The morning began with patches of slightly damp drizzle with just one or two heavier downfalls. We were up in good time as Graham was due to arrive soon after 9 which he duly did. We discussed the solar panels (at last) and it looks likely that they will be fitted whilst we are away from the boat next time - he will bring them to us if it is possible before then. We have still to finalise a few details but that can easily be done by email. He also re-fitted the voltage data logger so that we can see whether the change we looked at yesterday makes any difference but also to gather yet more evidence.
After he had finished, Christine went to the marina office to settle our account and we were then able to make a start, turning out of the marina onto the last short part of the Northampton Arm by 10:45.
Just before the junction is a small boatyard which was just completing a boat lift. Another boat was waiting at the sani station mooring - it seems that Monday is boat lift day.
We are heading to Crick to meet with another specialist to fix the gas locker hinges. The Grand Union Main Line is quite a familiar stretch - for a long time it has often been close to either the start or the finish of a trip. It is neither unpleasant nor uninteresting but it is a level pound up to the bottom of the Buckby Locks at Wilton Marina.
By mid day the rain had disappeared and sunshine started to break through in patches.
We pass some unconventional boats at times - this somewhat modified boat looks as if it has had as many additions as a calculator!
We had to follow a very slow boat for some considerable time - they offered us no opportunity to pass them. We were relieved when they eventually pulled into the bank for lunch. At that stage we felt that we had go on a bit further . . .
By the time we passed Rugby Boat Sales the sky was really blue once more and we were beginning to feel rather warm.
Several signs warned boaters that dredging works were in progress. We caught up with them as we arrived at Weedon.
We passed under the new bridge that forms part of a Weedon bypass - it is much nearer completion than when we came this way in May.
The dredgings are being disposed of in a way that we have not seen before. Sometimes they are put onto land on the non-towpath side that belongs to CaRT. This simplifies the waste disposal paperwork considerably (and saves money). Here, however, a line of environmentally-friendly piling has been added, a little into the former width of the canal, after clearing some of the trees and shrubs. The mud is then deposited into the space created.
That man is still looking after Bridge 21 and his outfit again looks pretty smart despite having been in baking sunshine for the past few months.
Eventually we caught up with the unloading task force - but they were more interested in putting fuel into their tank.
We arrived at the bottom of the Buckby Locks not having seen another boat for a while but at least the first one was already empty. From there on we met boats coming down just at the right intervals so that we did not have to close up after ourselves nor empty and locks (apart from one that we just a little full)
At one lock we passed one of the team at Gayton Marina who was in the process of recovering a hire boat that had run into difficulties at the hands of its hirer. He had enlisted the help of his family who had an unplanned canal trip!
We decided to stop in the long pound between the top two locks. It is quieter here than either earlier or above the locks.
12.6 Miles - 6 Locks
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