Yardley Wharf to Fenny Stratford

27 July - Beautiful weather to Fenny Stratford

Up at 6.30 to much better weather but still cold. Moved off at 8.30 and soon arrived at Cosgrove Lock, what a contrast to yesterday, no rain, another boat at the lock had filled it and was about to open the gates, the only lock for the day Paradise.

On then and we soon left the country side and moved into the suburbs of Milton Keynes, what a contrast to the rest of the system, [so far] .

To the council who has integrated parkland with walks and the Canal 

and keeps the grass mowed and the litter picked up.

TAKE A BOW.

To the kids of the area who don't bomb every spare inch of bare of concrete 

and don't leave their larger cans under every bridge .

TAKE A BOW.

To the residents who live in the Canal area, who mow their lawns, who keep 

their gardens tidy, who don't throw their old sofas over the back fence,

TAKE A BOW.

 Life living on the canal in apartments

 Cool murals on wall and not tagged

Morning tea, hot scones and coffee just going over aqueduct and disaster strikes 

Vicki's jacket ends up in the canal. 

This was the case today for 13 miles - beautiful weather and lovely scenery - a pleasure to cruise through, and yes there is the odd plastic bottle in the water but here it's pristine compared to some.

 Some neat boats on the water

We moored up just after 2.30pm and headed to the pub (just for a change), The Lion Red for a late lunch but alias no meals, We spent the afternoon with several different groups of extremely interesting people watching boaters attack an even more interest lock - had a swing bridge over the middle. A great afternoon and a few too many drinks.

TOTAL - 13 miles, 1 lock 3 small aqueducts

PS - Off the prop this morning, 1 pair of M&S nickers size 92 cm hips, please see Skipper for return of the same. all enquiries treated in strictest confidence.

26 July - Fenny Stratford Bridge 94 to Bridge 98

Weather prediction is for heavy rain by 10.30am so we were up early, cooked breakfast to help our slight hangovers and moved at 8.30 through the first lock and then stopping for a coffee with Maxine and Ian who had arrived last night with their boys. They have hired Princess for a week.

Left them at 9.30 and weather was just breaking and sure enough by the time we got to Bridge 98 it is raining properly. Have tied up - don't need to do this in rain, if it stops we may move on later otherwise always another day tomorrow.

 Unfortunately just after 10 weather is like this, there prediction is correct

Boat left running for a hour or so to heat water.

TOTAL - 1 mile, 1 lock and 1 stop for a catch up