Watford Locks

Since we were moored just metres from the entrance, our first task was to fill up with diesel at Yelvertoft Marina, a new development opened this last April. It is a pleasant, isolated marina built by a farmer as a diversification business.

Unlike the nearby Crick Marina, Yelvertoft is spacious and well-laid out. It can hold 150 boats and already has bookings for almost 120. If they have space they will always consider short term moorings - worth bearing in mind for the future.

Shortly before reaching Crick Marina, we passed Cracks Hill. This time, with some effort, we managed to capture the signal brazier on the top - it is necessary to find just the right moment between trees on the hill and those on the canal bank!

Crick Tunnel beckoned and we passed though without incident or having to meet a boat coming the other way - although just after we emerged back into daylight a boat arrived and asked if there was anything behind. The problem is that with the bend in the tunnel, from this end it is not possible to see very far back.

Next came the Watford Locks and yet again we met up with the relief lock keepers whom we have met both times here and at Foxton! We planned to use the services above the lock and Mike was well into filling the water tank when Christine returned from checking in with the keeper to say that we were asked to follow behind the boat which was just making the top lock ready.

Rather than risk a long delay, Mike quickly wound up the hosepipe whilst Christine set the lock and we set off down the flight. Shortly after we entered the lock another boat arrived - he was most disappointed to be told by the keeper to wait as it was the 'up' turn after us.

As soon as we completed the flight we moored up for lunch - despite the constant roar of the motorway just a few metres away from the canal at Watford Gap service station.

Several ducks came in search of food but they turn their beaks up at the scraps of lettuce which was all that Christine had to offer them!

After lunch, Mike decided it was well past time to fix the panel by the front door which had been cut out right at the start of the season to replace the broken vent pipe to the water tank. Because we had had several subsequent problems - now gladly all fixed, except that we still have not found a marker bead for the level indicator (By the way, Mike was most envious of the various indicators and gadgets we were shown on the boat at Market Harborough including water and fuel levels!) - we were not in hurry to fix the panel permanently. In fact , Mike managed to find a way of allowing the panel to be removed much as the one in front of the water stop valve.

At Napton Junction we had a brief stop to complete the water fill. By now it was heading towards sunset - the latter part of the afternoon had turned very pleasant after the overcast sky earlier in the day - we opted to moor before Braunston Tunnel. There is a faint hope of TV reception here - absolutely none at the spot the other side where we moored on the way up!