Departure on Thursday morning was delayed when the Tentatrice Boat Dog decided he wanted to stay – for him it seemed far better to chase rabbits up and down the castle mound at Fotheringhay than to endure further deck duty!            First lock was Warmington Lock. Across the field at Warmington Mill the affluent in these parts come for their Fired Earth fix or to dream of an Aga installation.           Already the Nene Valley had seemed to change its...

            Oundle to Fotheringhay is a mere 4 road miles but about 7 miles by river.             It was a slow departure from Oundle (on Tuesday) with time for one last wander past the town sign (note the long ago date of its market charter) and up into the pretty stone-built town.  Oundle sports a Waitrose and a Co-op on the outskirts, a Tesco Express by the market place, two charity shops (Age Concern and Oxfam, as in 2010) and just one...

         The boat’s been having a holiday – no clocking up the miles, no banging about in locks, no sharp reverses to avoid bridges, boats or weirs, a whole week when the only cruising has been across the marina to the tap and back!           So what have the Cleddau and Tentatrice crews been up to? They’ve patronised the laundry block (£1 and 20p coins to buy time in the washing machines and tumble driers) and  after weeks afloat there is...

          The Middle Nene Sailing Club moorings just downstream from Thrapston (Sunday night’s mooring) have tall poles to tie up to, providing a safe berth in the case of high or fast running waters.           Local walkers, many with dogs, make the sailing lake a destination of choice. The club advertises itself as a family friendly place and just outside the Sailing Club grounds is Thrapston’s skate park and BMX track. The little town, a short walk away, was quiet...

(The River Nene: Irthlingborough to Thrapston)      On Sunday morning the Captain did a recce around the site behind the moorings at Irthlingborough. “There’s an event going on,” he reported. “They’ll never get in.”       However, guided by the Captain’s advice, the Three Musketeers talked their way past the car boot sale stewards and duly arrived beside Cleddau. Gifts they brought – fresh fruit from a local market, saffron and a decorated vase from Kashmir.       The boat crews and the...

          “Plans are merely formalised wish lists” had been the conclusion drawn a few days ago. This watery venture (Macclesfield Canal to Bedford / Droitwich Spa to Bedford) had always been subject to weather, wind, water (enough/ too little/ too much), tides and healthy engines. Cleddau has had some electrical hiccups; on Friday morning it was Tentatrice’s turn for a mechanical hiccup….          During an unscheduled delay what does one do but go on a local walkabout? Northampton, it appears, now...

            A bit of observation from the towpath during Wednesday’s rain day at Blisworth suggested that boats would be able to turn round by Blisworth Tunnel Boats – a time benefit to both Cleddau and Tentatrice if return trips through the Blisworth Tunnel could be avoided. Overnight an email from Les Biggs reinforced the point: there’s a winding hole there, he said. Thanks, Les.           Crew members made odd forays out during the rains, Boatwif as ever with a camera in...

Monday 2nd June          It was a peaceful mooring on Sunday evening just west of Norton Junction – sunlit until dusk, with only a country lane in the distance, few passers-by and open fields opposite. Bliss…          Between Braunston and Norton Junction the Grand Union Canal runs roughly east/west. Then at the junction there’s a choice – bear left (roughly north east) for Leicester, or right (south) for Brentford (where the canal reaches the Thames). Take the right and you’re soon heading...

          There was all the time in the world, wasn’t there, to get to Braunston on Saturday late afternoon, just about 3 miles and 0 locks to complete  Phase 1 of The Plan.           It was a fine dry morning and boats seemed to be on the move. Little fingers of concern began to grip the stomach – would all these boats be looking for mooring in Braunston too? Would the prime mooring spots already be taken by boaters moored up...

         Every now and again, as if for the first ever time, the Captain makes an observation along the lines of “it’s only when you’re travelling this slowly along the canals do you realise how much infra structure this country has…” He said it on Thursday, while gazing at the multitude of pylons and power lines near Hawkesbury Junction and not far from the M69 motorway bridge. Railway lines and trains are constant companions to this canal and near Ansty...