In the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown we finally managed get away on Albert because staying overnight on boats is now allowed. We are going to take a cruise along the South Oxford which will be interrupted by a short period at home to celebrate our landmark wedding anniversary. The weather was dry as we left Yardley Wharf on Thursday but it became damp and then wet as the day wore on. We went up the Stoke Bruerne flight with a hire boat from Gayton and were assisted part of the way by a pair of CRT volunteer lock keepers.
We had a good trip through the tunnel where it was a relief to get out of the rain. We eventually moored up just north of Gayton Junction at one of our favourite spots.
On Friday the weather was much better. We popped in at High House Wharf to discuss a possible paint refresh on the grey colour of our roof with Colin Dundas. The traffic on Thursday had been light but around Weedon more boats were on the move. We reached Whilton just after lunch, picked up some supplies including some gas and then went up the flight with Ragweed a hire boat from Weedon. The couple hiring the boat were from Kent and admitted to being relative novices. However, they handled the boat well and together we made good progress up the flight aided for most of the locks by a steady stream of boats coming down. We moored up just below the top lock and Ragweed joined us. Opposite was a delightful garden and we got talking to the owners who are showing it as part of the National Garden Scheme. It appears that the scheme will operate by appointment under the current Covid-19 regulations. We had a long chat because it turns out we have mutual friends.
Geoff is a retired railway signal man and Sue is a talented canal can painter keeping the Buckby can tradition going. One of the cans on Albert is Sue’s work – we purchased it at Crick Boat show a few years ago. The garden also boasts the top part of a signal from Harpenden which works, a low-level shunting frame signal and a streetlight from Droitwich circa 1930 complete with operating original bulb.
At the top lock I was taken aback a little when I found a swan family coming out of the lock as the gates were opened. It appears that boaters were being encouraged to try and keep the family in the top pound to avoid potentially lethal confrontation with another more aggressive family further down the flight. The operation of retaining them in the lock was quite an exercise – carrot and stick but with duck food.
Locking Swans
We had a good trip through the tunnel where it was a relief to get out of the rain. We eventually moored up just north of Gayton Junction at one of our favourite spots.
On Friday the weather was much better. We popped in at High House Wharf to discuss a possible paint refresh on the grey colour of our roof with Colin Dundas. The traffic on Thursday had been light but around Weedon more boats were on the move. We reached Whilton just after lunch, picked up some supplies including some gas and then went up the flight with Ragweed a hire boat from Weedon. The couple hiring the boat were from Kent and admitted to being relative novices. However, they handled the boat well and together we made good progress up the flight aided for most of the locks by a steady stream of boats coming down. We moored up just below the top lock and Ragweed joined us. Opposite was a delightful garden and we got talking to the owners who are showing it as part of the National Garden Scheme. It appears that the scheme will operate by appointment under the current Covid-19 regulations. We had a long chat because it turns out we have mutual friends.
Geoff is a retired railway signal man and Sue is a talented canal can painter keeping the Buckby can tradition going. One of the cans on Albert is Sue’s work – we purchased it at Crick Boat show a few years ago. The garden also boasts the top part of a signal from Harpenden which works, a low-level shunting frame signal and a streetlight from Droitwich circa 1930 complete with operating original bulb.
