We implemented a rapid change of plan today, after getting more information about water levels — which kind of indicates that we really do still need to keep our fingers crossed. Our first plan for the day had been to go nowhere, partly because our friends Brian and Mike were visiting us as they made their way home from Northants. They were with us by 9.30 so we had coffee, tea, and cakes, and a good catch up. As they were leaving at about 11, Brian picked a couple of damsons off the tree right by the boat and said they were nice — so once they had gone we got picking ourselves. The tree was laden, and within a few minutes we had a good haul.
As our visitors had arrived and left a bit earlier than anticipated, we decided on Plan B: we’d go through the bridge to the water point (as the tank was down to 30 per cent), and then go through Slapton Lock and moor below. As we arrived at the water point we could see a CRT guy running water down, and once the hosepipe was connected, Adrian went to talk to him. It’s a very fast tap, but even so Macc was a bit bored by the wait and had to rest his chin on the gunwale.
Adrian went to find out what was going on with water supplies, particularly given the stoppage that had come out about a one-day closure on the Soulbury Three Locks and Stoke Hammond Lock on Monday. The CRT guy said he was running water all the way down from the reservoirs to below Leighton Lock, because the level there was low. On the Monday closure, he said he wouldn’t be surprised if one day wasn’t long enough and it turned into two days, several days, or maybe even a couple of weeks. Of course he couldn’t advise us what we should do, but said the Milton Keynes level is fine, as lots of the water comes from rivers. With all that in mind, we came up with Plan C: go to Leighton Buzzard today, and then on past the Monday stoppage tomorrow, so were the other side of it. Then if it’s extended, it won’t affect us. When the CRT guy had finished running water through, Adrian filled the lock, I disconnected the hose pipe, and we set off. On one of the balance beams was a long throw windlass, so we took it with us in case it was the CRT chap’s. We met him again at the next lock, Church Lock, where he was doing the next stage of water movement, and he said the windlass wasn’t his; so we’ve gained one. This lock has temporary balance beams on both the top gates.
We waited a little while until enough water had been run down, and the CRT chap left. He told us one of his colleagues was doing the next lock, Grove Lock. This turned out to be one of the staff we’d talked to at Berko the other day, and he paused his water management so we could go through the lock. He also worked it for us, which was nice of him.
We continued into Leighton Buzzard, where the moorings had lots of spaces. We’re not sure where all the boats are, but this part of the GU seems very quiet. We stopped on the shopping mooring, which is supposed to be for 2 hours only. After lunch, I took Macc for a walk along to Leighton Lock, where the level below looks a bit down but not too bad; we returned through Ouzels Meadow, where we had to get past all the cattle who were forecasting rain.
During the afternoon, Adrian has been into town to collect some new boots ordered from Millets. It’s fortunate they had arrived early, as the initial delivery date had been Monday. I’ve done a big Tesco shop, have walked back to the rubbish point, have also done the Elsan, and been to Aldi for wine. I’ve also stewed the damsons, plus some cooking apples Brian and Mike gave us from a big haul from a friend’s garden. We’ve decided to stay on these 2 hours only moorings overnight. It appears we won’t be the only ones doing so, and there’s room for at least three more boats, not that any boats appear to be moving much round here anyway.
4 miles, 3 locks. (143 miles, 109 locks)