Thrapston and Islip

Mooring at Kings Head

Yesterday morning, Wednesday, we left the boat on our mooring at Wadenhoe and took a stroll around the delightful and picturesque village. We also walked along a section of the Lyvden Way and visited the church. 

Wadenhoe High Street. 

Wadenhoe Post and Telegraph Office 

The Post Office in Wadenhoe claims to be the first village in England to have a telegraph because it was the country seat of the Ward Hunt family. George Ward Hunt, when First Lord of the Admiralty, needed to be in touch with government business and had it installed.

Interior of Wadenhoe Church

A rural churchyard

The church sits on top of a small hill overlooking the river and is connected to the Kings Head and the village hall by a path. Part way along the path is a large sundial on a stone plinth that records the directions to four neighbouring churches. Not for nothing is Northamptonshire known as a county of "spires and squires".

We left our Wadenhoe mooring around lunchtime and headed upstream towards home. Along the stretch to Titchmarch Lock we had a series of wildlife encounters. Unfortunately, none recorded on camera. It started with two kingfishers flying in front of the boat. Despite seeing kingfishers often when boating,this is the first time we had seen this. Judging by their subsequent flights, and the time of the year, it was an attempt to define territories. This was closely followed by the ubiquitous heron getting airborne and a red kite circling overhead. Moments later a grass snake left the bank and swam towards the bows of Albert. It then wiggled its way along the hull. 

Our overnight mooring was at Islip alongside the Middle Nene Sailing Club. The wind was, in the words we have heard forecasters use, "noticeable". These meant our time at Islip was accompanied by the rhythmic rattling of sailing dinghy halyards 

Islip (Thrapston) Visitor Moorings

We spent part of the afternoon wandering around Thrapston which is close to the moorings. This market town still has a agricultural focus and as a result it boasts a good ironmonger (Farm & Garden) which was able to supply a handy tube of Araldite for a running repair.

Wadenhoe

We had hardly got going on Tuesday, and had just prepared the lock at Irthlingborough, when another boat arrived; the first boat going our way since Northampton. We had noted the boat at Wellingborough the day before and they had moored up overnight just above Higham Ferrers bridge. It was great having their help and we travelled all the way to Islip as a pair. It was another glorious sunny day but temperatures were falling.

Negotiating River Nene bends

Woodford Church

Aspen Poplar fluttering in the breeze

Denford Church

Red Kite

Farm Bridge near Titchmarch

In 2006, because river levels were high, we hit Islip footbridge with the tiller pin. Thinking that Farm Bridge was even lower (with 2.1 m indicated height) we turned around to wait for water levels to fall. It turned out that the Environment Agency had removed the bridge ahead of raising its deck. Today the bridge isn't a problem to navigation - unlike Islip footbridge which still causes problems. Luckily on this trip water levels were low enough not to create any problems.

All Saints Aldwincle

  

Titchmarch Mill

  

Wadenhoe Church

Moored up at the Kings Head Wadenhoe

We moored up for the night at our favourite mooring outside the Kings Head at Wadenhoe and had a memorable meal in the bar. What a spot!

Irthlingborough

We awoke on Monday to find White Mills Marina shrouded in mist but with the rising sun visible it was obvious that the mist wasn't going to last.

Morning mist at White Mills Marina

Typical River Nene view

The very friendly staff at the marina said farewell and we headed towards Wellingborough. It became warm and sunny and we passed numerous dog walkers out for morning exercise as we approached Hardwater Mill.

Hardwater Mill

Doddington Lock

At Woolaston Lock we met a boater who was new to boating and was confused between the boxes that housed the electrical lock-operating equipment and thought that his Environment Agency (EA) navigation key would not fit the lock of the electrical control box. It turned out he was trying to open the switch-gear box.

We stopped at Wellingborough opposite Whitworths and shopped at the large Tesco for essential supplies. There were numerous swans along the embankment. Only a couple of boats were moored up.

Railway bridge at Wellingborough

Negotiating Higham Ferrers bridge

We headed for the EA moorings at Irthlingborough which we, along with many boaters, remember the site as the Rushden and Diamonds football club. When we last visited here 10 years ago the moorings had excellent facilities courtesy of the football club and that included free showers. Now there are no facilities - even the pump out and the water point, which are still in place and not working. The sad demise of the football club obviously had a knock on effect on boating facilitates The moorings were quiet with only one other boat present. A bit different from our last visit when we had to double up with another boat.

Visitor moorings at Irthlingborough 

(ex- Rushden and Diamonds)

We watched the sun set over the nature reserve. Unfortunately, we failed to see any noteworthy wildlife, only the occasional lapwing.

Earls Barton

Today was one of those great boating days when you travel through great countryside under clear blue skies and fluffy white clouds, and for early October it was even warm.

Northampton Marina, Becket's Park

We left Northampton Marina (aka Becket’s Park) about 10:00 in sun. Cruising through the broad stretches near Midsummer Meadow we met a number of rowing crews (double sculls, eights and fours) training. We met the first of only three boats moving upstream when we went through Rush Mills Lock. The broad section by the Northampton Washlands was uncharacteristically shallow as we approached Weston Favell Lock and we collected some weed around the propeller several times. I recall that the last time we entered Weston Favell Lock from upstream we also had difficulty - were engulfed by blanket weed – at least it wasn’t that bad.

Double Scull

Midsummer Meadows

Passing through Billing there were some visitors in touring caravans, and even tents, all enjoying the sunshine. At Clifford Hill Lock a family of around six were all fishing. One of the young boys thought Albert was steam-powered.

Entering the Washlands

Weston Favell Lock

We had a swift lunch at Billing Lock and then had a particularly good cruise to Cogenhoe Lock where there are some well cared for chalets and static caravans.

Cogenhoe Lock (with young helpers)

Whiston Church in afternoon sunshine

Operating Whiston Lock with an audience

Electrically operated guillotine lock

The journey continued to White Mills Lock where we moored up in the new White Mills Lock Marina. It has only been open since April and we got a warm welcome from the managers. It appears to be a well-run enterprise.

White Mills Marina at sunset

Northampton

Eagle-eyed readers will have assumed we left Gayton for Northampton on Friday. Unfortunately our best laid plans went astray and we had to spend Saturday driving to Reddich to pick up some wheels for our Austin Seven. As a result we missed the glorious weather and ended up going down the Northampton Arm under threatening skies and eventually heavy rain on Saturday.

Gayton Marina's Crane

Sandling Wharf, Blisworth Arm

The day started well but we knew rain was due. We passed Gayton Marina where their crane was in position to lift out boats for blacking and Phil Lizius was in his garden as we passed by his home. At the Top Lock a narrow boat was moored up in the winding hole (!) and the crew were enjoying their breakfast and the glorious views. A fibreglass cruiser was across the cut having outboard troubles. We     passed both of them and started the seventeen locks down to Northampton, but the two other boats quickly followed us. We made steady progress but it was soon clear that the fibreglass cruiser just behind us was being crewed by an eager lock operator. At one point, around the seventh lock, I suggested that the eager crew member might close the gates for me as it speed up the process for all of us. I was somewhat taken aback by his flat refusal on the grounds that he was being paid by the skipper of the cruiser. It turned out that he often helps crews down the Northampton Arm for a fee. We continued without his help although by the time we reached Lock 12 he did manage to close a gate for us because he had "squared it with the skipper".

Miscanthus growing near a Northampton Arm by-wash

Passing under a lift bridge Northampton Arm

Passing under the M1 Lock 12

We eventually stopped for coffee and toast around Lock 13 and the heavens opened. It was at Lock 13 that I slipped getting off the boat and lost a windlass but I happily avoided going in. It continued to be damp all the way to Northampton. Where we entered the new, well new to us, Northampton Marina that is operated by the Environment Agency. It is certainly well appointed with laundry, showers, pump out etc. For £10 we moored overnight on their handy and safe visitor moorings. The marina has key-fob entry and so is particularly secure and being close to the centre of town it is very convenient.

Northampton Lift Testing Tower

Carlsberg Brewery

Heron on the River Nene, Northampton

South Bridge Northampton

That night we went into town and sampled the delights of the excellent Spanish Tapas restaurant called Les Olives. We had a brilliant meal with the highlight being the shared rice pudding sprinkled with nutmeg. We can thoroughly recommend the restaurant if you are in Northampton. It may look unprepossessing being opposite the bus station and close to some less than attractive shops, but this family run business is a cracker.