We knew we’d have a slightly slow start to the day, because the locks at Stoke Bruerne are only being opened at 10am at the moment. But at about 8.30 we moved round to the water point, with the intention of filling up. A widebeam which had arrived late yesterday afternoon was moored on the services (where there are several taps) so we pulled in ahead of it, and got out the long hosepipe as the tap was beyond our stern. We hadn’t long turned the tap on when the inside of the expandable hose burst; they are apparently prone to this, particularly if they’ve been squashed a few times — and this one was driven over by several cars at Rickmansworth water point. While all this was going on, Mike from the trip boat came for a chat, so it was nice to see him. We then pulled forward to the front of the lock landing so we were in prime spot for when the locks were opened. Just before 10, a little work boat was brought round, the bottom lock was opened, and the staff cleared the vegetation off the gates.
Then they did the inside of the gates, and then after some discussion said they’d be going up. So up they went, on their own, which seemed like a bit of a luxury when there are water shortages.
Once the workboat was out of the lock we could turn it, so that we and one of the several hire boats around could start going up. It was about 10.15 by the time we got into the lock — which also raises the question of why the work couldn’t be done during the afternoons, when the locks are closed. Anyway, up we went with Tasselweed.
The workboat was also cleaning the growth off the gates of the second lock, so we had a bit of a wait there too. But then they tied up out of the way, so the next lock was ready for us, and we could do some synchronised boating.
We met one narrowboat coming down, and then the fifth lock had a bright yellow, very new, very large widebeam coming down. Our two narrowboats went one either side of it.
The volunteer lock keepers had radioed ahead so the penultimate lock was ready, and then they went to set the top lock. It was about 11.30 when we reached the top, so we’d had a good run.
The moorings in the village had been busy when Adrian came up yesterday afternoon, but most boats had left so we picked a nice sunny spot. We’d used 1 per cent of our battery capacity coming up the locks on electric, and the solar soon had that replaced. Once tied up, we went to see if Kathryn was about. She was, so we went to the cafe for tea and cake, and a final catchup in Stoke Bruerne. Tomorrow, the sale of Kathryn’s house is due to complete, and then next month she returns to her native New Zealand where she’s buying a place in a retirement village. She also came to have a look at Kingley Vale. Having moored so close for such a long time, and having come through Stoke Bruerne so often, it’ll be odd coming here and not seeing Kathryn, because we always go and knock on her door, even if it’s for just a quick hello. She’s also done a lot of voluntary work in the village, so the locals will really miss her.
This afternoon, Macc and I went for a walk up the hill, where he really took exception to a wire sculpture of a horse and cart. It was only when he went to give it a sniff that he realised he didn’t need to bark at it.
We came back via the path that comes out further along the towpath, and you get a different view of the tunnel portal.
The moorings have really filled up with boats in both directions, but some of the hire boats were only stopping temporarily as they have to be back tomorrow morning.
1 mile, 7 locks. (169 miles, 123 locks)