Grand Union Canal, Br.20, Stockton; Sunday 5th July
Saturday.
We moved off at 6am and had a bad road down the Napton flight; It was sunny for the most part; and waiting for all of the locks to fill with good views all around is not a problem for us. Arriving at the temporary moorings below the flight; there was no space until after the winding hole. Further along, most of the available mooring places up to Napton Marina had boats tied up. We had not passed this way since the extensions to Calcutt and Ventnor Farm Marinas had been completed. Together with the Wigrams Turn Marina, I think that you could say that the area is now almost full of boats (and Marinas!)I wonder what is the collective noun for Marinas? A greed perhaps?
Making the turn on to the Grand Union Canal at Wigrams, there was an immaculate Ford Prefect with ribbons for a wedding and some very smartly dressed people milling around.
We were amazed to find that the offside mooring next to Calcutt reservoir was empty!
There is comfortable space for three boats; we had it to ourselves all day, the trees providing welcome cover against the blazing sun. The cabin temperature reached only 30 degrees, positively Arctic!
2009 Totals: 316 Locks – 637 miles – 14 Bus pass uses
Sunday.
The battery charger for the AA batteries had packed up. I discovered that there was a break in the return somewhere in the cigarette lighter plug. I had another plug, and was able to replace the faulty one; the charger is now functioning correctly.
We have two torches as well as a camera using AA cells so a broken charger could be a nuisance.
We had the moorings to ourselves until early afternoon, one boat moored and the occupants were probably watching the tennis as they remained inside.
We moved off after supper and went down the three Calcutt locks and a mile afterwards in order to be well placed for the early attack on Stockton flight in the morning.
2009 Totals: 319 Locks – 638.5 miles – 14 Bus pass uses
