On today to Maffers

Ivinghoe to Marsworth, Grand Union Canal, 2.25 miles, 5 locks

Late morning start, well I was tired after yesterdays venture to the capital.  Ivinghoe was nice to be honest, very quiet although there were lots of boats on both sides of the canal.  I do have to say a big thankyou to the young boater who whenever he passed us in his car along the widened towpath there, always gave a thought to stop and ask if there was anything we needed in the village, which was over a mile away.  Last night too, before I got back he stopped purposely and asked Vic if he would like a fish supper brought up from the village.  You see the fish and chip van arrived just the one night a week!  Mind you when he said “village” I am not sure if he meant Ivinghoe or Cheddington, silly of me, I should have asked!  It was certainly nice to come to an area that is obviously populated by many static boats and be made most welcome.. thanks

A beautiful day as you can see as we make our way through the Seabrook Flight of three locks.  In the fields on the far side watched a barn owl hunting the other evening while taking the mutts for a walk.  Such a wonderful bird, and even though it was quite windy the control the owl had was quite incredible with such a huge wingspan.  The owl was in hover mode for long periods before dropping down.  Very unlike a hawk who has a definite swoop.

I very nearly fell in at this lock, I went to get off the boat to take this pic, but went aboard again to put NP a little further forward in the lock.  As I stepped off the lockside I stood on a hollow piece and very very nearly fell between the boat and the lock wall. Two boats in the lock don’t quite fill it up sideways, there was enough of a gap this side for me to have slipped in.  I was very lucky indeed…. a fall there would almost certainly had meant trouble for me if the two boats had moved across.

I wondered after that what to do in such circumstances.  The natural thing would be to come up to the surface where you went down.  I may give that more thought if ever it happened and perhaps swim under the boat and come up behind……… but things happen so quickly.  I must be more careful.  Today I was lucky.

Much needed water was put on at the junction, and with no moorings beyond the BW Yard before the right turn to Aylesbury we backed back up under the bridge and just about had enough space to moor.  Spot NP behind the tupperware tub… nose to tail it was literally!

Off on our way to Aylesbury tomorrow, and been round the corner to have a look at the first two locks which are in a staircase flight.  The only staircase flight on the Grand Union Canal between London and Birmingham.  Narrow locks too they are and 14 more after that till we get to Aylesbury 6 and half miles away.  It’s suppose to be one of the nicest canals on the whole system…. well that remains to be seen