Goodbye to Stony Stratford and Cosgrove

We have been busy!!!  Tuesday, last week, we turned around at the winding hole in Cosgrove near the lock and returned to Stoke Bruerne (5.5 miles), bottom lock, to get fuel etc., from the working boat.  However, the lock keeper informed Pete that we had just missed them and they were heading in the opposite direction.  Pete made the decision not to chase them through the locks, so I got to turn around again!!!

It was chilly and wet......  Not that I mind but Pete and Mazey were getting fed up in the damp weather.  Susan was inside making cups of tea and sandwiches to keep them fuelled.  On the way back, Pete decided to stop at Baxter's Boatyard instead to get fuel, water, pump out and a new gas bottle.  He did not expect to come across a rogue boat which had slipped its mooring....

It took ages to get past this boat.  At one point Pete was going to 'gently' ram the boat into the sidings.  I was not happy about this idea........  Thought it might hurt!!!!  No-one was on the boat or on the boat opposite it on the towpath side of the canal.  A queue was forming....  At last, someone from the boat yard realised what was occurring and managed to start pulling the boat back onto the mooring.  We managed to squeeze past it and get to the boat yard.  PHEW tight squeeze.

Pile-up on canal

After a complete sort out at the boat yard, we continue to Grafton Regis.  Lovely spot with fields of sheep.  Then it kept raining and raining and raining.

By the next morning, I was keeled over to one side as the mooring ropes were dragging me over.  Pete realised this was due to the sheer amount of water and released the tension.  All straight again.....  The weir was overflowing  - there was a current in the normally still canal..

At breakfast two woodpeckers were spotted in the field.  Cameras at the ready....  A magpie also decided to sit on a sheep's head.... and groom it.....

Once again, we set off in the rain.  No locks along this stretch so Susan disappears and cleans the inside whilst Pete and Mazey get wet on the back.  The fields are flooded.

Flooded fields

There is a mooring near Thrupp Wharf, opposite the Navigation Pub.  Jan meets Susan and Pete for a quick pint lunchtime.  The sun shines again...... Yah!!!

View from Navigation Pub

Next day, we head off to Cosgrove for the weekend.  Pete walks to meet Jan on the Friday at Wolverton House Pub - the fields are very flooded and Pete says it was nearly up to his knees in places......  It keeps raining....

Susan meets her girl-friends (June, Una, Yvette and Pauline) in Stony Stratford on Saturday.  Pete meets up with Jan and Tim (who stays overnight).

The girls stay in The Old George.

After some retail therapy in Stony Stratford, the girls eat in the Calcutta Indian restaurant which is the most amazing place ever.   It is a converted chapel.  Food was yummy....  The girls have fun and laugh a lot.  Susan returns on Sunday.  "Thanks girls for a wonderful time" Susan says.   Mazey is really excited and pleased to greet Susan back.

"The Muckers" - Junie's garden

Calcutta Indian Restaurant - Stony Stratford

Now the fun is over we are returning to the River Lea and River Stort for winter.  Booked in to Roydon Marina from December to mid-January.  Catch up soon!!