Willen Lakes, Milton Keynes

1st Dec - Moored Milton Keynes

Wonderful, woke up to the sunshine this morning, thats better!

Long, long walk planned for this morning over to Willen Lakes to the east of Milton Keynes, but only a shortish walk from where we moored last night.  I was initially disappointed on reaching the lakes, all wide tarmac walkways and buildings offering food, ice cream and some bars I saw, along with other buildings that I presume were selling 'tourist' things.  Being the time of year, they were all closed.  Still hoping that the commercialism would disappear, continued along one of the walkways into the open, and leaving the buildings behind, began to enjoy the area.

There is no doubt, this is a beautiful area, the only problem is the constant 'drone' of the many roads that even criss cross these lovely lakes.  Plus the motorway is not too far away, still it's just a matter of blocking it out!

Lucy enjoyed the water, and I sent her in swimming where there was no wild fowl or birds.  She came out a lot cleaner than when she went in for sure.  I had almost forgotten that she had a white tip to her tail what with all the mud around on the towpath at the moment!  I have to say I enjoyed it, well I did, but I was expecting something better I suppose. However the highlight of the walk was meeting a chap hiding in one of the bird hides.  Well he would be hiding I suppose!  I started to chat to him about the birds that visit, and he handed me his binoculars to look at some snipe on the far side of one of the lakes.  I have never seen snipe before in real life.

On returning I caught Vic with his head in the engine bay.  "Tightening the fan belts"  "I lost a spanner in the bilge" "No I didn't change into my working jeans" "No I don't have any oil on these jeans".......... Ooops, a quick exit from that area to make some lunch!

Not content with this mornings hike, set off again along the towpath to have a look at the Marina at Peartree Bridge.  Didn't like it!  The pub come hotel there was yet another 'family eating house' and the marina didn't look at all attractive, right on the main road, it didn't look very secure to me. 

I think we will move off tomorrow.  Milton Keynes is very nice, but I could do with getting away from all this buzz of traffic, I am never keen on constant road noise, although I know I will have to put up with quite a bit of that if I want to see the rest of the Grand Union Canal to London