Leighton Buzzard

A beautiful, beautiful day! When we awoke it was already bright and quickly warming up. Mike took advantage of still having the car and popped to Netherfield Centre for a newspaper. This section of Milton Keynes was one of the early parts and not good looking when we lived here. The local shopping precinct is really rather ugly and seen even its own better days. nevertheless, Mike was able to pick the last copy of the Guardian!

We had to wait until the marina office opened at 10 am in order to return the pier key and reclaim our deposit. We turned down the opportunity for diesel, hoping to find something a bit better priced (here it was 99p + duty - less than three weeks ago).

Bridge 89

On our way - the exit from the marina is a bit tight but we managed to avoid an on-coming boat! The views were just magnificent. Green space was a particular feature of this new town right from the outset and it is good to see it still fulfilling the purpose its designers had in mind. Many of the trees are now quite mature.

Bridge 92

Heron

Fenny Stratford Lock

The first lock was Fenny Stratford which we shared with the single-hander who passed us at the marina entrance. A pleasant young man with distinctive pigtail whom we were really happy to share - he obviously knew how to handle his boat and the locks as a single-hander (too few do!).

Red Lion and Bridge 95 - Fenny Stratford Lock

However, he went ahead as we wanted to stop at the service station immediately above the lock for elsan and water.

Water Eaton

As the canal begins to leave Milton Keynes behind the scenery opens up - at Water Eaton there is a splendid line of tall trees. A short while later, in the distance, we could see Great Brickhill where we lived in the 1980's, on top of a hill.

At Willowbridge Boatyard (a 'proper' boatyard with lots of real chandlery - an amazing stock) we stopped to fill up with diesel. Despite being owned jointly with the marina we left earlier, their price was 95p. Apparently, this was because they have a very much larger tank than the marina and can obtain a better price. We also bought some fuel in case, or when, it turns cold at nights together with an end for our anchor chain that is large enough to pass through a mooring rope (the chain links themselves are not quite big enough).

Stoke Hammond Lock

Bridge 104 below Stoke Hammond Lock

On again and as we approached Stoke Hammond lock, the single hander spotted us coming and opened a gate for us so that we could both go up together. Sadly, he was not stopping for lunch so we may not see him again today. The double-arched bridges below the locks are reminder that at one time these  locks were doubled.

Bridge 105

A couple of bridges are marked in Nicholsons as Swing Bridge (kept closed) - if you look closely you can see why!

Soulbury Three Locks from top lock

With the sun being so warm, our lunch break stretch out longer than usual before we were ready to tackle the Three Locks at Soulbury - always plenty of gongoozlers here. In addition there was a steady stream of Wyvern Shipping hire boats coming down - their base is only a short cruise from here.

Former Wharf Bridge, Leighton Buzzard

A very pleasant stretch followed with just the single Leighton lock left for today - we had already decided to look for an overnight mooring close to the shops in Leighton Buzzard so that we could get some milk and a paper for the weekend in the morning. A long line of permanent moorings occupies the bank for some distance before the town centre and visitor moorings have to be found south of the main bridge - and the former wharf entrance bridge that has been retained despite the development of the area.

12.5 miles - 6 locks