Milton Keynes

Before setting off, Mike popped across to Tesco for the daily paper. We also made use of the sanitary station just a couple of hundred metres on from where we had moored.

Now we were ready for the final run in to Milton Keynes, our destination on this trip. Although it remained quite chilly all day, it was bright and sunny. (No rain and the news relayed further official drought conditions now covering most of the country where there are canals)

Leighton Lock

Before reaching Leighton Lock we passed the Wyvern Shipping hire base - it was from here that we set off on our Canal 40 trip (see http://canaljourney.blogspot.co.uk/)

The next stretch is very pleasant and for quite a distance Great Brickhill, we we lived in the 1980's, could be seen on the hill set back from the valley which carries the canal and the River Ouzel.

Soulbury Three Locks

Soulbury Three Locks is a popular spot at weekends and in the summer time but today it was all but deserted. The flight was full so we dropped down quite quickly, once Christine had managed to remove a branch that was stuck behind one of the top gates of the first lock. as we left the flight, a boat was ready to come up - most convenient!

Stoke Hammond Lock

At Stoke Hammond there are back pumps in the original pump house and these were running, maintaining the water level even though we had seen very few boats on the move.

Stoke Hammond Lock Pump House

Time then for a lunch break before continuing to our destination, with only the very shallow Fenny Stratford lock ahead of us.

Fenny Stratford Lock

The story is that this lock was built after the main line had been completed but when it was found that water leaked out of the pound too quickly. The lock with only a drop of about one foot (300 mm) was added so that the long pound through to Cosgrove could be lowered, with - it seems - good results.

Before passing through the lock we filled up with water. The lock also has a swing bridge across which gives vehicle access to the former lock cottage - although it does not look as if it is regularly used for this purpose any more.

The canal through Milton Keynes is a mixture of the old and the new as these two photos of bridges demonstrate.

We eventually moored just before the marina where we have arranged to leave the boat for the next couple of weeks, with time for Mike to retrieve the car, ready for our homeward journey tomorrow.

9.5 miles - 6 locks