Milton Keynes - Campell and Willen Park

This is a great place to moor at this time of year.  Not sure if we would like it during the summer as would probably be too busy with walkers, cyclists, etc.,  - possibly even drunks and druggies, Pete says ;-((  Dog toilet-bins are sadly lacking too!!  Very odd.....

Thursday:

They went for a walk today, along Popular tree-lined pathways and then across more parkland in a different direction to see the Peace Pagoda (a peaceful, beautiful, place of worship built by Buddhists) and a Bird Sanctuary in Willen Lake - loads of waterfowl.  The rain held off......  Very peaceful walk and stunning views.  Sadly the photos were taken with Susan's Nikon and are too large to reduce to web sizes.....  Next time Susan will have to remember to use her smaller compact Leica camera for web pictures.

There is also a Buddhist temple near the Peace Pagoda.  As well as a circular rock medicine-wheel formation erected in 2011.


Wednesday:

It took Susan and Pete 20 minutes to walk to the centre of Milton Keynes across pretty parkland.  They only got lost once!!!  Many sculptures like the light structure below, totem poles, etc., to keep walkers occupied and interested.  Saw woodpeckers, robins, magpies and squirrels.

View of mooring in Milton Keynes

Light structure on top of a mound in Campbell Park

Skyfall was good but Pete enjoyed it more than Susan!!  Susan said that she can't wait for Breaking Dawn Part 2 to be released next week......  There is a fairground at the end of the park which explains the base-beat heard each night on the boat.

The shopping centre was opposite the leisure centre so they popped in for a little retail therapy!!!

Milton Keynes

A chilly, frosty, sunny morning greets us today!! Warm hats and gloves are the order for today!!

Mazey was unwell this morning so Pete and Susan got up early....  By 9:00 am she seems to be improving so they decide to continue their journey to Milton Keynes, Campbell Park.

Once I was replenished with water, Susan and Mazey walk off to prepare the lock.  Pete stays on-board to guide me into the lock.  All goes well.  It is a lock which does not drop down very far.

Pete 

Susan

So many boats!!

Cosgrove lock

A mile further on we stop at Wolverton, where Susan walks over the bridge to Tescos.  There is also a small Asda opposite the 24 hour Tesco.  Pete and Mazey chill out...  Susan came back looking like a cart horse - with 4 bags full of shopping: a backpack, a side bag, and two large Tescos bags.  I think Pete should go along next time - don't you!!!

As we head off again it starts to rain.  It takes us a while to cruise the 6 miles as there are lots of moored boats on both sides of the canal - slow going.  Pete gets excited when he spots another Kingfisher but, yet again, unable to get a photo before it flies off......

We moor up prior to bridge 81B on the Grand Union Canal nr. Campbell Park, Milton Keynes.  It is very busy here too.  Only room for one boat to moor!!!  The leisure park with cinema complex is a short walk from here through the park so tomorrow Susan and Pete plan to go to see Skyfall.  If there is time, Susan said that she would like to visit the Peace Pagoda, Willen Lake and the bird sanctuary which is on our left.  As it is still raining Pete suggests going tomorrow!!!  Not too far from Bletchley Park either - so they might stop there in a few day's time....

Within one hour of arriving, Pete and Mazey are asleep in front of the cosy stove which is belting out heat....

Total achievement: 7 miles, 1 lock

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!!

Cosgrove, Stony Stratford and Monster Night!

Another busy weekend.  Arrived in Cosgrove on Thursday mid-day after travelling for 3 miles.  Susan and Pete set off walking across the Ouse Valley Parkland (1.5 miles) to Stony Stratford to meet friends June and Jan.

Ornate bridge - Cosgrove

Cosgrove mooring

Geese - Cosgrove

Susan and June went to Milton Keynes shopping (a large one-mile long precinct) followed by a hunt for the gold postbox erected to celebrate Greg Rutherford's win, Olympic gold medallist. Thanks to June for spending ages driving around searching for them.........

Gold Postboxes

Pete (after searching for a solid padlock to replace the broken one) and Jan spent the afternoon drinking in various pubs in Stony Stratford - what's new!!!!

Friday: Pete went to London for a retirement party whilst Susan and Mazey stayed on board and cleaned me on the inside....... then they left me and went for a walk along the canal.  They also found that the Caravan Park shop, a short distance away, was open and got a few basic provisions.  Sadly, it will close on Thursday for the winter!!

Saturday:  Susan walked across the parkland again to Stony Stratford and went to the hairdressers.  On the way she saw a greyhound bouncing around and having great fun - amazingly it had only 3 legs!!  Friends, John and Barbara, visited us for the first time in Cosgrove and stayed with Jan and June for the night.  Everyone met up for a few drinks following retail therapy for the girls in Stony Stratford.  Photo taken in The Cock, Stony Stratford.  Susan says "Thanks guys.  It was so lovely to see you again."



It was Monster night in Stony Stratford where locals get dressed up and party the night away in the many pubs.  Jan said "It was a great night.  The best he has had in Stony since moving here".   Enjoy the photos and get ready for HALLOWEEN.......

Yardley Gobion

The farmer was on his quad-bike chasing the geese and ducks from his field opposite where we were moored this morning.  Then he visited the field beside us and herded the sheep and rams from one field to another.  He was escorted by 3 happy dogs (2 Collies and a Jack Russell).  Not sure if he knew we were watching him BUT we all enjoyed the excitement of it at breakfast.....  Mazey was growling and barking as she watched out of the window.

The sky this morning was grey and devoid of any character forming a blank canvas of nothingness
(yep, Susan confesses to reading an e-book on her kindle about how to write....  Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg - great book).

I have dripping oil in my engine.....  Not a major problem says Pete......  Susan is not so sure and I confess neither  am I.  Pete says he will keep an eye on it - as it is just like a little bit of sick coming up when you burp!!!!

We are now moored at Yardley Gobion opposite the Kingfisher Marina after getting pumped-out and filled-up with water again at Baxter's Boatyard.

Pete, Susan and Mazey walked into Yardley Gobion to have a look at the pretty village.  They commented that it has some old beautiful houses and manage to get a few provisions in the local Cost Cutters.

After lunch they all fall asleep in front of the TV whilst watching Loose Women.  "The first time" Pete says since they set off in June.  Susan manages to do the laundry and the inside of me has now been turned into a "Chinese laundry".  Pete keeps stocking up the stove - whilst Mazey pants and Susan strips off.......  Two swans visit and tap on the window for food... then peck the side of me to remove the algae....  An owl hoots 'Goodnight' in the distance....  I like it here.....

Total achievement 1 mile and 0 locks

Grafton Regis

Set off this morning in the misty drizzle!!  After filling-me up with water, we said goodbye to Stoke Bruerne and had the honour of a swan flypast to Susan's excitement!!!!!  Amazing 'Whooping" vibration..... as they went overhead.

It took ages to get through the Stoke (7) locks due to excess water which made it almost impossible to open the gates due to water pressure.  Pete and the lock-keeper were very busy releasing water down the locks and then sorting them out.  Susan cruised alone for the first 3 locks and then was joined by another boat from Rugby on their way to Milton Keynes to fill-up with fuel.

Bottom Lock - Stock locks

Our new mooring is near a village known as Grafton Regis.  Lots of sheep in the field where we have moored for the night.  In the field next to us there must have been about 100 sheep filing past.  Some of the poor sheep were limping.  Susan cuddled Mazey as they looked through the window to watch the sheep go past.  Susan also saw her first 3 rams ever.  They had harnesses on and they were bigger than the other sheep.....

View from mooring at Grafton Regis

Pete decided that, as we are in the middle of nowhere, he would be able to use his chainsaw to cut up the spare wood on the top of the boat.  Poor Pete - it took him ages to get it going and then it kept cutting out!!!  Susan kept laughing and then went out to help.  Eventually, job done and lots of wood now the right size for the stove.

Time for a chill-out and rest.

Total achievement: 7 Locks, 2.5 miles

Pete's Birthday Weekend

Great weekend....  Met some old friends and made some new ones...... Thanks to Jan and June for coming to see us.  The Boat at Stoke Bruerne is a good place to meet new people - especially locals and boaters.

Boys and Mazey having a drink

On Saturday night, we met Louise and Katie - who both have boats in Stoke Bruerne.  Katie has been a boater for the past 20 years.....  Louise and Dave are fairly new to it like us.....

Katie and Jess

Louise and Dave - Darling Buds of May

At one point in The Boat there had to be at least 20 people and 10 dogs all crammed into the small tap room canal side....  Everyone was very friendly.  Pete got a takeaway curry from the Indian restaurant opposite The Boat.

Sunday morning we had breakfast in the Navigation at Stoke Bruerne and could not believe that they have their Christmas decorations up already......  Followed by a late lunch in The Boat!!!!

Christmas - already!!!!