Buckby

Today's Canals - Grand Union Leicester Arm and Main Line

Still about 12 miles to go before the Watford locks (1 single, followed closely by staircase of 4, then 2 singles)

Crick Wharf

The day started bright, sunny, reasonably mild and with very little wind. Andrew set off in good time, steering most of the way. Christine kept him supplied with coffee and nibbles and attacked some cleaning.

Crick Tunnel

After yesterday's storm, many trees are looking devoid of leaves, the rest a little ragged. The rich autumn colours in the landscape are past their best.

We arrived at the top of the Watford flight, the first just under the motorway bridge, moored for the services and a slightly late lunch. Oh and the sky had now clouded over and it was raining!

Down the locks and down the hill, Andrew doing the paddles, red then white, Christine steering, and supervised by another pleasant lock-keeper. At the bottom, it was still raining. Christine decided that since she was already wet, she might as well offer to continue steering. Andrew decided to get off and walk the two miles to Norton Junction, then round the corner to the first of the Buckby locks. These are eight over about a mile and a quarter.

These took a little longer than might be expected, thanks to boaters coming in the opposite direction emptying locks in front of us, but particularly by two completely novice crews (ie had never done a lock before!) starting from Wilton Marina at the bottom of the flight where they had just completed the purchase. In the first case this was compounded since the boat was being single-handed. It is astonishing that people buying a boat don't make the effort - or are encouraged strongly by the boatyard - to get some tuition or at least read up on the subject of boat handling. These two boats were setting off up the locks after 5.00pm and besides everything else had no chance of getting up the flight before it was dark about 6ish.

(We had also come across a novice crew, boat just purchased from Wilton, at the bottom of the Watford Locks. The lock-keeper was taking upon himself to give them a crash course!)

We moored a couple of miles further on when a TV signal was possible, just in time before dark. Next week it will have to be an hour earlier since the clocks change this weekend.
From Watford locks the canal is closely accompanied by railway line, motorway and the A5 (Watling Street) to over a mile beyond the Buckby locks. Did the Romans give the future planners in their turn of the best route to take here?