Northampton Marina

Today's Navigations : Grand Union (Northampton Arm), River Nene

Not really a rest day but one in which we made very little navigation progress! 

We left our mooring quite late (by hot weather standards) ie just after 10 am. We had a short distance to go to the last lock on the arm after which we will be down onto the River Nene. As a boat had just passed us after coming up, the lock was all but full. Needed a few millimetres of top up.

In the background we could just see the brewery - there has been one here for a long time.

On the southern side of the canal these modern apartment blocks replaced former industrial activities. The small indentation in the edge of the towpath is already there on OS maps from over a century ago - presumably used for loading and unloading.

A sign alongside the lock reminds us that we are now entering EA waters, for which a separate licence is required - or, as in our case, a combined Gold licence that allows to travel on both CaRT and EA navigations.

As we leave the Northampton Arm behind us, we enter the River Nene. Yesterday we were unclear whether our slow speed was entirely due to the reed beds or perhaps too much caught on the prop. We put off checking last night in the hope that we would find as soon as we were on open water, we could open up the throttle. Alas, we had misjudged and struggled down the short section to the town moorings.

Almost opposite the canal junction stands the present brewery, currently owned by Carlsberg. Most of the production is lager, predominantly Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, and Carlsberg Export. This was the Danish company's first brewery outside their home country and started production in 1974. From the outside it does look a little showing its age but no doubt inside is state of the art.

Not far below the canal is this sluice gate. Rather unusually,. none of our usual resources give us any clue about its name or purpose. Anyone know?

We came to the three arched South Bridge, opened in 1818 although there has been a crossing at this point since 1100. Fortunately, the navigation arch is clearly marked - no room for confusion.

Just beyond the town moorings began - at first sight it looks quite extensive but look more closely and we found them all but full - with a few inconvenient unusable gaps in several places. We started to head for what looked like just enough room in a gap just ahead of the footbridge. Alas, as well pulled across to the opposite side to begin our approach, we could see that much of the space was occupied by a sunken cruiser!

We then had to reverse so that we could take the end of the line nearest to where we had come. It was long enough but the last mooring post was half way along. Our sluggish prop did not help although the breeze made up for it and eventually we sidled slowly into position and made fast. It is disappointing that no real mooring facilities are installed - these posts are not meant to take that sort of load especially if ropes are tied near the top. By using one post that the nearest boat had tied its stern to and the remaining free one, together with bow, stern and centre lines, we felt it was sufficiently secure for a shopping trip. (this photo was taken as we later left and shows the situation more clearly ie we forgot to take one from the towpath before we left!)

Morrisons is only a few minutes walk away and we did a good stock up - the trolley did sterling service carrying most of it along with quite a full shopping bag! Once back on board, Christine was left with the task of finding places to stow everything away - but then she did compile the shopping list . . . 

Before we cast off, Mike tackled the weed hatch yet again, expecting to find a mass of reeds and weeds. But none of that instead an unsavoury mass of unravelling rope and netting, along with quite a bit of plastic. No wonder we were going so slowly this morning. (Sorry that when we reviewed the photos - after having disposed of the mass in a bin -  we saw that it resembled a dead sheep at first sight. Ugghh! Lucky it wasn't)

After a few metres we passed under the impressive Wathen Wigg footbridge, opened in 2005. (see here for more about the name)

As we walked back, Mike floated the idea that, as we had to call at Northampton Marina for services and to purchase a Navigation Key (we did have two from a previous trip but it seems they were one the ring that was lost earlier this year) perhaps we might ask about an overnight stay - well,  a long afternoon was the real idea. With surprising alacrity Christine agreed and this is what we did.

0.8 Miles - 1 Lock  whether