We went for a short walk around Stoke Bruerne and dropped into the Boat Inn to see the Morris sides dancing alongside the Top Lock. New Year's Day has become a traditional fixture for our local Morris sides.
Our friends Geoff and Shirley both dance and provide music for sides. Geoff dances in the Rose & Castle Morris and plays drum for Shirley's side - the Queen's Oak. Shirley plays fiddle for the Rose & Castle and dances in the Queen's Oak.
Rose & Castle Morris
Queen's Oak Morris
Stoke Top Lock was busy with families out walking and there were quite a few boats moving through the flight. Outside the Boat Inn we bumped into some long-standing boating friends, Colin & Sheila from NB Milan. They moor at Bugbrooke where, in 1996 we kept Bertie, our first boat. Discussed last year's cruising. They are also thinking of going North this year.
Boats entering and leaving Blisworth Tunnel Southern Portal, Jan 1st, 2009
After years of walking aroung Stoke we discovered a path that crosses the tunnel portal and provides good views of boats entering and leaving the tunnel (see above). The sign for the path was well hidden in the bushes. We must come up here with our SLR and take some better quality pictures.
Steve Parkin
