Weedon

 Today's Canal - Grand Union

Christine had managed to locate an ear wax removal service in Milton Keynes who was able to offer Mike and appointment this morning at 11. We set off early as we wanted to call at Argos whose web site indicated last night that they stocked a hose pipe of the specific type that we wanted. Alas, when we got there it was to discover that they no longer stock the item!

The hearing person was very efficient and pleasant - he had a well set up consulting room - it seemed a bit strange as we approached the address as it is based in a small house on a housing estate and at the end of a maze of streets to get to it. Fortunately our sat nav got us there accurately.

He first inspected both ears and showed us pictures have the large lumps of wax that were blocking the ears. He then use micro suction to remove them and at the end displayed matching pictures where the ear drum was now in full view. Suddenly, everyone was shouting at Mike - or so he complained! We can happily recommend the service - Hearing Health Hub

We returned to the boat directly as we were expecting Andrew to arrive any time after 12:30 following his drive back down from the north of England where he had been on a walking holiday. We immediately reversed the boat back to just below the top lock to make it easier to unload Andrew's car.

Once that had been completed Mike took our car to the booked parking space near the station - Andrew provided the taxi service back to the boat!

Before long we were ready to set off. It had been a dull morning with even a hint of rain at one point. Definitely much cooler. Before we went into Milton Keynes there had seemed to be little canal traffic but through the rest of the Buckby Locks it was quite busy. A boat that was already in the next lock kindly waited whilst we caught up and we shared the rest of the flight. There was a steady stream coming the other way but not always too speedy in their operation!

Next to the bottom and some sunshine arrived.

There are several houses around the bottom lock - also known as the bottom Whilton Lock (of two). The above properties seem to have been lock cottages, housing the staff to keep boats flowing through the six locks.

Attached to the bottom of the row is another cottage but which looks somewhat different. We discovered later that this was once the Spotted Cow Inn, no doubt a welcome sight for thirsty boaters. Now it is a private home.

We continued on the next long pound. Shortly before Weedon we passed under the new Weedon Bypass. Our sat nav had brought us this way coming back from Milton Keynes when we realised that it was quite recent. In the past we had seen the road and the bridge under construction (seemed to take rather a long time) The main purpose seems to be to take freight traffic straight from Junction 16 on the M1 to the various huge distributions centres around Rugby, Daventry and Northampton, including the enormous DIRFT rail interchange. A newspaper article from 2016 reported that DIRFT III was just being constructed and would lead to 9000 new jobs. No wonder the village of Long Buckby is expanding its housing so rapidly.

We moored in Weedon itself, close to the church. It is also close to the busy railway line!

5.3 Miles - 6 Locks