Wednesday, 28 July 2021

 Moved again today, between the showers. Through Three Locks and on to Stoke Hammond.

Some of the bankside vegetation is now 3-5ft high, and very established.

Even walkers are now complaining about Canal and River Trust lack of interest and maintenance. Can't see the current situation changing unless the current management are removed.








Sunday, 25 July 2021

 Wet dark day. Sun's definitely gone. Summer gone?










Sapling growing on the canal bank is not good. There is a lot of this on the canals this year. CRT are just not managing the vegetation. This will cost a lot of money to clear eventually, plus add to the rubbish going into the canal when it is cleared. A bit of a train crash organisation.








Saturday, 24 July 2021

 Different day altogether. Temperature dropped and heavy cloud with the occasional downpour. Thunderstorm imminent evidently. 





Friday, 23 July 2021

 Moved to the Town mooring on Monday, then today moved on to Soulbury. A bit cooler weather wise, water level quite low.










Saturday, 17 July 2021

 Moored beside Tiddenfoot waterside park. Way to hot for cruising. Sit here for a day or two and enjoy the surroundings.








Wednesday, 14 July 2021

 Monday 12th June 

We cruised from Ivinghoe to Slapton where we topped up with water.

From there we carried on towards Grove lock, where we were surprised to see ample mooring spaces. 


This is unusual as it’s a popular stop.


We then saw newly erected no mooring signs along the Reed beds, and realised why it was empty.

The hard standing further along had no signs, and several mooring rings, so we pulled in.

Within minutes a woman stuck her head out of the front doors from a boat across the way in the marina, and informed us it was no mooring. I suggested it had always been a mooring spot hence the rings and didn’t see a problem. She then asked me “ are you f*****g blind, can’t you see the no mooring signs “. There were no signs, so I ignored her.


I rang crt customer services to check, and was told there were no restrictions where I had moored.


Within 10 minutes, a guy (pictured) appeared at my boat telling me “f**k off, we don’t want boats mooring here”. I informed him I’d spoken to crt and was assured it was ok to moor here. With that, he continued to get agitated and voiced further abuse, at which point I walked towards him and stated that if he continued with his aggressive behaviour, I would retaliate.


Anyway, with another call from crt half an hour later, it was explained that the moorings had in fact been removed, but the signage for that particular spot had not yet been made.


Mr Angry care of grove marina

Grove Marina


It appears that ABC leisure (who own the marina) and the little guy in the picture here had persuaded crt to remove the historical moorings in order to make manoeuvring within the marina simpler. 

Surely it would have been simpler, and less aggressive to get the boat owners in the marina a few lessons on helmsmanship.

Sunday, 11 July 2021

 Moved again today, though not far, only did one lock. Stay overnight and move on again tomorrow. Still some good views.








Friday, 9 July 2021

 5 locks today. We had to refill the pound between the first and second, some twat came through late last night and left gates and paddles open.

Nice mooring at Ivinghoe for a day or two, and found a brilliant farm shop a mile from the canal.

The ducks are lounging, and one has eleven chicks!!






Thursday, 8 July 2021

 Very quiet here, so decided to stay put for a day or maybe two. Coal boat passed this morning and Bideford was displaying rather a tidy bum.





Wednesday, 7 July 2021

 Down through Marsworth flight this morning, thankfully with the assistance of volunteers. The whole flight was topping, and none of the top gates would open. Took almost three hours compared to our normal descent of one hour twenty mins.

Filled with water and stopped half a mile further on.









7th July 2025. Couple of visitors