Blisworth

Today's Canal - Grand Union

We only had a modest target for today (Blisworth) so took the opportunity of being close to a good bus route to take a trip into Northampton. Not that we had much on our shopping list but it is a very long time since we visited the town - back in the days when we lived in Milton Keynes.

Despite the traffic build up around the road works ate the intersection, the bus was not too far behind schedule (this one goes via the village and comes out just above the junction)

The bus station is alongside the shopping centre developments - most must be quite old and overall looking in need of a bit of a facelift.

Time for coffee and we had a pleasant sit in the middle of the shopping mall, as well as reading the paper which we had just bought.

Sainsbury yielded a replacement for the small cafetiere which lost a chip out of one side earlier in the week.

Rare reminder of the past shoe industry

We then had a general wander - the town must at one time have felt itself to be very important and many of the buildings still have an evident grandeur, albeit often hidden by the apparently necessary gaudiness of modern shop fronts.

All Saints

There are two main churches in the town centre and we opted to look inside All Saints. It has a very substantial front portico which it seems was gifted by Charles the Second after the great fire that destroyed the town centre. It is also the official seat for the Mayor.

Mayor's Seat

It was immediately obvious that this is a very 'high' church with lots of candles and other ornamentation. Its services, according to its website, are proudly all Book of Common Prayer or similar.

Old County Police Office

Guildhall

The Guildhall was built on a scale that would make many cities envious!

Princess Diana Memorial on Guildhall extemsion

There is a substantial market area in the centre although it was only about half used today. Although there were several fruit and beg stall, and the usual mix of specialised stalls, there was no-one selling cheeses or anything much else to tempt us.

Back then to the bus station where we had about 15 minutes wait for the next bus which efficiently delivered us back to Weedon, close to the bridge over the canal where out boat was moored.

We had not filled up with water since leaving so we set off quickly - we did not mind missing our target destination but did need to go at least the next mile for the water tap! Lunch had to wait just that little bit longer.

The afternoon cruising was very pleasant, blue sky with hardly any clouds, and quite warm until late afternoon when the temperature quickly dropped. No locks so the non-steerer could get on with other things. Mike used the sealant and bolt he bought in Northampton to re-fit the mushroom vent. Unfortunately he could not find a brass bolt so used a steel one temporarily. At least it should keep the rain out now.

At Stowehill, a boat had just been craned out and was being manoeuvred to a hard standing.

We stopped briefly at Gayton Junction for the usual disposals. A former working pair, Greenock (motor) and Bordesley (butty) are moored just south of the junction.

We continued to one bridge short of Blisworth. There is not much mooring in the village and we would have a problem if it was all occupied as the tunnel is not far beyond and the light was fading fast. So we pulled in to a good mooring with several others already tied up. We might just have a sufficient gap for a TV signal - if we decide we need it. So far this trip we have not done so!

8.8 miles - 0 locks