Marsworth

A spectacularly brilliant start to the day - clear blue skies with a sharp chill but not yet frosty. Before setting off, Mike walked back the short distance to Tesco for a newspaper and a few items for the evening meal. The apartment development opposite where we had moored made good use of a pair of discarded lock balance beams.

Of course, we continue to be on fairly familiar ground - the third time in just over twelve months - so our photos will concentrate on general views and some smaller features that we spotted as we went along. Although we only had 11 locks on our schedule for today, they are almost all spaced out one at a time so it seems as if we were working through them all day long! The first was Grove Lock about 15 minutes after setting off.

Grove Lock and Blue Sky

More Blue Sky and Blue Water

Church Lock

At Church Lock Christine went to take a quick look at the redundant church, hidden behind the lock cottages, that gave the lock its name - Mike saw it on a previous trip. It is now a very pleasant home and a sensitive conversion.

Autumn Colours as well

Below Slapton Lock we noticed a rather old sign - BWB preceded BW! Perhaps CaRT may get round to replacing it - unless it has a Listed status!

Sharing Horton Lock

We shared locks on a few occasions but we did not all stop at the same times so it was usually just for a couple of locks at a time. One boat was on its way down from Doncaster - a reminder for us of what seems an age ago but was only back in this summer - to Cowroast, we think so that they can sell the boat although it has only recently been completed.

Another boat we met that arrived just as we were filling a lock surprised us - they seemed to think that they would be able to reach Whilton Marina by tomorrow tea time and be able to go back to work on Monday morning. Although they were meeting extra crew shortly they may have to cruise through the night to achieve that distance!

Double Arched Bridge

We have mentioned the double arched bridges along this section more than once before on other trips but at least one is worth showing again, especially with such a great sky as background.

 

A small detail that we had missed before - an old carved stone milepost alongside Ivinghoe Top Lock. The more modern ones are cast iron - and seem to have a different measurement of how far away it is to Braunston!

We paused for lunch and another helping of yesterday's soup with the addition of frozen peas that Mike bought last night on aq shopping foray for ice cream. When we set off again, dark clouds were beginning to gather and the wind was distinctly sharper. Apart from a very slight dampness at one point, the heavy showers missed us although we could see some not far away.

A swing bridge at Cheddington is one of the few left on the Grand Union - most seemed to have been removed or are too rotten ever to be used. This one carries public footpath that seems to be well used.

Our target today was Marsworth - where there is a junction to the narrow canal arm to Aylesbury. We planned to go to Marsworth Church as it is the only one really close to the canal. Last week we had made enquiries and it seems that there is a Songs of Praise service at 10 o'clock. We found a good mooring just before the junction.

 

Later, Mike took a look down the Aylesbury Arm and, noticing that the top locks were again padlocked (on the way through in the spring they were closed because of the drought!). After walking down a short distance he spotted the reason - Lock 4 is being substantially rebuilt.

 

Later, Christine walked into the village to check out the church and service times. She spotted an unusual shaped house. We settled down to an evening in the warm, a chance to read - not a lot on TV even though we can get a signal - and an experimental quiche pie (looking a bit strange right now!)

6.8 miles - 11 locks