MV Matilda

Took the train to Bletchley Park 3 minute journey

Fantastic day! Can’t say too much but going back tomorrow to perfect our sleuthing skills!

Aqueduct over the River Ouse just after Cosgrove and then alongside the railway

We are very impressed by Milton Keynes. The canal is a green corridor that snakes through the town. We are moored up at Campbell Park

. Alongside is a small pond with ducks etc and a path meanders up hill past the cricket ground and open air theatre to a view point and then into the town with John Lewis the first store on the right, Library and theatre on the left and large bus station between. We took in the matinee for Billy Elliot. (The choreography & dance were first class, but there were disappointing bits). The shopping malls are excellent light, airy and exceptionally clean, and there is a big space that was filled with a craft and vintage fair this weekend.

An outdoor courtyard had striped deck chairs! As some chairs seemed double width we weren’t sure whether MK had an obesity problem or was romantically minded!

On the opposite side of the canal the park continues with Gullivers World and two more lakes, a Premier Inn, retaurant, fitness centre, water sports and tree top climbing adventure and playgrounds.We have just watched the Run for Life pass Matilda.

Setting off shortly to see if we can get closer to Bletchley…….

Well, it’s polling day and we await the outcome with great interest. Our votes were posted in Loughborough (another long story) last Saturday morning. After a bit of research we found we were able to make a “declaration of local interest” and so were able to vote in Devizes.

Yardley Gobion is somewhere between Stoke Bruerne and Milton Keynes and at last we have an internet connection!  We are spending the day here in Kingfisher Marina  because our engine is being serviced.

On our return journey we revisited the delicious butcher in Braunston went through the tunnel in 29 minutes (without touching the sides) and met up with Simon at Calcutt Boats. Here is his mooring and then see him hard at work at the locks. Grateful thanks Simon and I hope the boat inspector was kind.

 

 

Braunston

We booked a passage through Blisworth tunnel at 8.00am Monday morning. Just before the tunnel is a wharf where Pickfords started their removal business.

 

It took 44 minutes to travel the  3057  yards and that took us straight into Stoke Bruerne the famous canal village.

This one is for all those ex teachers!!!!

As heavy rain and wind were  forecast for Tuesday we decided to stay moored up but do a bit of exploring. The bus passes took us to Towcester where we enjoyed a morning at the museum.

We really enjoyed Warwick. Having planned to stay at Saltisford for two or three nights we ended up staying longer….Eye catching welcome sign.

 

The town trail took us past the Castle Gates but we didn’t stop!

Views from Mill Garden – well worth a visit

 

Lord Leyster Hospital exterior, courtyard, interior and delightful gardens

And not forgetting the best presented cream tea yet!!!  It was delicious.

There are so many interesting places to visit but Hill Close gardens are unique. Apparently shopkeepers who lived above their shops purchased or rented plots as gardens; a place to relax on Sundays or after work. Several of the original 32 have been saved. There are fruit trees, vegetables, flowers, lawns, summer houses and a pigsty or two!

My very first visit to a racecourse where inevitably I lost all my money!

Tony remembering his childhood visits to the riverside park

 

 

Saltisford Arm just below the Hatton Flight was recommended by a passing boater. It exceeeded our expectations. An absolutely delightful spot within ten minutes of town centre.

Shown on map as 12 foot wide. Matilda is 12 foot too. We had done a “recce” early last year to check if we could pass under this bridge and Tony was optomistic.

Scraping the side

Made it but a few scrapes!

This one was even worse!

 

Weedon Bec proved very interesting once away from major roads. We visited the Royal Ordnance Depot where the old buildings are now used for a variety of businessess from car repairs, antiques and antiquarian books! It began in 1803 with an Act of Parliament to purchase 53 acres of land.

It was laid out with a canal running along the centre with buildings either side

The old fire engine

Road tunnel below the canal and steps down from the canal

The village information point

Church and interesting notice

 

Braunston tunnel took 33 minutes

 

and to Braunston and its brilliant butchers!

 

The marina and Gongoozler floating cafe and windmill

One of several large and beautiful marinas

 

In the porch of the Boat Inn was this little stall.

 

And so on towards Stockton locks and Blue Lias Bridge which at 12 feet wide and very low had been giving me nightmares for days!

 

 

 

The entrance to Stowe Hill Marina is quite a tight turn followed by a dirt road with bends. Unfortunately the Stowe Hill crane can not lift Matilda who is 32 tonnes so Tuckeys, who provided the road transport, also provided a 97 tonne crane. This is a real marvel and cost three quarters of a million GBP. It is linked to the manufacturers HQ in Germany so its every movement can be monitored!

The canal access is very limited between the Stowe Hill crane and the next door workshop and Matilda needed to be turned for the journey to  Leamington Spa. The crane driver and the crew were so skilled and made it look effortless. No wonder Tuckeys have  a reputation of being the best!

Crane and lorry due at 12.30pm. The sequence of events follows.

 

   Relief!

  Lorry now shortened

Look at the angle of the wheels as it reverses

And away!

Apprehensive morning……..Leaving Westview Marina at Earith

En route

 

 

 

 

No, We didn’t meet the man with seven wives!

On our recce in March we had actually measured the width of this lock to determine if it was wide enough for Matilda and it was! However what we hadn’t bargained for was the little kink in the entry to the lock and Matilda got herself stuck – diagonal corners just under the guillotine and unable to reverse! What to do?

Happily a lovely couple and another guy helped by taking ropes and tugging whilst I let water into the lock and so she became free. But what to do next? No moorings.

The couple kindly rang the owner of Jones Boatyard explained our predicament and we were able to moor for the night. Thank you to them and everyone who helped.

Jones Boatyard Marina is to be highly recommended and has excellent, and I mean really excellent, facilities. It’s easy to see why its always full and why they are developing a new marina

So Monday morning we were able to visit Tony’s relative Sheila as planned. We had a lovely visit and Tony was happy to be able to catch up with and swap family news and add to the famly tree.

St Ives itself is a lovely little market town and well worth a visit. It has a traditional market on Mondays and Fridays..