It was light very early and we were both rather wakeful - at 4.30 it was already light enough to cruise, although the first boat was not until an hour later. After a fitful period we decided to make an early start, but take it slowly to get up! Eventually we set off around 7:20.
In comparison with the day before, it was a wonderful sunny Sunday morning. Milton Keynes has certainly treated the canal kindly, with leafy corridors in between the different housing areas.
After two hours we reached Wolverton where we knew that a large Tesco was just a few minutes walk away from the railway station bridge. It was yet only 9:30 but the doors open then, staffing the tills from the designated start of trading: 10:00! If we were anything judge by, this half hour shopping time does them no harm - with shoppers adding more items to their baskets as they wait for the checkouts!
Soon we reached the first lock of the day, the quite modest Cosgrove Lock. A further cruise and we arrived at Stoke Bruerne Bottom Lock. Alas we were to share the locks with another boat whose crew seemed to have no idea about operating locks, despite having been out for several days and it being their fifth year of such holidays. Christine was still answering questions about which part to operate next at the top of the flight. As a result it took a lot longer than expected to pass through the flight.
Stoke Bruerne is always a popular spot but is was especially busy today. Sounds of accordian music greeted us as we rose up in the top lock - there was a small boat rally this week end. In addition to boats moored all the way to the entrance of Blisworth Tunnel, there were various stalls. The Cheese Boat offered 'try before you buy' samples - alas only to the customers on the towpath side of the boat!
The tunnel took 45 minutes to navigate - it was busier that we have ever seen with up to 6 boats in each direction in the tunnel at any one time. Half way through we caught up with a slower boat - the queue behind closed in on us, obviously impatient with progress.
The pound from the tunnel is a long one. We soon passed Gayton Junction where the branch to Northampton takes off. Alas we then came upon a very slow boat which made no effort for the next two hours to allow us to pass! It even slowed to a snail's pace a hundred metres before any obstacle and seemed to be quite nervous of bridges! High House Bridge and they, at last, decide to moor. We could hear them asking the crew on another moored boat if there was a shop near the bridge! At this time on a Sunday?
As it was clear that we would not be able to pass Buckby Locks tonight, a mooring site below was needed. However, both the M1 and the main railway line are close by and nowhere is quiet. We opted for a spot just after Bridge 21 as being the least exposed, mooring just after 7. Although we are a little short of our possible target, it has been a long day, especially after the efforts of the past week.
