A combination of no signal at Wendover and the resulting overflowing inbox has meant that I am a bit behind with posting the trip reports. What follows brings things up to date. I will try and provide more timely reports from now on.
Chris and I arrived at the boat late in the afternoon on Friday 23rd, ready for the Wendover Arm Festival. Much beer drinking and chatting with friends took place over the weekend. We even managed to sell some entry tickets to the public on Sunday and Monday despite the inclement weather. Left the mooring late on Monday afternoon after the bar had run out of beer. Mon May 26th - 1 mile, 6 furlongs, 7 locks - Wendover Arm to Marsworth Total cruising time 1 hour 50 minutes. Set off from the festival site at 6.30pm, reaching the junction with the main line at 7.05pm. A good run down the Marsworth flight aided by the boats ahead (Quidditch & Chipp (owned by Ken Price (founder of the Milton Keynes Formation Drinking Team (don't ask)))). Breasted up to Quidditch for the night at 8.20pm. Will Chapman, Ken Price and Child B joined us for Toad in the Hole soon after. Tue May 27th - 23 miles, 17 locks - Marsworth to Milton Keynes Total cruising time 10 hours 25 minutes. Set off from Marsworth at 7.40am, catching up with Chipp at Maffers top. Shared locks with them until Leighton Buzzard where at 12.15pm we pulled over for a much needed food shop at Tescos. Quidditch, which was behind us, must have passed us while we were tied up as we never saw her again. Through Soulbury three by 3.05pm, aided by BW man who was waiting for a dredger to arrive. Stopped for 20 minutes to fill up with diesel at Willowbridge (84ppl) and again for 20 minutes to empty the toilets at Fenny Stratford. Through Fenny lock by 5.15pm and tied up by Black Horse bridge in Milton Keynes at 7.40pm. My Spaghetti Carbonara special for supper, followed by a couple of over priced beers in the adjacent pub (£2.90/pint). Wed May 28th - 11 miles, 6 locks - Milton Keynes to Stoke Bruerne Total cruising time 5 hours 50 minutes. Lazy start this morning, as we didn't have far to go. Set off at 9.35am, just as a boat appeared under the bridge behind us. Good run around the rest of MK, arriving at Cosgrove lock in time to share with a Clifton Cruisers hire boat that eventually found its way into the lock. Left the lock at 11.15am and arrived at the bottom of Stoke Bruerne flight at 1.00pm. Was in two minds whether to stop and fill with water at the bottom or go up the flight and fill up later. As it happened, two boats had just left the lock and the rain which was threatening hadn't yet started so we decided to go up. Typically it started to rain heavily as soon as we were in the lock. A good run up the flight nevertheless, with the bottom two locks empty, the next two with boats coming down and the last three also empty. Left the top lock at 2.25pm and moored for the night on the left a few boats further along. Early stop was because it was time for Arun to have an oil change. Had to go to the pub first though for a couple of pints to give the engine a chance to cool down. Pork Chops followed the oil change, then back to the pub for more beers until closing time. Terry Streeter NB Arun - Stoke Bruerne
