On to Watford Locks

 Some lovely mooring places on the GU. Many have either rings or bring a paper clip an hook on to the piling.

Its not far to Stoke Bruerne.  The last lock before the village itself.  Nice pub on the  right and the lock is there too.

 On the left is a second lock by the looks of it that was used to weight boats.

The weighing machine.  

The museum is on the right of the lock.

Earlier before the lock there was plenty of mooring space.  Up here there is very little to start with but if you travel far enough there is usually a space.

Walked back down to the locks to have a look at the sights and get a pint.

The other pub. The Boat Inn. Inside it is quite ancient.

Back to the mooring and off to brave the tunnel.

Its still half a mile or so with boats moored all the way.

Boats are moored up right to the mouth of the tunnel.  Longest so far this trip at over 3000 yards. There is a blacksmith in the building on the right selling all sorts of ironwork.

 I assume that this is a profile of the tunnel inside.

Out the other side.  Soaking wet. Each air-shaft throws out the remains of the water that has come down over the last weeks.

This is Blisworth and the original home of nb Mozart.

Bit further on and a rather nice looking boat belonging to the St John Ambulance people.

Moored up for the night

To the woods to the wood etc

Along here the East Coast Main Line is on one side and the M1 on the other.

Most of the time you don't see either. Its just the constant rubble in the background.

Rather nice home with couple of old boats outside.

Probably the original paint job.

Several lovely villages attached to the canal.

After all the woods its nice to have a rural scene.

Another old boat but this one is Lincoln

Got them both in view now.  Main Line to the left and M1 to the right.

Its Whilton Lock tonight and a visit to the marina but no wide-beams to look at.

Above the lock and loads of work going on to the towpath. Bit congested here with two boats coming up and two going down.  Met a pair of boats coming out of every one of the locks.

The New Inn.  A lovely point for watching the lock.  Sadly no beer as it closed last Sunday.

Back into the woods.

The first of the Watford locks.

Three boats going up as soon as the three have come to the bottom.  Gets a bit hectic before staircase.

Looking down the flight.

Thats it for today.  Last lock and its time to find a mooring.

Leighton Buzzard and after

After the lock an unusual bridge.  Could this have been for a second lock at some time.

With a second boat to share the locks and the work.

At the water point  a load of rubbish left for certain by a boater.  Later I spotted even more piles some of which are massive heaps of junk. 

Open countryside instead of all the trees of recent days.

Guess I spoke too soon.

Is this one sat on the bottom.  It is much lower than the other boats nearby.

First boat I have seen with oriel windows :-)

and this one has an outside loo in the bows.

Looking for a mooring now as we get close to Leighton Buzzard.

Only a short walk from the centre of Leighton and the Tesco is not far with a 2 hour mooring outside it.

Called in to Tesco and moved on ...

 Moored up opposite the boatyard.  Plenty of  moorings all over the place.

As we left Leighton Buzzard and next to a pub there is the Cheese Boat specialising in Welsh cheese.

Back to looking over the hedges at the view.

Soulbury Three locks. We are assisted through the locks by either CRT or volunteers.  What ever way its nice to get helped on our way.

A long way from home.  This boat came all the way from Thorne and on the side says it was made by Dunstans.  All that is left of that firm in Thorne today is the wreck of a drydock in a housing estate.

Moored opposite another boatyard at Willowbridge

One of the few times that Milton Keynes can be seen from the canal.

The sign announcing the joining of Milton Keynes to Bedford and I think the River Nene

A couple of boats looking the absolute bees knees.

This is still Milton Keynes and the amount of parkland on the canalside is astounding.  If you want a walk then this is the place to be.

Damn its hot.  Narrowboats are even hiding under bridges to get some shade.

Another of the ex-wharfs now homes

A glimpse through the trees and the park beyond.

Mooring for the night near bridge 75 with Milton Keynes to the left.

More parks and the occasional building in the distance.

Milton Keynes aqueduct but a rubbish view over a dual carriageway.

Must be quarter of a mile of 'graffiti' along the wall of the railway line. Looks much better than a bear wall.

and around the corner a boat across the canal. Stopped to tie it up again.  Its only held to the shore by bits of string.  Its not the first time that its floated away we were told.

At the top of Milton Keynes and this hoves into view.  The only bit of the place that uses the canal as a feature.  There are mooring rings all along the right-hand side.

 and to the left a statue to commemorate the railways.  Masses of empty buildings all along here.  The buddleia is growing well.

The Iron Trunk Aqueduct goes over the River Ouse and...

 the view to the right or even the....

view to the left is a lot better than the last aqueduct.

A lock after ages without.  Mind you a couple of inches and it wouldn't be needed. To the left is the Buckingham canal which is in the process of being restored.

 And ahead is Cosgrove.

Called Solomon's Bridge I think this is one of the nicest I've seen for ages.  Badly weather worn..

but some of the details are still to be seen on the other side.

Another wharf and this time all that is left is the pub.

There must be a reason for the Olympic logo being on the front of this boat.

Before the marina a sign that is a bit better than just saying slow down.

A rather fine boat that looks as though it is ready for a warm summer and plenty of Pimms.

Not sure of this one.  It looks like the dutch barge version of a tug.  Looks interesting either way.

More flat land looking all the way over to a village on the mini-hill top.

 Most of the canal is covered by trees and if someone comes around the corner someone will have the roof of the boat sweep clean :-)

Time to start looking for a mooring for the night.  Just below the locks at Stoke Bruerne