Blisworth

We planned to stop in Wolverton for a short 'top-up' shop - only milk and paper were really on the list a but a few stock items were also to be looked for.

Bill Billings' Railway Mural

On the approach to the town the railway mural is a striking feature and seemed to be remarkably fresh. We later discovered that it was originally created by Bill Billings (died 2007) in 1986 but was much in need of restoration. This took place in 2011 with his son as one of the artists involved.

Bicycle Sculpture

Railroad Scultpture

At the moorings two sculptures were erected last year, one in stainless steel and the other from railroad tracks which turn rusty. One represents the railway works and the other the bicycle works both now closed but which were important industries on this site in the past.

River Great Ouse from iron Trunk Aqueduct

After a quick trip to nearby Asda we continued, crossing over the Iron Trunk Aqueduct. The river below looked as if the level was back to normal. As we took a good look last autumn we did not stop this time.

Cosgrove Lock and start of Buckingham Arm

A little later we arrived at Cosgrove Lock where we filled up with water - rather slow tap! Above the lock we also used the sani station.

Soloman's Bridge

Soloman's Bridge is unusually ornate rather than functional but this photo shows how the trees still look stark against the weak spring sky.

A long pound up to the Stoke Bruerne flight gave Mike a chance to investigate further the problems with CanalMap software. After further wrestling he began to understand what was happening (although he is still not sure how it worked before!) and has now installed a fix which meant that it tracked our progress successfully for the rest of the afternoon.

As we arrived at the bottom lock in the Stoke Bruerne flight, Mike spotted a fuel boat and asked if they had gas bottles for sale. They did so he pulled back to come alongside and the exchange for the bottle which ran empty last night in the middle of cooking a roast dinner. We also learnt that they are not on the move because they have run out of coal and there is a shortage and so they are still waiting for a delivery - hopefully tomorrow.

The flight was remarkably quiet - most times we have come through here there have been crowds of onlookers. A couple of boats came down and passed us in the middle of the flight and we did have help from a couple of young girls at the next to top lock. However there was no-one at the top lock, usually the place where crowds gather.

Blisworth South Portal

A short distance above the flight came the start of Blisworth Tunnel. After all the rain it was especially wet in places. Caught in the flash the heaviest inflow seems quite strange. Also surpisingly we passed four boats in the tunnel (almost more than we passed in the whole day so far) three of them in a close convoy and not quite sure what to do when faced with an oncoming boat. Still, we passed all without collision.

Shortly after leaving the tunnel we moored in Blisworth village.

12.0 miles - 8 locks