Bulbourne

After breakfast, Mike walked into Leighton Buzzard for a little food shopping. First to the town centre market stalls but these were not very substantial. He managed some of the greengrocery but had to rtesort to supermarkets otherwise. First to Waitrose which is just off the main street and then to Tesco close to the canal. An information board recalled that at one time that site was occupied by a Vickers factory where the Vimy bomber planes were built during wartime.

Back at the boat and it was soon time to set off - but not before croissants which Mike brought back with him - learning from Andrew, that is!

It was again a very hot, sunny day although the morning was a little hazy and visibility not so good. We could, however, see Ivinghoe Beacon which dominates the skyline for quite some distance south of Leighton Buzzard.

We were still climbing steadily towards the summit pound and the locks gradually started to come ever quicker. At first the distances between amounted to about 15 to 20 minutes and then down to 10 for the rest of the morning.

Many of the locks have the double arched accommodation bridges, indicating that there were once two locks, the original narrow locks together with the newer wide locks. (As a result, the bridge arches are different in size) There is rarely any other sign of the older locks - but here is an exception. Although the original side pounds built for the wide locks can generally be seen, they have long since been abandoned. If water shortages continue perhaps someone will have the bright idea of restoring them as on the top locks of the recently opened Droitwitch Canal.

After the Seabrook set of three locks we pulled in for lunch and enjoyed the sunshine - although Christine finally had to take to the hedgerow for some shade!

Immediately after setting off came the only working swing bridge on this section - it did not seem as if the farmer uses it but it is on a right of way and waymarked footpath. As Christine was steering the boat through the bridgehole, she caught her hat on overhanging branches and had to reverse up to picked it up with the boathook!

A boat set off just in front of us as we approached the closely following bridge - that would have been OK except that as we approached the next lock - Marsworth Two - we realised that there was another boat already preparing the lock so we had to wait another turn - and they expected us to shut the top gate as well!

We paused at Marsworth Junction - Christine hopped off at the preceding bridge to go up to the church to check out tomorrow's service times as they were not obtainable from the internet. It turned out not very promising as well as only at 8 am! In preference we pressed on for the Tring station bridge and the option of Altbury at 10 am!

Former Marsworth Wharf and Crane

At the junction we used the usual services, Whilst waiting for the water to fill, Mike wandered across to the Aylesbury Arm which as we expected was closed and the top lock chained up - another boat was taking advantage of this to moor above the lock as a convenient place to do some external painting! However, there was no indication or notice to explain why or for how long the gates are to be locked so not sure what anyone would make of it if they did not subscribe to the daily stoppages. There really ought to be a bit more information!

Aylesbury arm Top Lock - Closed!

The seven locks from Marsworth to Bulbourne are popular with visitors and so we had quite a bit of help from youngsters as well plenty of onlookers to entertain. One of the top gates took a little work as it was obstructed by a floating tree trunk - too large to hook out.

At another lock two boats were coming down - the first boat did not want to wait until we were out and refused to back up out of the way! In the end he ran into the side of us, still reluctant to accept that the lock was not yet ready for him to come him, much to the embarrassment of the crew of the second boat!

We eventually reached Bulbourne junction and Christine continued to steer whilst Mike worked on the evening meal - quiche and salads. Although we moored where we planned it was very overlooked by trees and the last part of the summit cutting, so no TV tonight!

10.0 miles - 18 locks