Saturday 2nd May Today was to be a training day with Matt, Ben and Rosie visiting Jannock so that the latter two could get some steering practice in. We left Bourne End just after 10 am and headed North. As we passed through the first bridge, not 100m from the mooring, I was hailed by another boater enquiring whether they could share the locks with us. <http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vCd63PmTGV8/SgCEHu_HPaI/AAAAAAAAAUg/1W22XnZUr4M/s1600 -h/MattBenRosie%5B3%5D.jpg> A good run up to Berko saw us passing Pengalanty <http://pengalanty.com/canal-boating/> and Tiami with no sign of life on either of them before our lock partners decided they needed to visit Waitrose for supplies and so we carried on alone. We stopped above Northchurch lock for lunch as we were making good time and dinner would not be ready if we finished our journey too early. Once we had been fed and watered we continued on to the summit and made our way to Bulbourne before turning onto the Wendover Arm. The water running down this arm is so clear you can spot all the fish darting alongside the boat as we progressed slowly to the end. At the bridge adjacent to the flour mill, there was a large Pike hiding against the brickwork who darted off once Jannock had passed. When we arrived at the winding point (the current head of navigation) we reversed in and moored up with our stern against the end of the canal. Matt and Ben went and did a car shuffle whilst Brenda prepared our evening meal and I did more of those little chores that never get done if you are constantly cruising. After dinner Matt, Ben and Rosie left for Thame and we spent a very peaceful night on the Wendover arm.
Sunday 3rd May Our plan was a short cruise down to Marsworth today so an early start wasn't required. When we did up pins and set off we hadn't travelled more than 20 metres when we met the widebeam trip boat from Pitstone wharf about to turn around at the winding point. We nipped through smartly before their manoeuvring started and headed back to the mainline with them following. At the junction, the wind coming up the Marsworth flight was so strong that I had to pull Jannock's bows round with a rope as she didn't want to turn into wind. We followed a pair of boats down the flight with the trip boat following us. Thanks to the trusty lock wheeling bike they did not catch us up at all. Out of the bottom of the flight and we winded in the junction with the Aylesbury Arm and reversed onto the water point for a refill. We then moored on the end of the 14 day moorings opposite the junction and I washed the side of the boat before doing some necessary paint repairs. Late afternoon was spent walking around the reservoirs before retiring to the Anglers Retreat for an evening meal and two very nice ales. Monday 4th May We had neighbours visiting us today for the trip from Marsworth down to Aylesbury. Anne and Lyell had previously been on Jannock for a day when we were on the Thames in 2003 but it was Bob's first visit aboard. We had been warned that the arm was low on water yesterday and so were very surprised to find all of the top gates wiering down to Wilstone. <http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vCd63PmTGV8/SgCEIlfuGTI/AAAAAAAAAUo/--GO9zBIOIg/s1600 -h/Wiering%5B3%5D.jpg> Bob soon settled into the task of working the locks like a natural and we made very good time. Having had reasonable weather for the start of our journey we decided to stop for lunch after Puttenham bottom lock as the rain was becoming more persistent. Once we were settled down eating the sun came out but the rain returned as soon as we decided to set off again. As we approached Aylesbury we met nb Brentford near the reed beds but managed to pass in one of the wider bits. Once into the basin, I booked in with Brian on the welcome boat and was allocated a pontoon mooring for the week until next Saturday. Getting Jannock into the mooring involved a 180 degree turn in the middle of the basin followed by reversing through 90 degrees back into it. On reflection I'm glad I did it yesterday in the lighter winds as they are a lot stronger there today. Bob and Lyell did a car shuffle and then we sat down to 'Basingstoke Air-freshener Biriani' thanks to the slow cooker that had been on for most of the journey. Graham www.jannock.org.uk P.S. the lack of Di Blasi action and reliance on others doing car shuffles is because the Zafira is poorly with an extended stay in the garage due to a broken hose. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
