Rugby to Brinklow Marina
Short hop back to the marina. Relieved to find that the car started. On the way home I dropped Peter off at Luton parkway station.
20150716
Saturday 18th July
Braunston to Rugby
Carried on down Braunston locks and then onto the Oxford canal at Braunston Junction. As there was space to moor outside the Royal Oak at Hillmorton we moored there for lunch. There was a better choice of beers than I was expecting, three, but the food was of the standard we expected from a Hungry Horse pub. We moored for the night on the towpath side near Tescos. We ate before heading to town. Went to the Merchants Inn in search of real Perry where they had 2.
Friday 17th July
Weedon to Braunston
Moored below Bucky top lock to go for lunch in the New Inn. We had to sit outside and ask for an umbrella to keep off the rain. In the afternoon we carried on through Braunston tunnel and started to descend Braunston locks. Managed to moor above lock 2 near the Admiral Nelson where I had booked a table for 2 plu dog. We had an excellent meal albeit that the service was a bit slow.
Tuesday 14th July
Leighton Buzzard to Willen Park, Milton Keynes
On leaving Soulbury bottom lock Muffin escaped and then tried to get back on again which resulted in another soaking. We stopped there anyway for water and discovered due to the high pressure that the hose has lots of pinholes courtesy of Muffin. We then moved onto the trial 2 day moorings and went to the Three Locks pub for lunch. For the evening we moored near Daves boat in Milton Keynes and went to the Barge Inn for dinner.
Monday 13th July
Bulbourne to Leighton Buzzard
Whilst waiting at Marsworth top lock another boat appeared from the Wendover Arm. This was the boat that Tony Redshaw had built and fitted out and he was on board with his wife. We shared locks with him till we stopped for lunch on board at Slapton wharf. Leighton Buzzard had no dog friendly pubs with food so we had a take away on board before going to try the Red Lion. One of the resident dogs came over and had a brief argument with Muffin. After a pint there we went to try the Black Lion which is not in the Good Beer Guide. It was obvious that it deserved to be in the GBG and I speculated that it would be in the next one.
Sunday 12th July
Winkwell to Bulbourne
Set off up the locks but soon ran into a problem, the pound above lock 58 had very little water in it. We had to run water down from the next two pounds to sort this out which held us up by 1 1/2 hours. Peter had arrived by train and we stopped below Berkhamsted bottom lock to go for lunch in the Rising Sun. They only had Cheese or Cheese and Ham ploughmans but several nice beers. After lunch Andy left us to catch a bus to Aylesbury. Peter and I carried on up the rest of the locks to the summit and then on to Bulbourne. A very peaceful mooring there. Had a sandwich on board before heading to the Grand Junction Arms for a beer.
20150705
Saturday 11th July
Kings Langley to Winkwell
Stopped for lunch above Boxmoor middle lock to go for lunch in the Fishery Inn. The menu was almost identical to last night as both pubs are owned by M&B, so I was able to have the vegeterian dish that I fancied but didn't have. The Brakspears Oxford Gold was dissapointing. Carried on to Winkwell for the night, however Andy was not feeling well so we did not visit the pub!
Friday 10th July
Croxley to Kings Langley
Stopped at Hunton Bridge and went for lunch in the garden of the Kings Head. After lunch carried on to Kings Langley. Went to the Rose and Crown for dinner outside.
Thursday 9th July
Cowley to Croxley
An early start to try to make the most of the cooler morning. Stopped at 11am above Black Jacks lock near Harefield to go to the Old Orchard for lunch (GBG). This is another Brunning and Price pub but with better beer than the last one in Odiham. Two of the beers ran out while we were there but there were still enough to keep us amused. Stopped for the evening above Common Moor lock at Croxley and went to the Red House to eat and then onto the Sportsman (GBG) for more interesting beer.
Wednesday 8th July
Greenford to Cowley
Stopped to try and get gas at High Line in Northolt which was not open, and Willowbridge marina where they wanted £3 to empty the Portapotti, which we declined. At Bulls Bridge we turned right up the Grand Union then left at Cowley Peachy junction onto the Slough Arm. The first bit was very fast then there was a very slow bit, then the boatyard moorings, but the rest of the canal has been fully dredged and was fast enough. Spotted Tortoise and Floss on the moorings. Chris joined us with his bike and we moored by St Marys road bridge and retired for lunch in the Red Lion where Andy I. was waiting for us. Andy J. left us here to catch a train at Langley station. Carried on after lunch to the end where we turned and came straight back. Stopped on the way for gas at Highline yachting. Back on the Grand Union we moored for the night below Cowley lock. Went to the Malt Shovel for the evening.
Tuesday 7th July
Olympic Park to Greenford
Turned around and went back up to the Hertford Union junction where we turned left onto the Hertford Union. At the top lock Andy spotted a lightweight windlass in the water below the lock and manage to retrieve it. Turned right at the other end of the Hertford Union and headed towards Paddington. We kept catching up with a boat I had met on the River Stort so he agreed to wait at the next lock and we shared the rest of the locks to Camden. I had already decided not to stop at Little Venice and we didn't go down to Paddington but there were no moorings free anyway. Stopped outside Sainsburys at Kensal Green for supplies. Carried on to Greenford where we moored for the night on top of something in the water, and adjourned to the Black Horse.
Sunday 5th July
Ware to Waltham Abbey
Set off from Ware at about 10am in-between rain showers. Stopped at Stansted Abotts Marine to fill up with 116l fuel. Stopped for lunch at the Fish and Eels, Dobbs weir. Another Vintage Inns, was only epecting 1 beer but there were three pumps clips on show but the Brakspears was off. Had Sunday lunch here. Moored for the night north of Waltham Town Lock. Walked into Waltham Abbey which I had not been to before, and we hada pint in The Crown. Unfortunately the town is full of McMullens pubs.
Saturday 4th July
Ware Boat Festival
Lazy morning, took Muffin for a walk before it got too hot then sat on the front deck in the shade to watch the parade of boats. This was a bit of a shambles, despite the rules stating that they should be very close together and should all go up to the lock to turn around, the boats were 5 minutes apart so I suspect that many boats moored up before doing the full course and we witnessed one boat doing so. After that I watched the boat handling competition which consisted of a 180° turn, touch the priory wharf quay to get off and shake hands with someone, then a 360° turn followed by touching the towpath to get off and shake hands with someone else. In the evening we went to eat in the Punch House followed by some decent beer in the Royal Oak. Shoulda gone Hertford...
Friday 3rd July
Roydon to Ware
Set off aiming to get to Hertford for lunch but when we got to Stansted Abbotts lock there were 2 boats already in the lock and another two waiting. Also one of the top paddles was not working so filling the lock was slow. After the delay we carried on through Ware having a sandwich on the move and got to Hertford about 2pm. Went for a beer in the Old Cross Tavern. After that we headed back to Ware and took our mooring W7 alongside another narrowboat. In the evening was the barbecue which was well organised.