span> above this lock at Penkridge and walked in the afternoon to the
west of the canal over fields and back along the Staffordshire Way.
Coming back through the village we popped into the excellent bakers and
bought some treats to have with our tea. On Wednesday morning Ian joined
a Zoom meeting of a council working group in Knaresborough (oh, the
wonders of modern technology) while Helen went shopping. So we did not set off until midday.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FrPBWvWqLCwBbGJVsbBGFv9YDG_quz1L5xm_zxwKIt895uTNULT6fAdlh5H-ujGzD_Nsu6N4DxWc5KnLrp-3bhGn9qoaiIM4eORxo1Hnin2GCK3xa7-ss_eq0B4y1Tk4NH4lSMH1amE/s1200/C056+Foam+in+Otherton+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FrPBWvWqLCwBbGJVsbBGFv9YDG_quz1L5xm_zxwKIt895uTNULT6fAdlh5H-ujGzD_Nsu6N4DxWc5KnLrp-3bhGn9qoaiIM4eORxo1Hnin2GCK3xa7-ss_eq0B4y1Tk4NH4lSMH1amE/w640-h360/C056+Foam+in+Otherton+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are in Otherton Lock where Leo is taking a foam bath! Probably it is agricultural fertilizers that make the water foam as it cascades into the lock.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4fh-RuUwwi799u5EXLGH5d-K2o6tgnxfICtC_ZlzdQAGOLLHjyTegl4feOATv9xtptivnWG63zCPTaVQPf-wkljo-bUlQU_1HroHTjKM2wXXac3OD53BJBkLz2aV9TCiH7xHaLAnmmw/s1200/C059+Boggs+Lock+stop+plank+store.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4fh-RuUwwi799u5EXLGH5d-K2o6tgnxfICtC_ZlzdQAGOLLHjyTegl4feOATv9xtptivnWG63zCPTaVQPf-wkljo-bUlQU_1HroHTjKM2wXXac3OD53BJBkLz2aV9TCiH7xHaLAnmmw/w640-h360/C059+Boggs+Lock+stop+plank+store.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Boggs Lock and some of the others there were some splendid new shelters to store stop planks (called 'stanking planks' by some). The planks are put into slots in the sides of a narrows, such as at a lock, to block the canal and allow one side to be drained.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gw-tsNmNGstQmhg_R-19FmX1zZpRDnHD488Kn4AtAwqHGbkxDxUxqXaNzGZRon6f4A_4jA_w_uS44wAE5si4gnfrqwCqIwSW_0g9XxrbD3U4Yw_jDV_yWBxgkw3cNk7e97vxOY6NLl8/s1200/C061+Gailey+Lock+%2526+Roundhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1200" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gw-tsNmNGstQmhg_R-19FmX1zZpRDnHD488Kn4AtAwqHGbkxDxUxqXaNzGZRon6f4A_4jA_w_uS44wAE5si4gnfrqwCqIwSW_0g9XxrbD3U4Yw_jDV_yWBxgkw3cNk7e97vxOY6NLl8/w640-h458/C061+Gailey+Lock+%2526+Roundhouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We moored on Wednesday below Gailey Lock which is the last one up to the summit level about 350 feet above sea level. Here is a view of the lock and the roundhouse to the left. This used to have a canal shop where we bought some little pictures now on the wall in Leo.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAq17PKv79cAcXYc7d4AG2Vh0weNSdtwN_jA5t7EIFJ49HML1WGSYbCh6_atalU6kkYJtw97qgVPspOpXIa9Ha_5z90L4OcbDAnHaPh8Ymp4TvpXV2KyGvWAgDluPQGQ8JDaAGsQhYzc/s1200/C063+Gailey+Lock+Cottage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAq17PKv79cAcXYc7d4AG2Vh0weNSdtwN_jA5t7EIFJ49HML1WGSYbCh6_atalU6kkYJtw97qgVPspOpXIa9Ha_5z90L4OcbDAnHaPh8Ymp4TvpXV2KyGvWAgDluPQGQ8JDaAGsQhYzc/w640-h360/C063+Gailey+Lock+Cottage.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The A5 crosses the canal at Gailey and this photo taken across the busy road shows the delightful lock cottage.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXCUN-tu6iQ0ojqireEqyFj6KIdpLzs6pTD0LzymXzUYo7Ir2a944jFXhRWnZy9kLuyGKzg-SGJszF3Avz6slUMCkTFPGksktMubhrxZsLt-4hAXmqH_-ubK9UVfogQUwCmf6GSgRRDs/s1200/C065+Calf+Heath+Chemical+Works.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXCUN-tu6iQ0ojqireEqyFj6KIdpLzs6pTD0LzymXzUYo7Ir2a944jFXhRWnZy9kLuyGKzg-SGJszF3Avz6slUMCkTFPGksktMubhrxZsLt-4hAXmqH_-ubK9UVfogQUwCmf6GSgRRDs/w640-h360/C065+Calf+Heath+Chemical+Works.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday (Thursday) we came up Gailey Lock and past the chemical works at Calf Heath. The rather dirty sign shows this is a place to get away from as quickly as our 3 mph allows us and not to moor. This is where a huge rail interchange covering 700 acres is scheduled to be built immediately to the east of the canal.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTBWehlmFqerv183_KOWqj7zGlMxb8IU6k_Byy7mFutrFH4_oUBnw-q-10DsUrHrcO3SNFNh3XdJANrXGPX1F0wl9O1yfpi85cje80wvi-6VQ-z1iwOxH62FHkP-ERnMt-mAuW5onbvw/s1200/C068+Lichfield+and+Hatherton+Canal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTBWehlmFqerv183_KOWqj7zGlMxb8IU6k_Byy7mFutrFH4_oUBnw-q-10DsUrHrcO3SNFNh3XdJANrXGPX1F0wl9O1yfpi85cje80wvi-6VQ-z1iwOxH62FHkP-ERnMt-mAuW5onbvw/w640-h360/C068+Lichfield+and+Hatherton+Canal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Hatherton the canal passes a junction with another canal - the Lichfield and Hatherton - which might one day link to the Birmingham Canal Network. For the moment the branch shown here goes up one lock to provide moorings and there is also a marina. The junction is a little confusing and we have seen boaters enquiring which is the right way. You have to bear right under a bridge to continue towards Wolverhampton.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlqma9zmAKoTlnTw3LgN75bCp6OOjTCkxfG7zLyyzGnQjvfdnrvGJ-ApR7FJncE_KhPcDRXuvd9LCURYaoyNxSOghQ7lUcri3cGywzjo5e4ODrUcX9Bp2dcdK7z80f6dgkIO2sTtdJwo/s1200/C070+Going+the+right+way.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlqma9zmAKoTlnTw3LgN75bCp6OOjTCkxfG7zLyyzGnQjvfdnrvGJ-ApR7FJncE_KhPcDRXuvd9LCURYaoyNxSOghQ7lUcri3cGywzjo5e4ODrUcX9Bp2dcdK7z80f6dgkIO2sTtdJwo/w640-h360/C070+Going+the+right+way.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the bridge in question with a discreet message confirming we are going the right way.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Thursday night we spent at Coven Heath close to Wolverhampton and having got to that point we'll leave you guessing which way we've gone at Autherley and Aldersley Junctions both of which we have passed through today. To answer that question you will have to log onto our blog when we next update it in a few days time.<br /></p>Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467758338838020510.post-40138038720320181422021-05-23T10:08:00.000-07:002021-05-23T10:08:49.144-07:00Following the Trent and Mersey<p> It's a bit of a damp, grey and breezy Sunday afternoon, so a good opportunity to update our blog. We are now moored at Rugeley in Staffordshire and here is the story of how we got here:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQrHgt8mAuSAdyyLlNWbuUfOYOXz_C9uZNWBybCPn5mRU5PRMYqwdGJOHQZDpYGMVrvJBExWQFAYI-tziB1fSeOQF-fSHGw_SvyLX9VHFjJdFeWjSA5WBprMzFVe_T_l1WF_UaUkSuus/s1200/B045+Heading+for+Swarkestone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQrHgt8mAuSAdyyLlNWbuUfOYOXz_C9uZNWBybCPn5mRU5PRMYqwdGJOHQZDpYGMVrvJBExWQFAYI-tziB1fSeOQF-fSHGw_SvyLX9VHFjJdFeWjSA5WBprMzFVe_T_l1WF_UaUkSuus/w640-h360/B045+Heading+for+Swarkestone.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the sun shines the canal scenery looks wonderful. Here we are setting off on Tuesday morning heading for Swarkestone Lock. The last two of the wide locks are at Swarkestone and Stenson: the first is 11 feet and Stenson wins the prize at 12 feet 4 inches deep.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMsf53f5Uo9LHgY0IW5czFt6LRiRuwUuodVLCZm1Ba8al9w7kriP8Vb-O8MBe10TpBdi8T5dYokd_bkwHhhHH93flLCUh-_sQJUD4QqXRf-ScMxWN0SZZ1SrF2GHTw7jb4yRtK0uvkmw/s1200/B046+Heading+for+Fine+George%2527s+Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMsf53f5Uo9LHgY0IW5czFt6LRiRuwUuodVLCZm1Ba8al9w7kriP8Vb-O8MBe10TpBdi8T5dYokd_bkwHhhHH93flLCUh-_sQJUD4QqXRf-ScMxWN0SZZ1SrF2GHTw7jb4yRtK0uvkmw/w640-h360/B046+Heading+for+Fine+George%2527s+Bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Helen has been experimenting this year with some shots looking along the length of the boat. This one is particularly good as we cruise towards the splendidly named Fine George's Bridge. No idea how it got that name. Any offers ?<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwi5rKl3qxSw-V4gzdsouR48a8-UG_hT5oyugucR9sHu9OjFHN1ppfRgmov5UjDLhGFhT9DQuX1t_SxRnRvuirAz3KvtchPgscpzPM9bFz90GNKINZUBockuzloWHjVNM67hzzwanMng/s1200/B049+Derby+Canal+Junction+at+Swarkestone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwi5rKl3qxSw-V4gzdsouR48a8-UG_hT5oyugucR9sHu9OjFHN1ppfRgmov5UjDLhGFhT9DQuX1t_SxRnRvuirAz3KvtchPgscpzPM9bFz90GNKINZUBockuzloWHjVNM67hzzwanMng/w640-h360/B049+Derby+Canal+Junction+at+Swarkestone.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Above Swarkestone Lock is the junction with the Derby Canal. We had seen the other end of this canal at Sandiacre on the Erewash Canal (see our earlier blog). Sadly the bit in between those junctions is not navigable. Indeed the section from Swarkestone into Derby is a cycleway that we cycled last year. In the picture above the Derby Canal goes left of the white house and the Trent and Mersey goes right (where we have come from).<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhub5LoR-zH79ZuuOfhS5Z1yEgwWZUqjfk_Wjgu6pQWFdKXTb2JD5nL2TWe7zJ1pujGteELgXAkUZL5p308QJwZuOeYN8_YiSFfHtjhG5gFLkyzj5aCsZTkaraV5I-szP1-lkP2Ostro7c/s2048/B051+Milepost+at+Stenson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1147" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhub5LoR-zH79ZuuOfhS5Z1yEgwWZUqjfk_Wjgu6pQWFdKXTb2JD5nL2TWe7zJ1pujGteELgXAkUZL5p308QJwZuOeYN8_YiSFfHtjhG5gFLkyzj5aCsZTkaraV5I-szP1-lkP2Ostro7c/w358-h640/B051+Milepost+at+Stenson.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Trent and Mersey runs for 92 miles from Shardlow to Preston Brook near Runcorn. Actually it also runs beyond Shardlow for a couple of miles to meet the River Trent (the way we have come). A series of mileposts like the one above mark its progress. The mileposts were taken away during World War II and were replaced in the 1970s.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCVi9DRVBN7lKvgrWHv2X66otV3_hD-NeBl9GCx-QBA4gs7sEwc5SiLNAArFfPEQhZjdeRex8sHXoHEq51t0u6EiyGjfET6SLhy625hst8yUAsb1NUWTENWSnYjlm20lYwHWneIUoAu4/s1200/B054+Observatory+Willington.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCVi9DRVBN7lKvgrWHv2X66otV3_hD-NeBl9GCx-QBA4gs7sEwc5SiLNAArFfPEQhZjdeRex8sHXoHEq51t0u6EiyGjfET6SLhy625hst8yUAsb1NUWTENWSnYjlm20lYwHWneIUoAu4/w640-h360/B054+Observatory+Willington.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After Stenson Lock the number of broadbeam boats declines especially after Mercia Marina where many of them live. We are now entering the preserve of the narrowboat! Coming through Willington we spotted this house across the fields. It seems to have an astronomical telescope inserted in its roof.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWrf99El9IviwOu0jZda6QQf8fKJon7ZX1NgZ8G5ZAHaoTEvYgil2uUD4dQDf0iCveYi_ZGTxqzqa17kKVxC538wbJIqZMzwcrOs_o5R716J8ITFwfxb2_OIVVX-3ojv22GfCWmq54Sg/s1200/B055+Bridge+over+River+Dove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWrf99El9IviwOu0jZda6QQf8fKJon7ZX1NgZ8G5ZAHaoTEvYgil2uUD4dQDf0iCveYi_ZGTxqzqa17kKVxC538wbJIqZMzwcrOs_o5R716J8ITFwfxb2_OIVVX-3ojv22GfCWmq54Sg/w640-h360/B055+Bridge+over+River+Dove.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Approaching Burton on Trent the canal comes alongside the busy A38 for the first time. The two then separate briefly while the canal crosses an aqueduct over the River Dove and alongside is the old road bridge over the Dove shown here. There was plenty of water in the Dove: not surprising given the rain we've had lately.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95m20zIAOmS3GW3vZlOJFaMBEg6RQO5T_V_0aFzMPwalCExEd8BvUQn11BKVYG-1TAQTk_cck4i1wap5_hDhr9gztQlxVOcO3IhOwt0vaExLAO71hgJcyHYTgeIGst1xRpgOMu0Um_QE/s1200/B056+Dallow+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95m20zIAOmS3GW3vZlOJFaMBEg6RQO5T_V_0aFzMPwalCExEd8BvUQn11BKVYG-1TAQTk_cck4i1wap5_hDhr9gztQlxVOcO3IhOwt0vaExLAO71hgJcyHYTgeIGst1xRpgOMu0Um_QE/w640-h360/B056+Dallow+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just before Burton we reached Dallow Lane Lock which is the first narrow lock on the Trent and Mersey, seen here underneath a road bridge. Not only is this one narrow (one narrowboat at a time) it is also not very deep at just 3 feet 6 inches.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiXu4EFlZcs3onrSMSWTZTfT3CA7ZjpCKi5dcAySSRzf0ij5tuPuJIjLX7_s8C3dP7J333dpCUPLIi4z-K6fMQfabA6AebQB3rdhaOBcotO5EXTiq1kj-c4YIxnCDiyXgQrbkgoRIuXk/s1200/B061+Tattenhill+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiXu4EFlZcs3onrSMSWTZTfT3CA7ZjpCKi5dcAySSRzf0ij5tuPuJIjLX7_s8C3dP7J333dpCUPLIi4z-K6fMQfabA6AebQB3rdhaOBcotO5EXTiq1kj-c4YIxnCDiyXgQrbkgoRIuXk/w640-h360/B061+Tattenhill+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We cruised straight through Burton on Wednesday having sampled its delights (brewery tours!) before. After mooring overnight at Branston (of pickle fame), we reached Tattenhill lock. It is a lovely spot with a B&B in the old lock house.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Hd6x5LFpw3KKg4CdrrtHuDDIF7W4auApRh00R3hfiWvnDVQvX0P6EFSRfrv0rgDiDwfkZRtBLJU_Q7gxw72C0_OwtTmWN50ayqwQLlnZdj-kXm1ktIjPHzsUMyfdeUHiRMOFbIXuFcw/s1200/B064+Bridge+42+renumbered.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Hd6x5LFpw3KKg4CdrrtHuDDIF7W4auApRh00R3hfiWvnDVQvX0P6EFSRfrv0rgDiDwfkZRtBLJU_Q7gxw72C0_OwtTmWN50ayqwQLlnZdj-kXm1ktIjPHzsUMyfdeUHiRMOFbIXuFcw/w640-h360/B064+Bridge+42+renumbered.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Canal bridges are numbered which makes it easier to work out where you are. This bridge at Wychnor is now number 42 but, as you can see, it used to be number 46. Probably some old farm swing bridges have disappeared. Modern bridges for new roads tend to be numbered as 42a, 42b and so on.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n3d6JB7MWcSVW57mr6l-7ok_em2YYfDwSkLBDsAtLYPdijginRWh34FgSRRXYhjc7TY4d3YufStu28usvs-h2trnE57-iDQG6W88IK-y0rqGybs_0b3v_3GCuR3huTJQg59H39qJflQ/s1200/B068+Trent+in++the+rain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n3d6JB7MWcSVW57mr6l-7ok_em2YYfDwSkLBDsAtLYPdijginRWh34FgSRRXYhjc7TY4d3YufStu28usvs-h2trnE57-iDQG6W88IK-y0rqGybs_0b3v_3GCuR3huTJQg59H39qJflQ/w640-h360/B068+Trent+in++the+rain.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wychnor Lock took us up to the same level as the River Trent. The canal crosses the river on the level and travels up the Trent for a few hundred yards. This means if the river is very full and fast flowing then canal boats are advised not to travel. Fortunately for us the river level boards were on green so no problem though it was flowing pretty fast. In the picture we are just coming up to the river section. The floating barrier is to stop boats turning left and going over the weir. You might also notice that it was pouring with rain!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYb2UcMx0eBTh1EVCEiJXLRM6F9oJxg-K0cQlXFaG63GI0j-g-u7tBNHrshJ6gJUuG_ObJvUPLY40yJxdGIxCVagbQQ_xRfaFGLW_OsmOEslMiZoI1ufEXB5GnQcjYA4h3-wWrgpptPk/s1200/B070+Looking+back+to+the+Trent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYb2UcMx0eBTh1EVCEiJXLRM6F9oJxg-K0cQlXFaG63GI0j-g-u7tBNHrshJ6gJUuG_ObJvUPLY40yJxdGIxCVagbQQ_xRfaFGLW_OsmOEslMiZoI1ufEXB5GnQcjYA4h3-wWrgpptPk/w640-h360/B070+Looking+back+to+the+Trent.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the view taken looking back to the River Trent from the mooring just below Alrewas Lock. You can see the Trent coming in from the left under the pedestrian walkway. Alrewas Lock took us up a few feet off the River and to the pretty stretch of moorings which serve the village.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wqjevt2PKb4auV3u6WR2an0pbIVO-QtzNPybrtJ_5TXmV6xkjS42rb8tBTJOIpx-G0OZDeUYcXX_UJZ7e_03OpY1UfO07olRrt_m8SCBxTspguSe48oOgdq2Yhc_JCTE1r77eSGXvzU/s1200/B075+By+the+bridge+at+Alrewas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wqjevt2PKb4auV3u6WR2an0pbIVO-QtzNPybrtJ_5TXmV6xkjS42rb8tBTJOIpx-G0OZDeUYcXX_UJZ7e_03OpY1UfO07olRrt_m8SCBxTspguSe48oOgdq2Yhc_JCTE1r77eSGXvzU/w640-h360/B075+By+the+bridge+at+Alrewas.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alrewas is a popular stop for boats but we found a mooring after another narrowboat kindly moved back a little to let us in. We had a walk round on Thursday evening over the river meadows and through the village which has 3 pubs, a Co-op, a fish and chip shop and an excellent butcher. This message on a house by the canal sums up our life. It comes of course from the Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnamP8Zwlcrp_tYcVO3fj_RoVrEylcyElng8-fxDe7JCPMQil-2thmai2ghuNeTJMZGwRmNu1P340YWQ1wleNAxL7W8SIqiL38RsJLo7UaItZMBaStf8YEgH7sRZntyIKJtARrjJ-lM3k/s1200/B080+Shot+at+Dawn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnamP8Zwlcrp_tYcVO3fj_RoVrEylcyElng8-fxDe7JCPMQil-2thmai2ghuNeTJMZGwRmNu1P340YWQ1wleNAxL7W8SIqiL38RsJLo7UaItZMBaStf8YEgH7sRZntyIKJtARrjJ-lM3k/w640-h360/B080+Shot+at+Dawn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had booked online to go the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas on Friday. Though it is free (donations welcome), you have to book at the moment. The weather forecast for Friday was awful but we went anyway and enjoyed the day. We visited the restaurant for lunch and again for tea and cake to get out of the rain. We last went to the Memorial Arboretum in 2014 and it has developed a lot since then with more trees and more monuments. The monument in the picture is 'Shot at Dawn' for those in the First World War executed for breaking military rules. They have now been pardoned. Each stake represents one victim. We were surprised by how many were labelled "Age Unknown" and it is thought that some were 15 or 16 and had said they were 18. Very moving.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbotW_mPaDDeBNCIS3sFHIa8RPk_YwwkuxYMT1LiiPVGvK-E3KxelZOdspN-RFEXBZFSUgfkzLr5FGrM7ftBXh86AymVhsLfjUsaKqGNcG1jQkeoBbEERSiI4eZjgXo_TDHZF-AbHgTw/s1200/B082+Chapel+Carving.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbotW_mPaDDeBNCIS3sFHIa8RPk_YwwkuxYMT1LiiPVGvK-E3KxelZOdspN-RFEXBZFSUgfkzLr5FGrM7ftBXh86AymVhsLfjUsaKqGNcG1jQkeoBbEERSiI4eZjgXo_TDHZF-AbHgTw/w640-h360/B082+Chapel+Carving.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a lovely wood carving in the chapel, called 'the Storyteller'. The children all sit with rapt attention listening to the story.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07FMHfAJPtOyN-YHS_eKO0QQZuLRpwTEo9TgZrFdEQCfhAU7ISp6QlC3STaQR_amkn2uwtP4CjEJ90d-S0Eapk6gz74lLJbyK9uty9hYSCFf3mUBa9c1Y9iQDPO-qJGEPXN7Io5buP2Y/s2048/B084+Chapel+Carving.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07FMHfAJPtOyN-YHS_eKO0QQZuLRpwTEo9TgZrFdEQCfhAU7ISp6QlC3STaQR_amkn2uwtP4CjEJ90d-S0Eapk6gz74lLJbyK9uty9hYSCFf3mUBa9c1Y9iQDPO-qJGEPXN7Io5buP2Y/w360-h640/B084+Chapel+Carving.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But round the corner one little boy is not listening and he leans over looking at a snail.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXE318qqTg7-MvsnFi7ka99tsHe703zywnXJSrAVimVlaHfjIsch8xDPvSq-oBZvaBMExlZT6RuDhzIVWF7mv07Ga0li7A3KdprMmuF3jm3bay_cEWSp0gK0JnF_M3wYQbI-pwh_EmRI/s1200/B085+Evacuees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1200" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXE318qqTg7-MvsnFi7ka99tsHe703zywnXJSrAVimVlaHfjIsch8xDPvSq-oBZvaBMExlZT6RuDhzIVWF7mv07Ga0li7A3KdprMmuF3jm3bay_cEWSp0gK0JnF_M3wYQbI-pwh_EmRI/w640-h386/B085+Evacuees.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This monument is to remember the evacuees during the war. The girl at this end is holding her teddy bear.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Z5aQcf_QXf-0B2sILqTDee2tQouh3kAb7yhSfUVE997d451WXnFKM-dzdrSCl45K_KT3i_w4xaLqllLNu__uBLIIiF__3dSUozK7eg2jd7f9AuBcam-cnBnQFFgL23DskKUMH665ItI/s1200/B086+Horses+in+War.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Z5aQcf_QXf-0B2sILqTDee2tQouh3kAb7yhSfUVE997d451WXnFKM-dzdrSCl45K_KT3i_w4xaLqllLNu__uBLIIiF__3dSUozK7eg2jd7f9AuBcam-cnBnQFFgL23DskKUMH665ItI/w640-h360/B086+Horses+in+War.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This statue recognises the role of horses in war. It has a fluidity of motion that we were really taken with.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenYl0_owQHHzU5ZrKKfzGXmlpM4ZfEwr7uTn952kth5DNVFGbH_731qlwc3_qYo7M7Coq9h98qLOSVx3qrwxx8g-i2Ga9gnlEMMobr6gTQCoIJUZNMpJ3nsTrLbYJgGgFrkGsP4yqm4g/s1200/B087+Christmas+Truce.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenYl0_owQHHzU5ZrKKfzGXmlpM4ZfEwr7uTn952kth5DNVFGbH_731qlwc3_qYo7M7Coq9h98qLOSVx3qrwxx8g-i2Ga9gnlEMMobr6gTQCoIJUZNMpJ3nsTrLbYJgGgFrkGsP4yqm4g/w640-h360/B087+Christmas+Truce.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here in a monument designed by a 13 year old, we see a handshake between an English and a German soldier during the Christmas truce when they played football between the trenches in 1914. The encircling framework represents a football. You can tell which is the English and which the German hand by the buttons on their cuffs.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaZgm75I-xxt2adG2C4zIZX4sdbIusLLaAxneEPXWyc-tON2yt2pOJdGio-MMVy6v7_JtGUUvMx9yH-_r2JsQGHFcLnbWFOLT0N5-RRl3Dbd6ShWjhDFtP_rENmeRBtdGViubA1ueusc/s1200/B090+Tom+Moore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaZgm75I-xxt2adG2C4zIZX4sdbIusLLaAxneEPXWyc-tON2yt2pOJdGio-MMVy6v7_JtGUUvMx9yH-_r2JsQGHFcLnbWFOLT0N5-RRl3Dbd6ShWjhDFtP_rENmeRBtdGViubA1ueusc/w640-h360/B090+Tom+Moore.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This just shows that the Memorial Arboretum is bang up to date. We really enjoyed our day there and would recommend it.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kiSuCVuqzdSKKDypugs77aehUnPNqXTLm_ayCUYDNfIwjsBd83pKva2h0KvLM_xYfjT69lL2fK9G1LLjBKqaqCqxWF-ncyCZ7xo8-aim5ovcVZRyDYi56LEAWSvUlBEUpNUKlWskiwk/s1200/C001+Bagnall+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kiSuCVuqzdSKKDypugs77aehUnPNqXTLm_ayCUYDNfIwjsBd83pKva2h0KvLM_xYfjT69lL2fK9G1LLjBKqaqCqxWF-ncyCZ7xo8-aim5ovcVZRyDYi56LEAWSvUlBEUpNUKlWskiwk/w640-h360/C001+Bagnall+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Back to the canal on Saturday with 8 locks to climb as we came through Fradley. The picture is a bridge at the entrance to Bagnall Lock as we came out of Alrewas. It shows how little clearance there is between the boat and the bridge and how some boats have chipped away at the edges.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxDdznn_1wZokefMMr4GNUKWOY7pKUBcpbFikVWMmNPbCu90a3PzAa3MDamLeO13Ll2DlUuj6zTVg08OvouMmRh0WB3R4nW9cNzg4gyWUzNEZXcKt8IMBLej28DVQoFEpsED8ZwGTZAU/s1200/C005+In+Keeper%2527s+Lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxDdznn_1wZokefMMr4GNUKWOY7pKUBcpbFikVWMmNPbCu90a3PzAa3MDamLeO13Ll2DlUuj6zTVg08OvouMmRh0WB3R4nW9cNzg4gyWUzNEZXcKt8IMBLej28DVQoFEpsED8ZwGTZAU/w640-h360/C005+In+Keeper%2527s+Lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And this is the view behind us as we came into Keeper's Lock. You can just see the previous lock below the arch. You may be wondering about the folk operating the bottom gates for us. There were plenty of volunteers on the Fradley Locks helping boaters through, including a party of trainee lock volunteers. Unusually, Helen had a ride on the boat most of the way through the locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0roDtuN4gBDxmnfKRsJO-MJM1cbs4557UiIdEUi89rGsj53jIlHB2tjlgAVroVQXtpIyJNbyg6_-RL1COxgP8npiCML_g54vO4v60Fm8KRY-Ixob9-unMzQMbja5kahSYVOu1Z41fKQ/s1200/C009+Swan+at+Fradley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0roDtuN4gBDxmnfKRsJO-MJM1cbs4557UiIdEUi89rGsj53jIlHB2tjlgAVroVQXtpIyJNbyg6_-RL1COxgP8npiCML_g54vO4v60Fm8KRY-Ixob9-unMzQMbja5kahSYVOu1Z41fKQ/w640-h360/C009+Swan+at+Fradley.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the classic Fradley view of the Swan, a pub opposite to the junction where the Coventry Canal leaves the Trent and Mersey to go south. You can see the signpost behind the blue boat.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlRX_pWFXd_iWKPRwTwt82PbvhCW81MvBXS-bQZ_62EKNz_57xRgGI08cTMONcxQf4cW7gNotke1USzt7cyE3KUhBKcR__dMeU7Q_6Y7CvU1tvTdN9NVrysStQkAnqXEd5cUvUnjJ95I/s1200/C011+Coming+to+Shadehouse+Lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1200" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlRX_pWFXd_iWKPRwTwt82PbvhCW81MvBXS-bQZ_62EKNz_57xRgGI08cTMONcxQf4cW7gNotke1USzt7cyE3KUhBKcR__dMeU7Q_6Y7CvU1tvTdN9NVrysStQkAnqXEd5cUvUnjJ95I/w640-h414/C011+Coming+to+Shadehouse+Lock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is another Helen 'down the side of the boat' picture as we crossed with another boat to enter Shadehouse Lock, the top one of the Fradley flight of 5 locks.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ESm5_cW5f4W18lpRTfwjDpULM_jL4bo3n0-NJYXETcDTj2lQvy3tmxykyp5awgNrEQgueG9W9O2QjZK5gOK_qodExCUHhfkv2GhJjQlb80VtygMFudE41fcvMuIeSEUxNBTZIGgUgaI/s1200/C015+Devastation+of+HS2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ESm5_cW5f4W18lpRTfwjDpULM_jL4bo3n0-NJYXETcDTj2lQvy3tmxykyp5awgNrEQgueG9W9O2QjZK5gOK_qodExCUHhfkv2GhJjQlb80VtygMFudE41fcvMuIeSEUxNBTZIGgUgaI/w640-h360/C015+Devastation+of+HS2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday evening we moored near Handsacre and went for a walk into the village and back a different route. It was a bit of an unsatisfactory walk as the footpath we were following went under a railway through an underpass which was flooded to a depth well over our boots. So we had to retrace our steps and follow a different route which turned out to cross the future HS2 route. Plenty of devastation and tree felling, some newly planted tiny trees and the odd house, like this one, deserted and probably scheduled for demolition.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NpRjLsnWPn8AsHq9z4cjDKNfap3tKHmvL9oIT2Bm78isR5tgM0L1vibE8a5x9M_y36Hlfojak1n137TaMAkGwc5RKLG8Yq4DYgID94n5HQjHr2z0Sb9NxDljFjWaa5VuC4gMAfkhKBQ/s1200/P1020728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NpRjLsnWPn8AsHq9z4cjDKNfap3tKHmvL9oIT2Bm78isR5tgM0L1vibE8a5x9M_y36Hlfojak1n137TaMAkGwc5RKLG8Yq4DYgID94n5HQjHr2z0Sb9NxDljFjWaa5VuC4gMAfkhKBQ/w640-h360/P1020728.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today (Sunday) we left Handsacre and came through Armitage Tunnel shown here. This very narrow stretch for 150 yards used to be tunnel but subsidence caused by mining round here meant the roof became too low for boats so it was opened out. You do still have to be careful in case you meet a boat coming the other way as it is only just big enough for one boat at a time.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5AEC1rSLL9_BPLK1yzyObyG6UfgqT5XT9a4KqN1bfUN7dl_sbgr1svymUOHL7t_CUfsauGy6zqy6tq1FRgoJxN_GTRqad0C8qjp2OQaM98mpLcYzPHNBAev0p5RURR_WT5jTDTIIkHo/s1200/P1020730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5AEC1rSLL9_BPLK1yzyObyG6UfgqT5XT9a4KqN1bfUN7dl_sbgr1svymUOHL7t_CUfsauGy6zqy6tq1FRgoJxN_GTRqad0C8qjp2OQaM98mpLcYzPHNBAev0p5RURR_WT5jTDTIIkHo/w640-h360/P1020730.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It has been a day for jobs - do the washing, fill the boat with water and go shopping at Rugeley. We were disappointed to find that the excellent hardware shop at Rugeley has closed. Fortunately Wilco's met our needs - we now have new battery LED lights in our wardrobes. Coming through the town you pass the back gardens of houses. This one had some strange mannequins facing the boaters,depicting sheep, bees and ladybirds we think.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv1NVMxPMWwSPFnKyWKQDLXufR8ua9qS8xdtGy0wEGoB7qu4_aIxKYBmoxknsKj21qST1-AA0tbSOTuB3ji6z-PHi8tl25muwvgTPexBASOAUb9a_C8vBeefwLDOI9CpXIXlxO-5pmlA/s1200/P1020735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv1NVMxPMWwSPFnKyWKQDLXufR8ua9qS8xdtGy0wEGoB7qu4_aIxKYBmoxknsKj21qST1-AA0tbSOTuB3ji6z-PHi8tl25muwvgTPexBASOAUb9a_C8vBeefwLDOI9CpXIXlxO-5pmlA/w640-h360/P1020735.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here, to bring you right up to date, is our current mooring just on the edge of Rugeley with the washing under cover. Heavy rain is forecast so we've decided to stop here. We walked a little way up the canal to where it crosses the River Trent on an aqueduct. The Trent was coming under the canal really fast but there were a couple of people getting dressed after a wild water swim - they said they had stayed a calm bit by the side. We're glad we don't have to take Leo on it this time!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Probably tomorrow we shall come to the end of our travels up the Trent and Mersey as we turn left at Great Haywood onto the Staffs and Worcester Canal. Let's hope the weather improves so we can get some good sunny pictures.<br />Ian and Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02468108690039842504noreply@blogger.com1