This left Andrew and Mike to make an early foray to B&Q for parts to modify the water tank air vent but, despite a careful search through every type of fitting that they had, they returned empty handed!
Off then on another scorching day. We expected to have quite a bit of exercise today as our target was Gayton Junction, which would allow a short two hour run, with no locks, back to Stowe Hill in order to re-unite Andrew with his car - he needs plenty of time to do his own weekend chores once he gets back to Devizes.
We are convinced that the weed in the river had grown measurable since we came down 12 days ago. However, we made good progress through the locks, which gradually become closer and closer together, until we arrived at Cogenhoe lock, just after midday. As we were just moving out of the lock, waiting for it to empty again, there was a loud clunk from the engine space after which no progress.
We quickly established that the loss of power from the engine to the prop was pretty definite and not just down to a broken cable. Unable to diagnose further - let alone effect a repair - we made our first call to RCR (the recovery company we signed up to at the start of the season, fortunately) As we waited, we were entertained by the sounds of a country dance taking place in adjoining camp site!
The (very pleasant) RCR engineer was on-site by 2 o'clock - which we felt was very reasonable as rivers and canals are not always the easiest of places to get to by road.
He established within a couple of minutes that the problem was that the bolts connecting the gearbox to the prop shaft had come adrift - two had sheared and the other two worked themselves loose. The fact that only two had sheared off meant that he was able to get us going again by replacing the other two which he expects will last long enough for us to return to Lower Heyford. He also advised us that the engine mountings need attention!
In any event, by 3:15 we were on the move again and determined to reach our target, come what may! Six o'clock and we were in the centre of Northampton (with a very quick call at the sani station in case we do not quite make it to Gayton) and back onto the canal system with 17 locks to go!
The first four locks are spread out and the longest pound was very slow, shallow and weedy so it was around a quarter to eight that we reached lock 13. From here the flight is all close together and we quickly established a rhythm and worked at around 5.5 minutes per lock. As a result we were able to tie up just above the top lock at 9:05! We felt that we deserved our (late) evening meal which Christine had fortunately prepared very much earlier in the day, in case we ran short of time!
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