Andrew started off before 8.30. The day seemed for the moment pleasant, although the BBC weather forecast for Milton Keynes threatened heavy rain from about 11 o'clock. In the event, no rain and instead some sunshine. If only all the forecasts of rain turned out that way!
As always it is good cruising through Milton Keynes, a city we knew well before moving to Cornwall 23 years ago. Such great care has been taken to maintain the green and open corridor provided by the canal. The planting is now mature, and it is good to see that it is carefully maintained. Housing is set just back from the canal bank so is not intrusive, except in the old areas pre the city development.
The first lock is at Fenny Stratford with its bridge across the lock which we reached after about three hours.
Then onwards - Soulbury, Three Locks then Linslade. At Three Locks a volunteer lock-keeper was most helpful in helping us to move up efficiently.
Mike's Canal Map schedule first showed an arrival at Leighton Buzzard, on the Tesco moorings at about 3.15, the time Mike's train was due to arrive. We improved on this considerably, arriving just after 2.30 - but we did have lunch 'on the run'.
Andrew was keen to get there as early as possible since he was planning to go off to collect his car from Banbury, ready to go home tomorrow.
Having moored, shopping list in hand, Christine went into Tescos, arriving back at the boat just as Mike arrived from the station.
Mike set off from Bodmin Parkway just after 9 am and, with a fright over the car electrics and a delay to the train into Paddington, because the previous train out of Bristol had been cancelled and all those passengers piled into an otherwise quite comfortable train! A quick dash along the Circle Line to Euston Square and then to the station and he made it with one minute to spare!
This train took him to Leighton Buzzard and he received a text telling him that the boat was moored just outside Tesco on the Shopping 2 hour mooring. Just a few minutes after he arrived at the boat, Christine came back laden with the shopping for the next few days.
We then walked into town to get some metal epoxy to see if it will give at least a temporary repair to the rear door and then, whilst Christine took a look in the nearby Aldi, Mike took the boat around the corner to the sanitary station.
The arrangement has been made that we would meet up with Andrew again at Church Lock, just over an hour's cruising which we made shortly before it would have been took dark to cruise further comfortably. (Although hire boats are not allowed by their insurers to travel at night, there is actually nothing to prevent it and working boats often worked well beyond nightfall and, in the winter, starting again before daybreak).
18.8 miles - 8 locks
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