It's been a slow start to the cruising season so far this year, 4 months in and only 34 miles on the clock - comes of working abroad I suppose.
Tue Jan 1st - 7 miles, 6 furlongs, 0 locks - Braunston to Folly Bridge Total cruising time 2 hours 45 minutes. Wed Jan 2nd - 6 miles, 1 furlong, 12 locks - Folly Bridge to Stockton Total cruising time 3 hours. Cruised back to Stockton in the company of Guy and Connie on Virgo. Guy had suggested that Tim at Warwickshire Fly Boats would probably be able to sort me out with a mooring while I was back in Belgium. Phoned Tim at about 9.30am and he asked "Sure, when will you be arriving?". He was somewhat startled when the reply "Lunchtime" was given! Nevertheless, a mooring was made available for me on my arrival. Nothing now until a short weekend break at Easter. Fri Mar 21st - 9 miles, 6 furlongs, 13 locks - Stockton to The Cape Total cruising time 5 hours 20 minutes. Reconnected and refilled the water system, got the fire lit and after a long struggle got the water heater lit before leaving finally Stockton at 12.50pm. Moored up at the top of Cape locks at 6.10pm in the dark. Ate and drank in the cape that evening. Sun Mar 23rd - 10 miles, 6 furlongs, 13 locks - The Cape to Stockton Total cruising time 5 hours 25 minutes. Saturday spent wandering around Warwick - I'd never really realized quite what a small place it was. Ate on board and drank in the cape again that evening. The morning saw us setting off on the return journey at 8.50am. Winded at the entrance to the Saltisford Arm and arrived back at Stockton at 2.15pm. Nothing in April, but came back for a long weekend's cruising on April 30th. The Thursday and Friday were Bank Holidays in Belgium, and I wanted to move Arun down ready for the Wendover Arm festival at the end of May. Thur May 1st - 9 miles, 2 furlongs, 12 locks - Stockton to Braunston Total cruising time 4 hours 55 minutes. I'd stayed at Chris's on the Wednesday evening, and after voting just after the polls opened (I was the first voter there), drove down to my parents where I was going to leave the car. Train back to Leamington Spa followed by a bus ride to Stockton and a walk back to WFB. Finally got going at 2.50pm in glorious sunshine into an already prepared lock. Had a quick look down the weed hatch while coming up in the second lock and removed what looked like the remains of a sari together with the usual shreds of plastic and weeds. A good run up the Stockton flight (most of the locks were in my favour), leaving the top lock at 4.40pm. Swiftly up the Calcutt three and turned left at Napton Junction at 6.05pm. Had to wait for about 10 minutes for the dredger working there to make a space for me to pass. Moored up in Braunston at 7.55pm, and wandered up to the Plough for food and beer. Fri May 2nd - 21 miles, 1 furlong, 20 locks - Braunston to Stoke Bruerne Total cruising time 10 hours 25 minutes. Early start at 6.10am, straight into the bottom lock which was empty with a gate open. Out of the top of the flight at 7.50am, through the tunnel by 8.15am. Caught up with a boat just after the first lock in the Buckby flight, so shared with them down the flight. Would have stopped for water and Thetfordery at Gayton Junction, except a boat was just manoeuvring onto the water point as I arrived. Through Blisworth tunnel by 2.50pm and out of the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight at 4.45pm. Filled with water and emptied the Thetford there before moving on to beyond the water point for the night. Walked back up the flight to The Boat for supper. Sat May 3rd - 23 miles, 6 furlongs, 6 locks - Stoke Bruerne to Linslade Total cruising time 8 hours 40 minutes. Lie in this morning, didn't get moving until 6.40am. Passed William Thomas' boat Willow moored around Grafton Regis. Are you still around William? You've been rather quiet of late. Through Cosgrove lock at 8.35am, passing Jannock moored between the lock and the aqueduct over the Ouse. Passed Fair Fa while circumnavigating Milton Keynes - my that stretch drags. Caught up with a boat just before the last bridge before Fenny Stratford lock. I think he must have been passing moored boats at rather less than 1MPH. I had to keep going into neutral as I was catching him up while on tickover. Eventually got to the lock, and he was planning to stop and get rid of some rubbish there, so I set off first from the lock at 12.35pm. Would have stopped at Willowbridge for diesel (74ppl) except another boat beat me to it by 30 seconds. Stoke Hammond lock at 1.46pm and Soulbury top by 2.50pm. Moored up just along from the Globe at Linslade at 3.35pm. Signalling problems at Bletchley meant that the train service back to Watford was running to an emergency timetable. The train that eventually arrived missed my intended connecting bus by 1 minute - Fume! - and after a longish wait got another bus that went to within a mile of my parents place and walked back. Retired to the boat with a Chinese takeaway. Next stop, the Wendover Arm. Terry Streeter NB Arun - Linslade
